Musk pledges SpaceX shares to US children, with no details on how
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The article adds context to Elon Musk’s pledge to give one SpaceX share to every child in the United States next year, noting that he announced it after criticising Anthropic’s plan to place shares in a public benefit fund. Musk said he favoured distributing shares directly to the public, but gave no details on how his proposed giveaway would work.
About 72.1 million US residents were under 18 in July 2025. At the share price cited in the article, giving each one share would cost more than $10.5 billion; Musk owns around 6.42 billion SpaceX shares, a 48.4% beneficial stake, and his estimated net worth is $908 billion. SpaceX shares debuted at $150 in June, briefly rose above $225, and had since fallen below $150.
- Musk pledged one SpaceX share for every US child next year.
- The potential giveaway is valued at more than $10.5 billion.
- The pledge followed his criticism of Anthropic’s share donation plan.
Full account
Elon Musk says he plans to give one SpaceX share to every child in the United States from next year, describing the proposed giveaway as “the first of many” in a post on X. He has not explained how recipients would be identified, how the shares would be transferred or whether the plan has conditions. The reports provide no further details about its implementation.
One report estimates there are about 72 million Americans under 18, based on Census Bureau figures for July 2025. At a share price below $150, distributing one share to each would amount to more than $10.5 billion in stock. That estimate depends on the number of eligible children and the share price; the reports do not set out how either would be determined when the pledge is carried out.
The pledge followed an exchange about Anthropic’s announcement that it would put at least 5% of its shares into a newly established public benefit fund. The fund is intended to support non-profits or make distributions to particular groups. Musk urged the company to give shares directly to the public and said he would do so himself. One report presents that exchange as the apparent context for his later announcement.
The other report places the pledge alongside earlier plans to direct company shares or money to children’s investment accounts. SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell has said she would give shares to two million Trump Accounts, while Dell’s founder and Micron have also announced contributions to the accounts. It also notes Musk’s substantial donations to Republican political groups. The reports therefore frame the pledge differently: one focuses on its scale, Musk’s wealth and the Anthropic exchange; the other highlights comparable child-focused investments and his political giving.
Where outlets differ
The first report says SpaceX went public in June, gives its initial and peak share prices, and estimates Musk’s ownership at 6.42 billion shares, or a 48.4% beneficial stake, with net worth estimated at $908 billion. The second does not include those company and wealth figures.
The second report adds Shotwell’s planned contribution to Trump Accounts, other contributions to those accounts, and Musk’s political donations. The first does not cover those topics.
The first report explicitly links the pledge to Musk’s response to Anthropic’s public benefit fund. The second mentions no such connection and instead situates it among other investments aimed at children.
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Originally published by Variety as “Elon Musk Said He Will Give One SpaceX Share ‘to Every Kid in America’ — a Giveaway That Would Amount to Over $10.5 Billion”.