Musk has donated billions of dollars in shares to charities, according to US regulatory documents, and has pledged many millions to various causes. But his philanthropy has been criticised.
The New York Times, external last year called it “haphazard and largely self-serving – making him eligible for enormous tax breaks and helping his businesses”.
His charitable organisation, the Musk Foundation, says on its website that it is “dedicated to advancing humanity’s progress through ground-breaking scientific research, technological innovation, and ambitious endeavours that push the boundaries of what is possible”.
But the New York Times reported that the foundation fell short of the amount it was required to give away, external for three years in a row. The paper, which saw the foundation’s tax filings, also found that many of its donations went to organisations with links to Musk.
Elon Musk, and the Musk Foundation have been contacted for comment.
When asked about philanthropy and charitable causes in the past, Musk appeared to be sceptical of traditional charitable gifts.
“I think if you care about the reality of goodness instead of the perception of it, philanthropy is extremely difficult,” he told Chris Anderson in 2022.
To Musk, the very existence of his business ventures is philanthropic: “If you say philanthropy is love of humanity, they are philanthropy,” he insisted.
Tesla is “accelerating sustainable energy”, he said, while SpaceX “is trying to ensure the long-term survival of humanity” and Neuralink “is trying to help solve brain injuries and existential risk with AI”.