Elon Musk said he will give one SpaceX share to every child in America next year, posting the pledge on X and responding to Anthropic’s announcement of a major equity donation.
The gesture would be large in scale. CNN reported roughly 73 million people under 18 in the US, and SpaceX shares traded around $146 in recent markets, putting the potential transfer near $10.7 billion at that price.
CNBC and CNN said SpaceX only began trading publicly in June after a record initial public offering. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell earlier pledged about two million shares to Trump Accounts, and Musk thanked Brad Gerstner in an X comment that suggested gifts might be routed through those new accounts, CNBC reported.
CNN noted Musk has signed the Giving Pledge and that the Musk Foundation held more than $14 billion in assets at the end of 2024, according to a New York Times analysis cited by the outlet.
Regulatory Limits And Legal Risks
The Treasury has issued temporary rules for stock donations to Trump Accounts that could restrict beneficiaries from selling donated shares for five years, CNBC reported. The rules generally bar early sales until the earlier of five years or the end of the calendar year when the beneficiary turns 17.
Early sales are permitted only in narrow circumstances, such as certain corporate transitions or a stock’s formal delisting, not for financial or legal troubles that might prompt a sale, CNBC said. The rules also require a trustee who sells gifted stock too early to buy back the same number and class of shares as soon as practicable.
Lawyers and philanthropic experts told CNBC the rules give donors unusual influence over recipients. Carolyn Schenck said the arrangement allows the donor to dictate gift terms rather than leaving final control with the trustee. Schenck warned beneficiaries could bear costs if trustees must repurchase shares after a mistaken sale.
Adam Michel of the Cato Institute said Congress intended the accounts to be diversified and noted families cannot refuse stock gifts under the rules. Jane Ditelberg said the sale restrictions reduce donor risk of mass selloffs and flagged possible legal challenges, citing recent changes to judicial deference to agencies.
A Treasury official told CNBC the rules aim to build long term wealth for children and attract donations. The agency pointed to large pledges such as Michael and Susan Dell’s $6.25 billion cash commitment and said sustaining that giving remains uncertain.
CNBC reported about 70 million Trump Accounts have been created, with more than 60 million set up through auto enrollment. Experts stressed that while a SpaceX share donation would be generous, the regulatory framework raises questions about control, diversification and whether statutory changes belong with Congress rather than administrative rulemaking.
