SpaceX Reports Q3 2026 Earnings With $14.6 Billion Revenue and Announces Merger Talks With Tesla
SpaceX beat expectations with $14.6 billion revenue and $4.4 billion profit in Q3 2026, while Elon Musk confirmed both companies formed special committees to explore a merger combining 30,221 bitcoin.
Why it matters
The earnings demonstrate SpaceX's transition toward AI as its largest revenue segment and its profitability at scale. A SpaceX-Tesla merger would create a roughly $3.5 trillion entity combining space launch, satellite connectivity, AI development, electric vehicles, and social media under common ownership, while consolidating one of the largest corporate bitcoin treasuries.
Where the sources disagree
Q3 2026 EPS estimate vs actual
$12.74 billion (LSEG estimate)
CoinGape
$12.89 billion (analyst estimate)
CoinGape
$14.6 billion (actual reported)
Bitcoin.com News, Crypto News (CryptoNews.net)
Analyst EPS estimates ranged from 14 to 23 cents, while actual diluted EPS was 35 cents
Figures that do not reconcile
Found by comparing the numbers in the reports automatically. They are differences, not yet confirmed to be about the same thing.
reported results (quarter revenue)
$7.8 billion
CoinGape
$4.4 billion
Bitcoin.com News
CoinGape reports $7.8 billion, Bitcoin.com News reports $4.4 billion (44% apart).
reported results (spacex)
$7.8 billion
CoinGape
$2.54 billion
Bitcoin.com News
CoinGape reports $7.8 billion, Bitcoin.com News reports $2.54 billion (67% apart).
reported results (revenue)
$4.4 billion
Bitcoin.com News
$8 billion
CryptoSlate
Bitcoin.com News reports $4.4 billion, CryptoSlate reports $8 billion (45% apart).
size of the holdings (holdings)
18,712 BTC
Bitcoin.com News
30,221 BTC
CoinDesk
Bitcoin.com News reports 18,712 BTC, CoinDesk reports 30,221 BTC (38% apart).
size of the holdings (holdings)
18,712 BTC
Bitcoin.com News
11,509 BTC
Decrypt
Bitcoin.com News reports 18,712 BTC, Decrypt reports 11,509 BTC (38% apart).
size of the holdings (disclosed holdings)
18,712 BTC
Bitcoin.com News
30,221 BTC
CryptoSlate
Bitcoin.com News reports 18,712 BTC, CryptoSlate reports 30,221 BTC (38% apart).
size of the holdings (holdings)
30,221 BTC
CoinDesk
11,509 BTC
Decrypt
CoinDesk reports 30,221 BTC, Decrypt reports 11,509 BTC (62% apart).
size of the holdings (holdings)
11,509 BTC
Decrypt
30,221 BTC
CryptoSlate
Decrypt reports 11,509 BTC, CryptoSlate reports 30,221 BTC (62% apart).
reported results
$2.54 billion
Bitcoin.com News
$8 billion
CryptoSlate
Bitcoin.com News reports $2.54 billion, CryptoSlate reports $8 billion (68% apart).
Key facts
SpaceX reported diluted earnings per share of 35 cents for Q3 2026
35 USDReported by Crypto News (CryptoNews.net)
SpaceX holds 18,712 bitcoin valued at $1.573 billion
18,712 BTCDisputed figureReported by Bitcoin.com News
Tesla holds 11,509 bitcoin
11,509 BTCReported by CoinDesk
Elon Musk said a SpaceX-Tesla merger would be a good idea during the Q3 earnings call
Reported by Cointelegraph
SpaceX and Tesla boards formed special committees of independent directors to assess a merger
Reported by Cointelegraph
SpaceX shares rose approximately 9% in premarket trading on October 21
9 %Reported by CoinGape
What happened
SpaceX released third-quarter 2026 results on October 20 showing revenue of $14.6 billion, a 161% year-over-year increase, and net income of $4.4 billion, reversing a $1.1 billion loss from the prior year. Diluted earnings reached 35 cents per share, well above analyst estimates of 13 to 16 cents. During the earnings call, Elon Musk said he supports a merger with Tesla and confirmed both boards have formed special committees of independent directors to assess the tie-up, though he cannot participate due to conflicts of interest. A merger would combine SpaceX's 18,712 bitcoin and Tesla's 11,509 bitcoin into a 30,221 BTC treasury. Musk cautioned that no agreement has been reached and a deal is not certain. SpaceX shares rose approximately 9% in premarket trading on October 21.
