Musk says he will give one SpaceX share to each US child in 2027

Musk’s pledge and the estimated value

The Financial Express reports that Elon Musk said he plans to give one SpaceX share to every child in the United States next year, which the article frames as a 2027 proposal. Based on the price cited in the announcement, the distribution could total about $10.66 billion.

According to the article, the estimate is based on an Associated Press count of roughly 73 million US children under 18. With SpaceX shares closing at $146.03 on Friday, one share per child would produce that approximate total value. The Financial Express notes that this is only an estimate, not a fixed amount, because the share price can change and the final figure would depend on how many recipients there are and the price when shares are transferred.

What Musk said on X

The Financial Express says Musk made the pledge in posts on X on Monday. He did not explain how the distribution would be carried out, who would be eligible, or whether parents or guardians would have to do anything formal.

The article says SpaceX has not yet issued any official statement about the proposal. It also says Musk responded to Anthropic’s separate ownership plan by arguing for direct distribution rather than sending shares through another entity. The Financial Express quotes Musk as saying, “I recommend giving the shares directly to the public.” He later added, “This will be the first of many.”

Open questions about the SpaceX plan

The Financial Express says the proposal raises several unresolved questions. Musk has not said how eligible children would be identified, how shares owned by minors would be handled, or whether parents and guardians would control the holdings.

The article also says it is unclear whether recipients would be able to sell or transfer the shares right away. SpaceX was scheduled to report quarterly earnings on Tuesday, according to AP, but the article says those results would not answer how or when Musk intends to implement the pledge. Until more is disclosed, the Financial Express describes the idea as a pledge rather than a completed distribution program.

Anthropic’s separate share plan

The Financial Express reports that Musk’s announcement came after Anthropic said on Sunday, October 18, that it would commit 5% of its shares to a new entity called the Anthropic Public Benefit Fund, subject to shareholder approval. The company said the fund would be able to support public-interest work, including large donations to established nonprofits and direct help for specific groups.

The article says Anthropic also proposed a mechanism under which an additional 2% of the company’s shares could be added at the board’s discretion for every 50% increase in value above a stated baseline. That means the initial 5% pledge may not be the fund’s final stake.

The Financial Express adds that Anthropic said it already supports public-interest work through its business, including AI safety and interpretability research, applied biomedical research, and discounts on its Claude AI service for nonprofits and scientific institutions. Unlike Musk’s proposed direct share giveaway, Anthropic’s plan would place company shares in a fund for broader public-benefit uses.

Wider backdrop and public concern

The article says the announcements come amid concern about the social and economic effects of rapid AI development, including questions about employment, privacy, safety, and who benefits from technological progress. It cites an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll published on October 8 showing that 64% of Americans said AI was moving too fast, while 27% said it was about right and 8% said it was moving too slowly.

The Financial Express also says the poll found support for government priorities such as keeping AI under human control and protecting workers. Separately, AP reported that Musk has given more than $276 million since July to back Republican efforts to keep congressional majorities in the 2026 midterm elections. The article says this is part of a broader discussion about wealthy technology leaders, but it does not establish Musk’s motive for the SpaceX pledge.