Musk says every U.S. child could get one SpaceX share in 2027

Musk’s post on X

USA TODAY reports that Elon Musk said on Oct. 19 that he plans to give one share of SpaceX stock to every child in the United States in 2027. Musk wrote on X, which he owns, that he would give “one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America.” He added, “This will be the first of many,” according to the report.

Timing and what prompted the pledge

The article says Musk’s announcement came after AI company Anthropic said it would commit 5% of its shares to a public benefit fund. In response to Anthropic’s post on X, Musk said he recommended giving shares directly to the public and said that was what he would do. USA TODAY reports that both companies’ actions come amid growing public scrutiny of AI companies and their products.

Possible value of the giveaway

According to USA TODAY, about 73 million children under 18 live in the United States. Based on SpaceX’s current share price, the proposed giveaway would be worth nearly $10.7 billion. The article says a share of SpaceX stock was trading at about $146 as of Oct. 19, according to The Motley Fool.

Questions left unanswered

USA TODAY says Musk did not provide details on how the shares would be distributed. The article also says the USA TODAY Network left a message with SpaceX on Monday, Oct. 19, seeking more information.

SpaceX context and financial plans

The report says Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 and remains its chief executive. It says the company is headquartered at Starbase in South Texas and launches satellites for Starlink as well as payloads for commercial, civil, and military customers from Florida and California. USA TODAY also says SpaceX is preparing to discuss its third-quarter fiscal 2026 financial results during an Oct. 20 earnings call, and that the company went public in June with a record-setting initial public offering on the Nasdaq.

Starship program

USA TODAY says SpaceX also develops Starship, described as the world’s largest rocket when fully stacked at more than 400 feet tall. The article says Starship is being built to help carry astronauts to the lunar surface for NASA’s Artemis missions, while Musk also wants it to reach Mars so humans could build self-sustaining cities there. The report says Starship has been test-flying since April 2023 from Starbase and most recently reached orbit at the end of September on its 14th launch.