Key Points

• Elon Musk promises to give SpaceX shares of stock to American children
• The proposed value of this gift could exceed $10.5 billion.
• Trump's account could become a distribution mechanism

Elon Musk has promised to give each child in the United States one share of SpaceX stock next year. This plan could distribute over $10.5 billion worth of listed shares to millions of American young people through some kind of program, connecting them with the future of this company.

SpaceX On Monday morning, October 19th, CEO Elon Musk announced this plan on X, stating that he would transfer shares from his personal holdings in 2027. Subsequently, Musk expressed his support for using the Trump account ( Trump Accounts ), which is a government-backed investment account set up for children.

Elon Musk's SpaceX stock bonus could reach up to $10.5 billion

Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that there are approximately 72 million residents in the United States who are under the age of 18.

SpaceX The stock closed at $146.03 last Friday, and calculated at one share per child, the total value is estimated to be about $10.51 billion.

This valuation is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent a fixed donation amount. When the transfer occurs, the price of the SpaceX stock may be significantly different, and the final number of recipients will also depend on the eligibility criteria.

This aerospace and artificial intelligence company completed its listing on NASDAQ in June, with an issue price of $135 per share. Prior to that, a particularly large-scale IPO opened up its ownership to public market investors.

SpaceX subsequently attracted institutional investors, including Harvard University; reportedly, the latter holds shares worth 2.2 billion US dollars, demonstrating the demand for the company from large-scale investment institutions.

Musk's proposal will introduce a different type of shareholder: children who can obtain shares without having to purchase them.

How does Trump's account distribute SpaceX stocks?

Trump's account is an investment account established under Section 530A of the Internal Revenue Code, which enjoys tax benefits and is intended for eligible children.

This program usually allows American children under the age of 18 who hold a Social Security number to open an account; there is also a federal program that provides $1,000 to eligible children born between 2025 and 2028.

This $1,000 government contribution is a different matter from Musk's proposed private stock donation.

In July this year, the Ministry of Finance announced that eligible charitable donors could donate publicly traded stocks through this program.

In September, the relevant regulations were further clarified, stating that eligible donation securities must be publicly traded, issued by domestic companies, and not subject to specific transfer restrictions.

Such donated stocks typically need to be held for at least five years, or until the end of the growth period specified in the plan, whichever comes first.

This mechanism is also built upon the commitments of existing enterprises. SpaceX President Gwen Shortwell has previously pledged to donate stocks to children's accounts, joining other business leaders who support Trump's accounts in this effort.

However, the existence of a regulatory pathway does not mean that the Ministry of Finance has already approved Musk's specific distribution plan.

SpaceX Stock Grant Proposal Follows Anthropic Large-Scale Stock Donation Plan

Musk's announcement followed his commitment on October 18th to allocate 5% of his shares to a public interest fund.

This artificial intelligence developer plans to use the funds to support initiatives aimed at addressing economic and social challenges, including the impact of artificial intelligence on employment.

Musk responded that direct public ownership of shares should be promoted, rather than distributing corporate wealth through a centralized charitable structure alone.

His SpaceX bonus share proposal also emerged after the company's historic listing; this listing reshaped its ownership structure and sparked discussions about whether IPO would draw investment capital away from other markets.

SpaceX The stock itself is still affected by market fluctuations. Previously, the stock was traded below the price of IPO, which indicates that receiving one share of stock does not guarantee a certain future dollar value.

For families, this proposed distribution may create a new type of investment asset, but its ultimate financial returns will depend on the performance of SpaceX and the rules regarding when the recipients can sell the shares.

The next key milestone is to formally determine which children are eligible, how the stocks will be transferred, and whether the plan will receive the necessary approval from the Ministry of Finance before its proposed launch in 2027.