Elon Musk Pledges One SpaceX Share to Every American Child in 2027, a Potential $10.5 Billion Gift
Elon Musk announced Monday that he will give one share of SpaceX stock from his personal holdings to every child in the United States next year, calling the move “the first of many.”
The pledge, posted early on X, could be worth roughly $10.5–$10.7 billion at recent prices of about $146–$148 per share, based on Census estimates of roughly 72–73 million Americans under age 18.
The announcement came hours after AI company Anthropic said it would place a portion of its shares into a new public benefit fund for philanthropic purposes.
Musk replied that he preferred giving shares directly to the public “and this is what I will be doing.”
President Trump later stated that the SpaceX shares would be distributed through Trump Accounts—the tax-advantaged investment accounts created for U.S. children under his administration.
The Treasury Department has automatically enrolled tens of millions of eligible children into the program.
Musk is SpaceX’s largest shareholder, controlling more than 6.4 billion shares (roughly a 48% beneficial stake after the company’s record June 2026 IPO).
Much of that stock remains under lockup until mid-2027.
He provided no further details on eligibility criteria, exact timing within 2027, or the mechanics of distribution.
Analysts note that Trump Accounts rules generally restrict sales of donated stock for a period of years and limit investment options until the beneficiary reaches a certain age.
The pledge follows a smaller but related commitment earlier in 2026 by SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and her husband, who said they would donate one SpaceX share each into Trump Accounts for more than 2 million children ages 11–17 in lower-income households, with a focus on Texas.
Other philanthropists, including Michael and Susan Dell, have also directed billions into the accounts.
Musk’s net worth is estimated at around $900 billion.
The proposed gift would represent his largest publicly announced charitable distribution to date, though it remains a pledge without a detailed implementation plan.
SpaceX and Musk’s representatives have not yet provided additional clarification.
