Elon Musk's social media promise could become a roughly $10 billion giveaway. He says he wants every child in the United States to receive a share of SpaceX.
Spread across about 73 million children, the proposal would be the biggest charitable donation of Musk's career if it happens.
Here's what to know
According to The New York Times, Musk left the basics unanswered — who would qualify, when shares would be distributed, and how the plan would work. In his X post, Musk wrote, "Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many."
Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 19, 2026
Based on the share price cited by The Wall Street Journal, the promise would total about $10 billion. Using Census data, the report said roughly 73 million U.S. residents are younger than 18.
That scale would make the planned gift Musk's biggest charitable donation, but the logistics remain unknown. The Times also noted that Anthropic announced a separate move to place a large number of shares into a "public benefit fund" shortly before Musk's announcement.
More background
Even a giveaway that large would represent only a slice of Musk's broader SpaceX holdings: more than 6.4 billion shares, which keep him as the company's largest shareholder. The Times said most of that stake cannot be sold or traded before June 2027 due to "lockup provisions."
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
The Musk Foundation has more than $14 billion in assets, but it has not met the legally required minimum over the past four years. Musk also joined the Giving Pledge in 2012, committing alongside other ultrawealthy donors to give away at least half of his fortune.
Musk's big philanthropic promises have drawn attention. The Times reported that the United Nations World Food Program produced a plan after Musk challenged it to show how $6 billion could address world hunger, but the donation never arrived; The Wall Street Journal separately reported that he gave about $5.7 billion in Tesla shares to charity in 2021.
What's being done?
Musk has also promised to contribute to Trump Accounts, the government-run savings program for children, raising the question of whether those same accounts could be used for the proposed SpaceX stock gift.
Whether families get a direct share or a contribution inside a more restricted vehicle may depend on Treasury rules. The Wall Street Journal said those rules allow donating stock to Trump Accounts without triggering capital gains taxes.
For families, the usefulness of any stock gift may depend as much on the restrictions as on the share itself. Trump Account rules generally do not let families refuse a stock donation and usually prevent any sale for five years.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
