Tech billionaire Elon Musk has said he will give away $1m (£766,000) a day to a registered voter in key swing states until the US presidential election on 5 November. The winner will be chosen at random from those who sign a pro-US Constitution petition by Mr Musk’s campaign group America PAC, which he set up to support Republican nominee Donald Trump’s bid to return to the White House.
The first lottery-style cheque was given away to a surprised attendee at a town hall event in Pennsylvania on Saturday night. Another cheque was handed out on Sunday. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who supports Kamala Harris, called Mr Musk’s strategy “deeply concerning. “Shapiro told NBC News’ Meet the Press that law enforcement should potentially look at the payments.
The contest is open to voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina, all key battleground states that will ultimately decide the White House election. Election law expert Rick Hasen wrote on his personal Election Law Blog that he believed Mr Musk’s offer was “clearly illegal”.
Federal law states that anyone who “pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting” faces a potential $10,000 fine or a five-year prison sentence. Though Mr Musk is technically asking voters to sign a form, Mr Hasen questioned the intent behind the strategy.
“Who can sign the petitions? Only registered voters in swing states, which is what makes it illegal,” said Mr Hasen, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) law school. Those who sign the petition – which pledges to support free speech and gun rights – must submit their contact details, potentially allowing America PAC to contact them about their vote.
Both Mr Musk and America PAC have been approached for comment. Campaigns and political action committees rely on tactics like petition signing, survey requests, or merchandise purchases to build massive databases of voter information. That data can then be used more accurately to target voters, or raise funds from supporters who are already onboard.
In Pennsylvania, Mr Musk is giving voters $100 for signing the petition, plus another $100 for each person they refer who signs. Voters in other battleground states get $47 per referral. But the strategy may be covered by a loophole under US election law because no-one is being directly paid to vote – despite introducing money into a process that could identify likely Trump voters.
In the US, it is illegal to provide payments to get people to vote – not only for a certain candidate, but to simply cast a ballot. The rule prompted ice-cream-maker Ben & Jerry’s to give its product free to everyone on election day in 2008, having initially planned to limit it just to those with an “I voted” sticker.
While campaigning on Sunday, Trump was asked about Mr Musk’s giveaway. “I haven’t followed that,” he said, adding that he speaks to Mr Musk often and he is a “friend”. The founder of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X, formerly Twitter, has emerged as a key Trump supporter Musk launched America PAC in July with the aim of supporting the former president’s campaign.
He has so far donated $75m (£57.5m) to the group, which has quickly become a central player in Trump’s election bid.
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Musk’s Massive Campaign Push
Musk’s political advertising campaign, which primarily runs on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter, which he owns), YouTube, and Facebook, is designed to sway undecided voters in critical swing states such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Arizona. The ads focus on issues like the economy, climate change, and innovation—areas where Musk’s companies have had significant influence.
Reports indicate that Musk has been spending upwards of $1 million every day, with no signs of slowing down as Election Day approaches. The ads largely frame Musk’s vision for the future, calling for policies that favor technological advancement, space exploration, and less regulation on industries like electric vehicles and artificial intelligence. Many of the ads feature messages about “American innovation” and the importance of technological leadership in global markets.
Concerns Over Influence
Critics from both sides of the political aisle are expressing concern over Musk’s outsized influence in the election, particularly given his already considerable sway through his tech empire. Some worry that his enormous financial resources could unfairly tip the scales in key states, effectively allowing a single individual to have an oversized impact on the outcome of a national election.
“It’s deeply concerning that one billionaire can spend this much money in such a concentrated way to try and influence voters in swing states,” said a spokesperson for the nonpartisan watchdog group Democracy Now. “This kind of financial power undermines the democratic process by amplifying one person’s voice over millions of others.”
Democratic leaders have also raised concerns, accusing Musk of trying to push a political agenda that benefits his own business interests. “Elon Musk’s massive ad spending is an attempt to turn our democracy into a playground for billionaires,” said one prominent Democratic senator. “It’s dangerous when people with immense wealth try to shape the political future of the country in a way that serves their bottom line.”
Supporters See a Visionary
On the other hand, Musk’s supporters argue that he is simply using his resources to promote a vision for the future that many Americans share. They point out that Musk’s businesses—especially in the fields of renewable energy, electric vehicles, and space exploration—are aligned with many pressing global challenges like climate change and technological innovation.
“He’s not doing anything different from what large corporations or political action committees do when they spend money on ads. Elon just has the personal funds to support his beliefs,” said a political strategist who works closely with conservative-leaning tech figures.
Some argue that Musk’s campaign could help focus the election on innovation and forward-looking policies, especially as the U.S. grapples with its role in a rapidly changing global economy. “His ads emphasize the need for the U.S. to lead in space exploration and green energy. These are critical issues for the future, and Musk has a clear track record in these areas,” said one Musk supporter.
A Changing Landscape of Political Influence
Musk’s spending spree raises larger questions about the role of wealth in American politics. In recent years, the rise of billionaire donors and the use of vast personal fortunes to fund political campaigns has become a point of debate. While campaign finance laws place limits on how much individuals can donate directly to candidates, the rise of Super PACs and independent expenditures has allowed wealthy individuals like Musk to influence elections through indirect channels.
With Musk’s daily spending rivaling or surpassing the budgets of entire political campaigns, some are calling for reforms to limit how much any one person can contribute to shaping the political landscape.
“Allowing billionaires to pour this kind of money into political ads without checks is a slippery slope,” said a political scientist from Georgetown University. “We’ve seen growing inequality in the economic realm, and now we’re seeing it in the political realm. It’s no longer about the power of your vote—it’s about the power of your wallet.”
What’s Next?
As Election Day draws nearer, Musk’s ad campaign shows no signs of letting up. With millions already spent, and potentially tens of millions more to be spent before November, his efforts could play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome in key swing states.
For now, the debate over his political involvement will likely intensify, as both critics and supporters grapple with the larger implications of billionaires exerting their influence on American democracy.
Whatever the outcome, Musk’s unprecedented spending spree marks a new chapter in the role of money and tech in politics, raising questions about how the influence of the ultra-wealthy will shape future elections.
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