How the story developed
- First report
First report by CoinGape
SpaceX Stock Outlook Ahead of Q3 Earnings Release on October 20
- Official statement
SpaceX reports Q3 2026 earnings
Revenue $14.6 billion, net income $4.4 billion, diluted EPS 35 cents
- Official statement
Elon Musk confirms merger discussions with Tesla during earnings call
Musk says merger is a 'good idea' and both boards formed special committees
- Update
SpaceX shares rise 9% in premarket trading
Stock reacts to earnings beat and merger news
- Official statement
Official statement from Bitcoin.com News
Musk’s SpaceX Earnings Rocket Higher as Bitcoin Stash Holds Firm
- Update
CoinDesk reports combined bitcoin holdings would total 30,221 BTC
SpaceX's 18,712 BTC plus Tesla's 11,509 BTC
How coverage built up
Independent sources over time, counted the way the consensus panel counts them: a republication of a wire story does not move the line.
- 17 Oct 2026, 19:19 UTC: CoinGape — 1 independent source, 1 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 00:30 UTC: Bitcoin.com News, official — 2 independent sources, 3 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 01:07 UTC: Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) — 3 independent sources, 5 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 01:19 UTC: Cointelegraph — 4 independent sources, 6 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 09:23 UTC: CoinDesk — 5 independent sources, 10 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 16:16 UTC: Decrypt — 6 independent sources, 11 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 16:38 UTC: The Defiant — 7 independent sources, 13 reports
- 21 Oct 2026, 21:00 UTC: CryptoSlate — 8 independent sources, 16 reports
- 22 Oct 2026, 12:39 UTC: Finbold — 9 independent sources, 17 reports
- 22 Oct 2026, 13:33 UTC: Bitcoin Magazine — 10 independent sources, 18 reports
- 24 Oct 2026, 06:34 UTC: CryptoPotato — 11 independent sources, 20 reports
Affected entities
Also mentioned: Nasdaq, China, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, ARK Invest, MARA Holdings, United States, Michael Saylor
Original sources
Related events
AI model and Morgan Stanley offer diverging SpaceX price outlooks ahead of October 24 share unlock
ChatGPT predicts SpaceX shares at $145-$155 after October 24 unlock while Morgan Stanley maintains $300 target citing AI infrastructure growth.
Tesla beats Q3 delivery estimate, Musk regains $1 trillion, SpaceX buys spectrum
Tesla beat its Q3 delivery estimate, lifting Musk past $1 trillion again, while SpaceX agreed to buy $8 billion of wireless spectrum and drew a $100 trillion valuation target from its CEO.
Tesla Removes Dogecoin Note From Shop Payment Page as Musk's 'lol' Post Circulates
Tesla deleted a Dogecoin payment line from its main Shop page as Musk's 'lol' reply to an NFT-era profile screenshot circulated; DOGE traded at $0.098.
Tesla Demonstrates Flying Roadster Prototype With SpaceX Thrusters; Crypto Derivatives Volumes Surge
Tesla showed a Roadster prototype using cold-gas thrusters to flip and land on October 15, while Tesla derivative volumes jumped sharply on Hyperliquid and Binance.
Elon Musk said on a Diamandis podcast that Tesla's Optimus robots will surpass human surgeons in three years
Bitcoin.com News reports Elon Musk said on the Moonshots with Peter Diamandis podcast on 6 January 2026 that Tesla's Optimus robots will surpass human surgeons within three years.
