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Musk Plans to Give One SpaceX Share to Every American Child
Space2 min read
Elon Musk said he plans to give at least one SpaceX share to every child in the United States next year. CNBC reported the plan on the 19th (local time).
What happened
Elon Musk, the head of Tesla and SpaceX, said he will give at least one share of SpaceX stock to every American child next year. He wrote on his X account that this will be "the first of many future donations." He did not say how the shares will be given out.
Key numbers
- Musk owns about 4.8 billion SpaceX shares. With unissued shares and stock options, the total is about 6.4 billion.
- About 72 million American children aged 18 or younger lived in the US as of July 1, 2025.
- SpaceX closed at $146.03 on Friday the 16th.
- Giving one share to each child would cost about $10.5 billion (about 14 trillion won).
- Since July, Musk has given more than $276 million to Republican groups. This made him the largest named donor to the 2026 midterm elections, according to the article.
Background
A share is a small piece of ownership in a company. Stock options give a person the right to buy shares later at a set price. Musk's wealth is mostly tied to SpaceX, so its share price has a large effect on his total net worth. Midterm elections are held in the middle of a U.S. president's term to choose members of Congress.
Why it matters
This is one of the largest giveaways of company stock to children ever announced. It shows how much of Musk's wealth is in SpaceX. Because he has also given large sums to political groups, the plan may draw attention to his role in U.S. politics. The article does not explain the details, so many questions remain.
What to watch
- How Musk will actually give out the shares, and whether there will be rules or limits.
- Whether the plan goes ahead as announced next year.
- How SpaceX's share price changes, since it affects the total cost of the gift.
- How Musk's political donations grow before the 2026 midterm elections.
Glossary
- SpaceX
- A U.S. rocket and space company that builds rockets and satellites. Its stock value is part of Musk's wealth.
- Stock options
- A right to buy company shares later at a set price. They are a common pay tool for employees and leaders.
- Midterm elections
- U.S. elections held in the middle of a president's four-year term to choose members of Congress.
- X
- A social media service where people post short messages. Musk used it to make his announcement.