Tech billionaire Elon Musk announced on Monday, October 19, that he plans to give one SpaceX share to every child in the United States in 2025. Musk, who owns 38% of SpaceX according to Forbes, shared the plan on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America. This will be the first of many.” He did not provide details on how the distribution would be implemented. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are approximately 73 million children under age 18 in the country.
Musk’s announcement follows SpaceX’s record-setting initial public offering (IPO) in June 2024, which raised $85.7 billion, and the company’s Starship rocket reaching orbit for the first time in September 2024. The Starship is central to Musk’s long-term ambition to establish a human presence on Mars.
The plan comes amid broader discussions about wealth distribution in the tech sector, particularly in relation to AI and automation. Anthropic, an AI company, announced on Sunday, October 18, that it would allocate 5% of its shares to a new Anthropic Public Benefit Fund, pending shareholder approval. The fund, structured as a company-owned LLC, will direct equity toward public benefit initiatives, including research on AI’s impact on jobs. Anthropic has already committed $200 million to study AI’s effect on employment and suggested the need for “bolder approaches” as AI advances.
SpaceX’s financial performance has drawn attention from investors ahead of its earnings report. Options traders priced a 6% stock swing for SpaceX after the earnings announcement on Tuesday, October 20, with bullish sentiment reflected in higher call option purchases. The company has faced share lockup expirations, including 1.6 billion eligible shares released in recent weeks, though prior expirations did not significantly impact stock price.
Musk’s proposal has no confirmed timeline, funding mechanism, or regulatory pathway. The announcement was made via social media without additional clarification on logistics, eligibility, or potential tax implications for recipients.