Elon Musk don pledge say next year he go give every child wey dey United States one share inside im aerospace company, SpaceX. The world richest man announce the plan on Monday, October 19, 2026, for one post on X, and e talk say na the first of many.
The giveaway fit reach about 72 million children wey dey United States. Using SpaceX closing share price of $146.03 on Friday, the shares go worth around $10.5 billion. He never disclose how the shares go reach the children, who go qualify, or when dem go receive them.
Elon Musk currently hold about 4.8 billion SpaceX shares, according to one August SEC filing. When unvested awards and stock options join, the number climb to 6.4 billion, wey represent 48.4% beneficial stake inside the company.
SpaceX set record for biggest initial public offering in history in June, raising $85.7 billion.
The pledge come weeks after Aliko Dangote, Africa richest man, unveil programmes to help two million vulnerable women for Nigeria and up to four million tertiary students acquire shares inside im $20 billion oil refinery. Aliko Dangote launch the women programme in September 2026 through Aliko Dangote Foundation, targeting widows, conflict victims and other disadvantaged women.
Aliko Dangote talk during 81st United Nations General Assembly for New York say the foundation dey partner with state governments so widows and other vulnerable women fit buy shares inside Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals. E add say beyond helping them buy shares, the foundation go donate additional shares wey dem go hold as savings.
On October 19, the foundation announce say e don identify 777,907 potential beneficiaries across 15 states for Nigeria. Under Women Share Subscription Grant Initiative, participating state governments go fund 10 refinery shares per beneficiary, while the foundation go provide another 10, making total allocation 15.56 million shares.
Aliko Dangote also introduce separate Student Share Grant Initiative for up to four million students for tertiary institutions for Nigeria. Students wey be 18 and above and buy at least 10 refinery shares through designated subscription platform fit qualify for another 10 shares wey the foundation go fund.
Although the two pledges happen under different conditions, dem show shared approach to wealth creation by two billionaires wey be richest for the world and Africa respectively. The women and student programmes target vulnerable women for Nigeria and tertiary students, and students must buy shares before dem fit get extra free shares. Elon Musk own na to give shares directly to children wey dey United States.
Elon Musk announcement come as technology companies dey face serious scrutiny over AI safety and wetin e fit mean for jobs. Anthropic also pledge 5% of im shares to one fund wey go make donations for public good, and the company talk say no share from the fund go use for lobbying or political donations for United States or overseas.
