Billionaire entrepreneur, Elon Musk, has announced plans to give every child in the United States a share in SpaceX, his $2 trillion aerospace and artificial intelligence company, although details of the proposed giveaway remain unclear.
Musk made the announcement on Monday through a post on X, where he outlined his intention to distribute shares to millions of American children starting next year.
“Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America,” he wrote. “This will be the first of many.”
SpaceX, which entered the stock market in June, was trading at approximately $146 per share at the close of trading on Friday.
However, Musk has yet to explain how the shares would be distributed or establish the eligibility requirements for the proposed initiative.
Data from the United States Census Bureau puts the country’s population of children under 18 at approximately 73 million.
Based on SpaceX’s current share price, distributing one share to every child in that age group would amount to about $10.7 billion.
The proposal comes amid growing interest in initiatives designed to give young Americans a financial stake in the stock market.
Earlier this month, the US Treasury Department automatically enrolled millions of children under 18 in Trump Accounts, a new federal savings and investment programme.
Children born between the beginning of 2025 and the end of 2028 are eligible for a one-time $1,000 government contribution.
Musk’s Announcement Follows Anthropic’s Initiative
Musk’s pledge followed an announcement by artificial intelligence company Anthropic on Sunday that it would allocate at least five per cent of its shares, valued at $48 billion based on its latest valuation, to a Public Benefit Fund.
The fund is expected to support social causes, with potential beneficiaries including non-profit organisations and specific groups of people affected by technological changes.
Anthropic said the initiative could help address the consequences of artificial intelligence, particularly its potential impact on employment.
Responding to the announcement, Musk advocated distributing shares directly to members of the public rather than channelling the proceeds through a dedicated fund.
“I recommend giving the shares directly to the public… This is what I will be doing.”
Tech Companies Face Growing Scrutiny
The announcements come as major technology companies face mounting criticism over the safety of artificial intelligence products, the possibility of widespread job losses and the environmental consequences of expanding data centre infrastructure.
Anthropic has also raised concerns about the potential dangers of advanced AI, including what it described as an existential risk to humanity.
Beyond the AI industry, technology executives are facing renewed public scrutiny over their business practices and influence on society.
Recent film and documentary releases have also drawn attention to controversies involving major technology companies and their leaders.
Musk is among those attracting attention, with a new documentary examining his career, business practices and involvement in politics.
Although Musk has announced his intention to distribute SpaceX shares to American children, questions remain about how the plan would work in practice and whether all eligible children would receive the promised shares.
