You’ve probably seen the headlines. Or maybe a weirdly convincing video on your feed. It’s a guy who looks just like Elon Musk—maybe it is him—telling you that if you sign a petition, or send a little Bitcoin, or click a specific link, you’re going to get a slice of his multibillion-dollar fortune.
It sounds like a dream. But honestly, the reality is a messy mix of high-stakes political moves, platform-wide revenue sharing, and some of the nastiest digital scams on the internet.
If you're asking is elon musk giving money away to people, the answer isn't a simple yes or no. It depends entirely on who you are and how you're trying to get it.
The $1 Million a Day Giveaway That Shook the Election
Let's talk about the biggest "cash giveaway" Musk has ever done. In late 2024, Musk’s America PAC started handing out massive $1 million checks to registered voters.
It wasn't just random charity. To get the money, people had to sign a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments. At first, it seemed like a legal nightmare. The Department of Justice even sent a warning letter saying it might be illegal to link cash prizes to voter registration.
But here’s the kicker: Musk’s team argued they weren't paying people to register. They were paying them to be "spokespeople" for the PAC. A judge in Pennsylvania actually let the giveaway continue.
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People like John Dreher in Harrisburg actually walked away with a million-dollar check. It was real money. But unless you were a registered voter in a swing state during that specific window, that ship has sailed.
Making Money on X: The Payout Model
If you aren't getting a million-dollar check for signing a petition, the most common way Musk "gives money" to people now is through X (formerly Twitter).
Since 2023, the platform has been cutting checks to creators. It’s called Ad Revenue Sharing. Basically, if you pay for a Premium subscription and get enough "verified" engagement, X sends you a portion of the ad revenue generated in your replies.
Some people make a few bucks. Others, like the biggest influencers, have claimed to make tens of thousands.
By 2026, the rules have tightened. Musk has been vocal about stopping "engagement farming." You can't just post "What is your favorite color?" and hope to get rich from the replies. The system now prioritizes engagement from other Premium users. It’s a way of moving money from advertisers to users, but it's more like a paycheck than a handout.
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The Dark Side: Don't Fall for the Deepfakes
This is where things get dangerous. Because Musk is the richest person on the planet, scammers use his face constantly.
You’ve probably seen the "Quantum AI" ads or the "Double your Bitcoin" videos. They look real. They use AI to mimic his voice perfectly. They tell you that he’s launching a new investment platform and wants to give back to the community.
He isn't.
Musk does not randomly DM people on X or Telegram offering to double their crypto. If you see a video of him on YouTube Live promising to send you 2 BTC if you send him 1 BTC, it is a scam 100% of the time. People have lost their entire life savings—sometimes over $100,000—to these deepfakes.
Where the Real Billions Go (The Musk Foundation)
Most of Musk's "giving" happens through his foundation, but you won't see that money in your bank account.
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The Musk Foundation has billions in assets, mostly in Tesla stock. Historically, it has given to things like:
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (a $55 million donation).
- Carbon removal prizes (the $100 million XPrize).
- Local schools in Brownsville, Texas, near the SpaceX launch site.
- Ad Astra, his own experimental school.
Critics often point out that his foundation gives away a much smaller percentage of its wealth than other big names like Bill Gates. A lot of his philanthropy is "self-serving," meaning it goes to projects that help his companies or his kids' education.
So, Can You Actually Get Money From Him?
The short answer? Not for free.
The era of the $1 million daily giveaways was a very specific political moment. Today, if you want "Elon's money," you basically have two paths:
- Work for him: SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI pay high salaries, though the hours are famously brutal.
- Create content: If you build a massive following on X, you can earn a legitimate income through the platform's monetization tools.
Anything else—especially anything involving you "sending a small fee" to verify your identity or "investing" in a secret Musk-backed coin—is a trap.
Next Steps for You
- Check your X eligibility: If you have 500 followers and a Premium account, go to the "Monetization" tab in your settings to see if you can start earning ad revenue.
- Report Scams: If you see a "giveaway" ad on YouTube or Facebook using Musk’s likeness, report it immediately to the platform and the FTC.
- Verify the Source: Real news about Musk’s financial moves will always be on major outlets like Reuters or Bloomberg, not in a random Telegram group or a "leaked" video.