Key Highlights

  • Elon Musk said on Monday he plans to give one SpaceX share to every US child next year.
  • The pledge is worth about USD 10.5 billion, based on 72 million children and a Friday close of USD 146.03.
  • Musk gave no details on how the distribution is carried out, saying only that it is the first of many.
  • The announcement followed Anthropic’s plan to commit 5 percent of its shares to a new public benefit fund.

The Pledge

SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) chief executive Elon Musk said on Monday that he plans to give one of his shares in the company to every child in the United States next year. In a post on X, he described the move as the first of many, and gave no details on how the distribution is carried out.

Official census data put the number of US children under 18 at 72 million as of July 1, 2025. At SpaceX’s closing price of USD 146.03 on Friday, the pledge is worth about USD 10.5 billion. SpaceX shares traded 2.95 percent higher in Monday trading.

Musk’s Holdings in SpaceX

An August filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission shows Musk owns about 4.8 billion SpaceX shares. When unvested awards and stock options are counted, the figure rises to 6.4 billion shares, a beneficial stake of 48.4 percent in the company.

Musk did not say how the shares reach children or when next year the transfer takes place. A request for comment from SpaceX was outstanding at the time of reporting.

SpaceX Since Its June Listing

SpaceX went public in June, and the company is now valued at about USD 2 trillion. That makes it one of just 12 US companies worth at least USD 1 trillion.

Musk’s companies have long worked with and paid each other, and the collaboration has increased in 2026. Speculation about a possible tie-up between SpaceX and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has swirled since the offering. The pledge to children arrives against that backdrop, with Musk holding a beneficial stake of 48.4 percent in the newly listed company.

Giving in a Political Season

Musk’s financial giving has drawn attention in recent weeks mainly for his political contributions. The Tesla chief executive has donated more than USD 276 million to Republican groups since July, making him the biggest known donor of the 2026 midterm elections.

In September, the world’s richest person put USD 158 million into the Senate Leadership Fund, the Republican Party’s leading Senate super PAC. The money moved through an affiliated Texas PAC created to support Republican Ken Paxton, in two contributions of USD 75 million and USD 83 million. Those are among the largest political donations ever.

The Anthropic Connection

Musk’s post followed an announcement from Anthropic that it plans to commit 5 percent of its shares to a new public benefit fund, with the stake able to grow as its valuation rises. Replying to Anthropic’s post about the fund on Sunday, Musk recommended giving the shares directly to the public and said that is what he is doing.

Subject to shareholder approval, the Anthropic fund commits 5 percent of the company’s shares immediately. The board can add, at its discretion, a further 2 percent for every 50 percent rise in the company’s value above a baseline that has not been disclosed.

The fund can explore large donations, including to traditional nonprofits or as direct distributions to specific populations. It can also pursue bolder approaches to study and address the disruption and displacement of jobs caused by AI, the company said.

Other Programs for Children

The White House said earlier this month that nearly 70 million Trump Accounts have been created so far, covering every American child under 18. Musk’s announcement did not say whether the SpaceX shares connect to that program or to any other mechanism.