Elon Musk announced on X early Monday that he plans to give one of his personal SpaceX shares to every kid in America next year, calling it “the first of many.”
Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America.
This will be the first of many.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 19, 2026
The post quickly drew massive attention, amassing hundreds of thousands of likes and over 10 million views within hours. It arrived just hours after AI company Anthropic said it would commit at least 5% of its shares to a new Public Benefit Fund. Musk replied that he preferred distributing shares “directly to the public” and then followed through with his own pledge.
There are roughly 72 million people under 18 in the United States, according to recent Census Bureau estimates. At SpaceX’s Friday closing price of about $146, the total value of the promised shares would come to approximately $10.5 billion, if 18 is indeed the cutoff age. It could be lower. No specifics have yet been released.
Musk holds a controlling stake in the company — reports based on SEC filings put his holdings at around 6.4 billion shares when including shares held through trusts, restricted stock, and options.
SpaceX completed its IPO in June 2026 in what was the largest public offering in history. The company currently trades under the ticker SPCX with a market capitalization in the vicinity of $2 trillion.
Musk provided no further details beyond his brief post.
The move follows an earlier contribution by SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and her husband, who earlier this year pledged shares to the Trump Accounts of more than 2 million American children, with a focus on lower-income families.
MacDailyNews Take: Thank you, Mr. Musk!
For perspective, this single gift from Musk – the “first of many” – is slightly larger than the entire fortune Steve Jobs had amassed at the time of his death and several times larger than Apple CEO Tim Cook’s entire net worth.
Of significant note: Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion in late 2025 to put $250 into investment accounts (“Trump Accounts”) for about 25 million American children.
Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Dell!
More about Trump Accounts:
In 2026, the Trump administration launched Trump Accounts (also known as 530A accounts), a new tax-advantaged investment program designed to give American children an early start in building long-term wealth through the stock market. With a federal $1,000 seed contribution for eligible kids born between 2025 and 2028 and optional parent contributions up to $5,000 per year, these custodial accounts have quickly become a hot topic for families.
A common question parents are asking: Do Trump Accounts invest in Apple (AAPL) — either by buying shares directly or through ETFs?
Here’s the clear answer.
No Direct Investment in Individual Apple Stock
Trump Accounts follow strict rules: Funds cannot be invested in individual stocks like Apple, nor in sector-specific or industry-focused funds. All investments must be in low-cost mutual funds or ETFs that track broad U.S. equity market indexes (such as the S&P 500), with very low expense ratios (generally capped around 0.10% or lower).
This design keeps things simple, diversified, and low-cost — the goal is long-term compounding in the broad U.S. stock market, not stock-picking.
Yes — Significant Indirect Exposure via ETFs
At launch on July 4, 2026, all contributions to Trump Accounts are automatically invested in the default fund: the State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM).
This ultra-low-cost ETF (0.02% expense ratio) tracks the S&P 500 Index. Apple is one of the largest holdings in the S&P 500 and in SPYM.
As of late June/early July 2026:
• Apple (AAPL) represents approximately 6.5%–6.7% of SPYM (typically the #2 holding after Nvidia).
That means for every $1,000 in a Trump Account invested in the default SPYM fund, roughly $65–$67 is effectively tied to Apple’s performance.
In the coming months, parents will likely gain the ability to choose from additional low-cost broad-market options, including:
• iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV)
• Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
• Others tracking the S&P 1500 or total U.S. market
All of these broad U.S. equity indexes also include Apple as a major component (usually in the top 5–10 holdings).
What This Means for Your Child’s Trump Account
• Diversified exposure to America’s biggest companies, including tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Amazon.
• No ability to overweight or underweight Apple specifically.
• Transparency: The official Trump Accounts app lets parents see exactly which underlying stocks (including Apple) their child’s money is invested in and how they’re performing.
Why This Matters
Trump Accounts give millions of kids their first real stake in the U.S. economy through passive, low-cost index investing. Apple’s inclusion via S&P 500 ETFs means children automatically benefit from one of the world’s most successful companies without any active management or individual stock risk.
It’s a classic “own the market” approach — simple, cost-effective, and historically powerful over decades.
