Elon Musk plans to hand one share of SpaceX stock to every child in the United States beginning in 2027.
He announced the pledge on Monday, October 19, 2026, according to CNBC.
The initiative could reach approximately 72 million children and involve shares worth about $10.5 billion. Details of how the distribution would work remain undisclosed.
Musk, who leads SpaceX and Tesla, signaled on X that the giveaway would not be his last.
"Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America," he said. "This will be the first of many."
A Broader Push by Tech Companies
The announcement came after artificial intelligence company Anthropic committed 5% of its shares to a fund supporting the public good.
The pledges arrive as technology firms face growing scrutiny over AI safety, employment disruption, and the consequences of rapid technological development.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell previously said she would donate company shares to 2 million Trump Accounts, tax-advantaged investment accounts established for American children.
Dell's founder has committed $6.25 billion to the accounts, while Micron announced a separate $250 million investment, according to The Verge.
SpaceX completed an initial public offering in June that raised $85.7 billion, a record for the largest IPO in history, according to the BBC.
The company also owns xAI, tying Musk's business interests to the expanding AI sector.
Anthropic, developer of the Claude AI assistant, said its Public Benefit Fund would direct resources toward public-interest causes while excluding political spending.
The company said none of the fund's shares would be used for lobbying or political donations in the US or abroad, and that its board could authorize an additional 2% of shares for the fund.
Responding to Anthropic's move, Musk advocated giving shares directly to individuals rather than routing them through a fund.
"I recommend giving the shares directly to the public," he said. "This is what I will be doing."
The BBC reported that Anthropic is preparing for a potential stock market listing that could value the company at more than $1 trillion.
Like other AI developers, it faces substantial costs for building advanced models and the infrastructure to run them.
AI Debate and Political Giving
The financial commitments come amid intensifying debate about AI's effects on employment and public safety.
Technology companies worldwide have cut thousands of jobs after investing in AI, with some citing efficiency gains.
Research published by the International Monetary Fund in 2024 estimated that nearly 40% of jobs worldwide could be affected by AI, rising to as much as 60% in advanced economies.
In September, former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon raised concerns about the pace of AI development after leaving the company.
Speaking to the BBC after his resignation post drew widespread attention, the 27-year-old warned about the potential consequences of continued advances.
Anthropic chief Dario Amodei has previously called for slower AI development, though some observers have questioned the motivations behind such proposals.
OpenAI chief Sam Altman and Musk have also voiced support for slowing the industry's pace, introducing regulation, and establishing independent oversight of AI models.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly rejected proposals for laws restricting AI development, according to the BBC, leaving the debate over safeguards unresolved.
Musk has also made substantial political contributions.
According to CBS News, he donated $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund PAC in September, more than half of the committee's total receipts in the third quarter of 2026.
He also gave $76 million to America PAC, which he founded in 2024.
Neither Musk nor SpaceX has disclosed how the proposed shares would be allocated to individual children, including eligibility requirements and the distribution process.
The giveaway is scheduled to begin in 2027.
