Elon Musk says he will give every child in the US one share of SpaceX stock

What happened

On October 19 (Japan time), Elon Musk posted on X that in 2027 he wants to give every child in the United States one share of his SpaceX stock. He said this would be the first of many efforts. He did not say which children qualify, where they must live, how they would receive the shares, or when the gifts would be made.

Why he made the promise

The news came after AI company Anthropic announced a plan to use part of its stock for public good. On October 18, Anthropic said it would put 5% of its shares into a new fund called the Anthropic Public Benefit Fund. Musk replied on X that Anthropic should hand shares directly to people. He then said that was exactly what he was going to do.

Key numbers and facts

• Musk's plan: one SpaceX share for every U.S. child, starting in 2027.
• Anthropic's fund: 5% of its shares at launch.
• Extra gifts: 2% more shares each time company value rises 50% above a set level, if the board agrees.
• Anthropic's co-founders said they would give away 80% of their own shares.
• Together with employee gifts that the company matches, about 20% of Anthropic's shares may go to public good.

A similar plan from SpaceX

In July 2026, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell and her husband said they would give one SpaceX share to more than 2 million U.S. children. The gifts would go through the Trump Accounts, a savings account for children set up by the U.S. government. The plan mainly targeted children aged 11 to 17 living in areas with lower incomes. It is not yet clear whether Musk's plan would use the same system.

Why it matters

This story shows how big companies and their leaders may share wealth in new ways. It also raises questions. AI can create large economic value, but it may also hurt jobs and workers' lives. Anthropic says its fund could help with these problems. Musk's plan is still just a promise, so the details will decide how much it really helps.