Morgan Stanley vs SpaceX: Founders, CEOs and History
Morgan Stanley was founded in 1935 by Henry S. Morgan, Harold Stanley and is led by Ted Pick. SpaceX was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk and is led by Elon Musk.
Company facts
Morgan Stanley
- Founded
- 1935
- Headquarters
- New York, New York, United States
- Current CEO
- Ted Pick
- Employees
- 83,000
SpaceX
- Founded
- 2002
- Headquarters
- Starbase, Texas; major operations in Hawthorne, California
- Current CEO
- Elon Musk
- Employees
- 22,621
Founders
Morgan Stanley
Henry S. Morgan
Henry S. Morgan co-founded Morgan Stanley in 1935 after the Glass-Steagall Act required J.P. Morgan & Co. to separate its securities business from commercial banking.
Harold Stanley
Harold Stanley (1885-1963) co-founded Morgan Stanley in 1935 alongside Henry S. Morgan. Following the passage of the Glass-Steagall Act, which forced banks to separate commercial and investment banking, Stanley left J.P. Morgan & Co.
SpaceX
Elon Musk
Elon Reeve Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, and emigrated to Canada at age 17 before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned dual degrees in economics and physics.
CEOs and their tenures
Morgan Stanley
- Philip J. Purcell1997–2005
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
A group of former executives campaigned against him in 2005 and he resigned that June. John Mack succeeded him.
Source - John J. Mack2005–2009
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
He agreed the Smith Barney joint venture with Citigroup in 2009. James Gorman succeeded him as chief executive at the start of 2010.
Source - James Gorman2010–2023
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Gorman's tenure moved Morgan Stanley toward recurring fee revenue. He became executive chairman after stepping down as CEO and left the board at the end of 2024.
Source - Ted Pick2024–present
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Under Pick, Morgan Stanley reported record 2025 net revenues of $70.6B and record Q2 2026 results.
Source
SpaceX
- Elon Musk2002–present
Founder, CEO & Chief Engineer
Under Musk, SpaceX became the highest-cadence launch provider and built Starlink into its largest revenue segment. He led the company through its June 12, 2026 IPO, priced at $135 per share and raising $85.7 billion.
Source - Gwynne Shotwell2002–present
President and Chief Operating Officer
As President and COO since 2008, she has managed day-to-day operations and strategic customer relationships, guiding the company to unprecedented launch cadences and billions in recurring Starlink revenues.
Source
Timeline: Morgan Stanley and SpaceX side by side
1935Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley Founded
Henry S. Morgan and Harold Stanley officially launch the top investment bank following the historic Glass-Steagall split.
1996Morgan Stanley
Acquired Van Kampen American Capital
Morgan Stanley acquired Van Kampen American Capital in 1996.
1997Morgan Stanley
Merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co
Morgan Stanley merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co in February 1997.
2002SpaceX
SpaceX is founded
Elon Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies Corp. to reduce launch costs and make Mars settlement technically possible.
2005Morgan Stanley
John Mack Returns as CEO
John Mack returned as chief executive in June 2005 after Philip Purcell resigned.
2008Morgan Stanley
Bank Holding Company Conversion
Facing total catastrophic collapse, the firm converts into a traditional bank holding company to survive the global financial crisis.
2008SpaceX
Falcon 1 reaches orbit
Falcon 1 became the first privately developed liquid-fuel rocket to reach orbit, rescuing SpaceX after three failed attempts.
2009Morgan Stanley
The Smith Barney Acquisition
then-CEO James Gorman masterminds the acquisition of Smith Barney, instantly creating a dominant retail wealth management leader.
2010Morgan Stanley
James Gorman Becomes CEO
James Gorman became chief executive of Morgan Stanley in January 2010.
2010SpaceX
First Falcon 9 Launch
SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 rocket for the first time in June 2010 from Cape Canaveral.
2012SpaceX
Dragon reaches the ISS
Dragon became the first private spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station, proving SpaceX could serve NASA cargo missions.
2015SpaceX
Falcon 9 booster landing
SpaceX landed an orbital-class booster, establishing the technical base for reusable launch economics.
2017SpaceX
Orbital booster reflight
SpaceX reflown an orbital-class booster, pushing reuse from demonstration into operating model.
2018Morgan Stanley
Acquired Mesa West
Morgan Stanley acquired Mesa West in March 2018.
2018SpaceX
Falcon Heavy Maiden Flight
SpaceX flew the Falcon Heavy for the first time on February 6, 2018.
2019SpaceX
First Operational Starlink Batch
SpaceX launched its first batch of 60 Starlink satellites in May 2019.
2020Morgan Stanley
E*TRADE Acquisition
Morgan Stanley dominates the self-directed brokerage market by acquiring E*TRADE for $13 billion.
2020SpaceX
Crew Dragon carries astronauts
SpaceX became the first private company to carry astronauts to orbit, restoring U.S. crew launch capability.
2021Morgan Stanley
Acquired Eaton Vance
Morgan Stanley acquired Eaton Vance for $7 billion. Morgan Stanley acquired Eaton Vance for about $7B, completed in March 2021, adding Parametric, Calvert, and Atlanta Capital.
2021SpaceX
Acquired Swarm Technologies
SpaceX acquired Swarm Technologies.
2023SpaceX
Starship flight testing begins
SpaceX conducted the first integrated Starship flight test, starting the high-risk development cycle for its next launch system.
2024Morgan Stanley
Ted Pick Appointed CEO
Following a competitive internal succession, Ted Pick takes the helm to heavily drive the integration strategy.
2025SpaceX
FY2025 revenue reaches $18.674B
SpaceX reported $18.674B in FY2025 revenue and a $4.937B net loss in its 2026 prospectus.
2026SpaceX
Prospectus lists SPCX and Starlink scale
The 2026 prospectus described a Nasdaq listing under SPCX and about 10.3M Starlink subscribers as of March 31, 2026.
Acquisitions
Morgan Stanley
- Eaton Vance2021$7B
- E*TRADE2020$13B
- Smith Barney2009Undisclosed
SpaceX
- xAI merger2026Undisclosed
- Pioneer Aerospace2023$2.2M
- Swarm Technologies2021Undisclosed
Questions about Morgan Stanley vs SpaceX
Who is the CEO of Morgan Stanley and SpaceX?
Morgan Stanley is led by Ted Pick and SpaceX is led by Elon Musk. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Morgan Stanley founded vs SpaceX?
Morgan Stanley was founded in 1935 — 67 years before SpaceX, which was founded in 2002. Morgan Stanley's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger SpaceX.
How many employees does Morgan Stanley have compared to SpaceX?
Morgan Stanley employs approximately 83,000 people, while SpaceX employs approximately 22,621. Morgan Stanley has the larger workforce at 83,000 employees, compared to SpaceX's 22,621. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Morgan Stanley and SpaceX headquartered?
Both Morgan Stanley and SpaceX are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Morgan Stanley and SpaceX?
Morgan Stanley was founded by Henry S. Morgan, Harold Stanley. SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk.
Which company has a longer operating history — Morgan Stanley or SpaceX?
Morgan Stanley has been operating for approximately 91 years, making it the more established of the two companies. SpaceX has been in operation for around 24 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Morgan Stanley vs SpaceX overview