Elon Musk pledges SpaceX shares to every American child in 2027

Elon Musk said on X on Monday that he plans to give one of his SpaceX shares to each American child next year, and that more measures of the same kind are planned. The pledge links to his broader view that artificial intelligence could eventually produce what he calls universal high income, allowing people to gain financially from automation and higher productivity.

Musk has doubted whether traditional charity can deliver lasting benefits at scale, and instead favours using AI-generated economic gains for broader public prosperity, including government payments that let individuals share in new wealth. Profit by Pakistan Today reported that the scheme would involve SpaceX stock, a company that listed earlier this year and runs Musk's AI, satellite internet and social media businesses.

SpaceX stock changed hands near $150 on Monday, yet Musk has not said how many shares would be distributed or what the programme would be worth. He has also not explained how it would be financed, who would qualify, how transfers would work, or whether recipients could sell. A day earlier, rival AI firm Anthropic had revealed a plan to set aside part of its stock for a public benefit fund on a continuing basis.