Elon Musk stated on Monday that he intends to distribute one of his SpaceX shares to every child in the United States next year. The announcement follows his response to Anthropic's proposal to commit a portion of its shares to a public benefit fund. Musk currently holds approximately 4.8 billion SpaceX shares, a figure that expands to 6.4 billion when including unvested awards and stock options, representing a 48.4% beneficial stake in the company, according to an August SEC filing.
Based on official census data indicating there were 72 million children under the age of 18 in the U.S. as of July 1, 2025, the gesture would involve the CEO giving away approximately $10.5 billion worth of shares. This valuation is calculated using SpaceX's closing stock price of $146.03 as of Friday. In a post on X, Musk described the move as "the first of many," though he did not provide further details on the mechanics of the share giveaway.
The pledge emerged after Anthropic revealed plans to commit 5% of its shares to a new public benefit fund. Subject to shareholder approval, the fund would immediately hold that 5% stake. The board retains the discretion to add an additional 2% for every 50% increase in the company's value above a set baseline, which has yet to be disclosed. Anthropic stated the fund may support significant charitable gifts or direct payments to specific groups, or fund research into how artificial intelligence disrupts employment.
Musk reacted to an Anthropic post about the fund on Sunday by replying, "I recommend giving the shares directly to the public," adding that it was what he would be doing. CNBC has reached out to SpaceX for further comment on the planned distribution.