You cannot buy Airbnb stock before its initial public offering through normal stock market channels

Airbnb held its initial public offering (IPO) on December 10, 2020, and shares have traded publicly on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol ABNB since that date. If you are reading this after that date, Airbnb is already a public company and you can buy shares through any brokerage account the same way you would buy any other stock.

If you are asking this question because you heard about pre-IPO investment opportunities, understand that buying private company shares before they go public is not available to most individual investors. The legal and practical barriers are significant, and the opportunities that do exist carry real risks.

Key Takeaways

  • Airbnb completed its IPO in December 2020 and trades publicly under the ticker ABNB, so you can buy shares through a regular brokerage account.
  • Pre-IPO share purchases are restricted to accredited investors, company employees, and early venture capital investors—not the general public.
  • Secondary markets that claim to sell pre-IPO shares often charge high fees, offer illiquid shares you cannot easily sell, and carry fraud risk.
  • If you want to own Airbnb stock now, open a brokerage account with a major firm and buy shares at the current market price during trading hours.

Why pre-IPO shares are not sold to regular investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) restricts the sale of private company shares to protect investors from fraud and from buying into companies with unproven business models. Before a company goes public, it does not have to disclose financial information the way public companies do. The SEC treats private share sales as high-risk investments and limits them to people with substantial wealth and investment experience.

An accredited investor under SEC rules is someone with a net worth of at least $1 million (not counting their home) or annual income of at least $200,000 for the past two years. Even if you meet that threshold, you still cannot straightforward call a broker and buy Airbnb shares that were issued before the IPO. Those shares are held by early investors, venture capital firms, and company employees who received them as compensation or investment.

Secondary markets that claim to sell pre-IPO shares

Several platforms—including EquityZen, Forge, and Nasdaq Private Market—operate as secondary markets where accredited investors can buy and sell shares of private companies. These platforms do sometimes list shares from companies before their IPO, but they are not a path for most people, and they come with drawbacks.

First, you must be an accredited investor to use them. Second, the shares are expensive to buy and sell—platforms charge fees that can range from 5 to 10 percent of the transaction value. Third, the shares are illiquid, meaning you may not be able to sell them quickly if you need cash. Fourth, the price you pay on a secondary market is often much higher than the IPO price turns out to be, because the market is betting on future growth. Many people who bought private company shares at inflated prices before the IPO lost money when the stock opened at a lower valuation.

How to buy Airbnb stock now that it is public

Open a brokerage account with a major firm such as Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E-Trade, or Vanguard. You will need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and employment information. The process takes 10 to 15 minutes online and is free.

Once your account is open and you have deposited money, search for the ticker symbol ABNB and place a buy order during market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday). You can buy as few as one share. The price will be whatever the stock is trading at that moment. Your order will execute within seconds, and you will own the shares when ready.

If you are new to stock investing, start by learning the difference between a market order (buy at the current price right now) and a limit order (buy only if the price drops to a specific level you set). Most brokerages offer free educational resources and customer support to walk you through your first purchase.

The difference between pre-IPO and public stock ownership

When you buy Airbnb stock after the IPO, you own a fractional piece of a company with transparent financial reporting, regulatory oversight, and a price set by millions of buyers and sellers every day. The company must file quarterly earnings reports with the SEC, and executives face legal liability if they mislead investors.

Pre-IPO shares, by contrast, are sold in a private market with minimal disclosure, no regulatory oversight, and a price negotiated between a small number of buyers and sellers. The company can change its business model, burn through cash, or face legal problems without telling you. You have far less protection and far less information.

Red flags in pre-IPO investment offers

If someone contacts you unsolicited offering pre-IPO shares, or if a website promises may provide returns from pre-IPO investments, that is a fraud signal. Legitimate secondary markets do not cold-call investors or may provide returns. They do not promise that you will make money before the IPO or that the company will definitely go public.

Be especially wary of offers that ask you to wire money to a personal account, that require you to pay upfront fees before seeing the shares, or that pressure you to decide quickly. The SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) have brought enforcement actions against platforms that misrepresented pre-IPO shares as low-risk or may provide investments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy Airbnb stock through my 401(k) or IRA?

Yes. If your 401(k) or IRA is with a brokerage firm like Fidelity or Charles Schwab, you can direct that account to buy ABNB shares the same way you would in a regular account. Check with your plan administrator to confirm that individual stock purchases are allowed under your plan rules.

What is the minimum amount of money I need to buy Airbnb stock?

You need enough to buy at least one share at the current market price, plus any account minimums your brokerage requires. Many brokerages have no account minimum. As of recent trading, one share costs between $100 and $200, but that price changes constantly. Check your brokerage's website for the current price before you open an account.

Is it too late to buy Airbnb stock because the IPO already happened?

No. Thousands of people buy Airbnb stock every day, years after the IPO. The IPO is the first day the stock trades publicly, not the last day you can buy it. You can buy shares whenever you want, as long as the stock market is open.

What happens if I buy Airbnb stock and the company goes bankrupt?

Your shares become worthless, and you lose the money you invested. This is why financial advisors recommend investing only money you can afford to lose and spreading your investments across many companies rather than putting all your money into one stock.