Elon Musk announced on Monday that he would hand a single SpaceX share to each of the 73 million children in the U.S., a gesture that would total about $10.66 billion at the current trading price. The move came a day after AI firm Anthropic revealed a 5% share commitment to its public‑benefit fund, and Musk replied on social media, "I recommend giving the shares directly to the public."
SpaceX shares closed at $146.03 Friday, a 35.3% decline from the peak following its IPO. Investors are watching the upcoming earnings report scheduled for Tuesday, wondering how this philanthropic announcement will influence sentiment and valuation.
Musk, who has already funneled more than $276 million to Republican candidates in the midterm cycle, said the share pledge would be "the first of many." The announcement fits a broader pattern of tech magnates linking their wealth to public benefit projects.
Industry analysts note that the timing may be strategic, as both SpaceX and Anthropic gear up for potential IPOs later this year. The gesture could also be a response to a recent AP‑NORC poll where 64% of Americans believe artificial intelligence is evolving too quickly, prompting calls for greater corporate responsibility.
The next step will be SpaceX’s earnings release on Tuesday, after which market watchers will assess whether the pledge translates into tangible investor confidence or simply a headline-grabbing experiment.