Elon Musk Is Giving Away $1M to a Trump Supporter Every Day Until Election Day, Prompting Calls for Investigation

Mar. 15, 2025

Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Oct. 5, 2024.Photo:JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty

Elon Muskis giving away money toDonald Trumpsupporters every day untilElection Dayon Nov. 5.Musk, 53, announced the daily giveaway on Saturday, Oct. 19, at an America PAC event in Harrisburg, Penn., where he explained he plans to randomly award $1 million every day to a swing state supporter of the Republican presidential candidate.“I have a surprise for you," Musk told the crowd before bringing out a giant check. “We are going to be awarding $1 million to people who have signed the petition — every day, from now until the election.”During the event, theTeslaCEO handed attendee John Dreher a check for $1 million. Musk called the stunt “kind of fun,” adding that “it seems like a good use of money basically.“Elon Musk gives a $1 million check to Kristine Fishell in Pittsburgh on Oct. 20, 2024.Michael Swensen/GettyTo qualify, registered voters must sign a petition for Musk’s “pro-Trump political action committee,” as perCNBC. People wishing to sign the petition on the America PAC website “must be registered voters of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin.“On Sunday, Oct. 20, theSpaceXfounder handed another $1 million giant check out to Kristine Fishell during a town hall at Pittsburgh.According toReuters, Musk has donated $75 million to America PAC in support of Trump, 78.Musk has also been active in encouraging Pennsylvanian residents to register to vote, speaking at events throughout the state. “How Pennsylvania goes I think is how the election goes,” Musk said, per CNBC.Musk’s giveaway might violatefederal election lawsthat state that someone who “pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.”Elon Musk on July 13, 2024.Anna Moneymaker/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, also weighed in on Musk’s proposed giveaway. “I think it’s something that law enforcement should take a look at,” Shapiro said during an appearance onNBC’s Meet the Presson Oct. 20.“I’m not the attorney general anymore of Pennsylvania, I’m the governor, but it does raise serious questions,” Shapiro added.The X (formerly known as Twitter) owner hadn’t been a Trump supporter in the past.In July 2022, he had said that Trump would be too oldto run for president. “Trump would be 82 at end of term, which is too old to be chief executive of anything,” he posted onX.However, in July, he said he was all in on Trumpfollowing theassassination attemptat a rally in Butler, Penn. “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” the CEO said at the time.

Elon Muskis giving away money toDonald Trumpsupporters every day untilElection Dayon Nov. 5.

Musk, 53, announced the daily giveaway on Saturday, Oct. 19, at an America PAC event in Harrisburg, Penn., where he explained he plans to randomly award $1 million every day to a swing state supporter of the Republican presidential candidate.

“I have a surprise for you,” Musk told the crowd before bringing out a giant check. “We are going to be awarding $1 million to people who have signed the petition — every day, from now until the election.”

During the event, theTeslaCEO handed attendee John Dreher a check for $1 million. Musk called the stunt “kind of fun,” adding that “it seems like a good use of money basically.”

Elon Musk gives a $1 million check to Kristine Fishell in Pittsburgh on Oct. 20, 2024.Michael Swensen/Getty

Michael Swensen/Getty

To qualify, registered voters must sign a petition for Musk’s “pro-Trump political action committee,” as perCNBC. People wishing to sign the petition on the America PAC website “must be registered voters of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin.”

On Sunday, Oct. 20, theSpaceXfounder handed another $1 million giant check out to Kristine Fishell during a town hall at Pittsburgh.

According toReuters, Musk has donated $75 million to America PAC in support of Trump, 78.

Musk has also been active in encouraging Pennsylvanian residents to register to vote, speaking at events throughout the state. “How Pennsylvania goes I think is how the election goes,” Musk said, per CNBC.

Musk’s giveaway might violatefederal election lawsthat state that someone who “pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.”

Elon Musk on July 13, 2024.Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Anna Moneymaker/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, also weighed in on Musk’s proposed giveaway. “I think it’s something that law enforcement should take a look at,” Shapiro said during an appearance onNBC’s Meet the Presson Oct. 20.

“I’m not the attorney general anymore of Pennsylvania, I’m the governor, but it does raise serious questions,” Shapiro added.

The X (formerly known as Twitter) owner hadn’t been a Trump supporter in the past.In July 2022, he had said that Trump would be too oldto run for president. “Trump would be 82 at end of term, which is too old to be chief executive of anything,” he posted onX.

However, in July, he said he was all in on Trumpfollowing theassassination attemptat a rally in Butler, Penn. “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” the CEO said at the time.

source: people.com