Musk says he will give SpaceX shares to American children in 2027

Musk’s announced plan

AOL.com reports that Elon Musk said he intends to give one SpaceX share to every American child in 2027. The article describes the pledge as potentially affecting about 72 million young people. It says CNBC estimated that, using October share prices, the total value would be roughly $10.5 billion.

The article says Musk has not yet explained exactly how the shares would be delivered. It adds that he has said they would go through Trump accounts, which are a government program for children’s investment accounts.

What Musk said on X

According to AOL.com, Musk announced the idea in an October 19 post on X. In that post, he said, “Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America,” and he described it as “the first of many.” The article attributes that quote directly to Musk.

The report says CNBC has stated that Musk owns about 4.8 billion SpaceX shares. It says the 72 million shares promised in the plan would come from his personal holdings. CNBC also sought more information from SpaceX and Musk’s family office, but did not receive a response, according to the article.

Trump accounts and the government contribution

AOL.com says Musk was asked on X whether the shares would be placed into Trump accounts, and he answered, “Yes.” The article also says President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have indicated the shares would go into those accounts, citing Yahoo Finance.

The report explains that Trump accounts are tax-advantaged investment accounts for children born from 2025 through 2028. It says eligible children can receive a $1,000 federal contribution, and families can also add their own money. Musk’s promised SpaceX gift, the article says, would be separate from that federal contribution.

Value, timing, and unanswered questions

AOL.com says that at the share price recently cited by CNBC, one SpaceX share would be worth about $146 on paper. The article notes that this value could change if SpaceX’s share price rises or falls, and that the stock’s eventual value would also depend on when it can be sold. It stresses that a quoted price does not mean a child would immediately have cash.

The article says parents should not make plans based on the promise until there is an active plan and the shares are actually released. It also notes that the source article does not provide final details on how the transfer would work.

Musk’s prior pledges

AOL.com says the article points to earlier promises by Musk, including a pledge of up to $1 billion to OpenAI that later resulted in about $38 million, and a promised $6 billion donation to the United Nations World Food Program that was never made after the group presented a hunger plan. The article says these examples are not presented as proof that he will not follow through this time, but as a reminder that a public pledge is not the same as a completed gift.

The piece says that if Musk carries out the plan, it could give many children an early stake in a prominent company. It also says any eventual benefit would depend on whether the shares are actually transferred and on SpaceX’s future market performance.