So, in a nutshell, Trump Accounts do not buy Apple stock directly, but they do provide meaningful indirect exposure to AAPL through the default S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) and other eligible broad-market funds.
For parents enrolling kids in this program, it’s a straightforward way to give the next generation skin in the game with iconic American companies like Apple — all while staying within the program’s low-cost, diversified rules.
If you’re setting up a Trump Account, download the official app and keep an eye on the underlying holdings as the investment menu expands. Your child’s future portfolio will have a slice of Apple and the broader market built right in.
MacDailyNews Note: To set up a Trump Account for a child, you must submit IRS Form 4547 (Trump Account Election) to establish the account through the U.S. government, followed by activating it via the official app.
Step-by-Step Guide to Opening an Account
1. Verify Eligibility: The account beneficiary must be a U.S. citizen under the age of 18 with a valid Social Security number.
2. Submit IRS Form 4547: This form officially elects to open the account. You can submit it in one of three ways:
• Online Portal: Fill it out securely via your IRS Individual Account or through the official portal at TrumpAccounts.gov.
• Tax Return: File the form electronically alongside your federal income tax return.
• By Mail: Download, print, and mail a paper copy of Form 4547 directly to the IRS.
3. Await the Activation Email: After processing your form, the U.S. Treasury will send a confirmation and activation email.
4. Download the Official App: Search for the official Trump Accounts app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Log in using the same email address provided on your Form 4547 to complete identity verification and activate the account.
Crucial Account Rules & Funding
• The $1,000 Government Seed: Children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, automatically qualify for a one-time $1,000 deposit from the federal government. Older children can still have accounts opened for them but do not qualify for this seed money.
• Contribution Limits: Parents, family, and employers can contribute after-tax dollars up to a collective maximum of $5,000 per year until the child turns 18.
• Investment Rules: During the minor’s growth period, funds are managed initially by the Treasury’s partners (such as Bank of New York Mellon and Robinhood). Funds are strictly restricted to low-cost mutual funds or ETFs that track major broad U.S. indexes like the S&P 500, with management fees capped at 0.10%.
• Withdrawal Restrictions: Money is locked under parent/guardian custody and cannot be withdrawn until the child turns 18. At age 18, it converts into a traditional IRA owned fully by the child.
⚠️ Security Guardrail against Scams
The U.S. Department of the Treasury warns families to stay alert:
• Official activation emails will only come from no-reply@TrumpAccounts.Treasury.gov.
• The government will never call or text you regarding your Trump Account setup. Do not reply to any phone calls or SMS messages requesting personal details.
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I can’t say I’m a fan of Musk. I was taught “if you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say it at all” so I’ll keep my deepest thoughts to myself, I will say that it would be nice to see some actual tech diversity from him. I know he’s hyperfocused on space and futuristic cars, but would it hurt to have a new computer OS/Platform that would give Apple deceng competition compared to the dull Windows/Chromebook scene that we have had for a little too long? I don’t know if I’d buy a Musk “XOS” device but I’d still like to see something new, and he certainly has the money to invest in a project like that.
“…it would be nice to see some actual tech diversity from him.”
Let’s see: reusable, reliable SpaceX rockets, Starlink, the #1 EV Tesla, AI, flying cars, Boring Co., Neuralink.
If you think Elon Musk is not “tech diverse,” you live under a rock.
Yeah, he’s a belly-button gazer and static dude playing vid games between stretches of handing out $$. Meanwhile, he approves wryly as The Boring Company bores tunnels, Space X retrieves another rocket for future trips to spaces beyond, Tesla seeks to perfect self-driving, Starlink serves satellite service to subscribers and those in emergency need, and preserved free-speech when Twitter aligned with govt to control the same. As well, the latter service is broaden to incorporate payments…like Cash App/Venmo/Paypal.
Space, $$, speech, energy, media, travel, infrastructure….Is there a SINGLE person in IN THE WORLD driving such “diversity” in industry? Maybe he needs to get into fashion design, or invent a new sport, while he works on a new OS?
Well, it wouldn’t hurt to add something new to the consumer electronics scene and really push Google/Samsung/Android to actually innovate. Though I have this feeling that if he does introduces a Tesla branded smartphone he will be quickly demonized as someone that’s trying to take down Apple. Considering his recent questionable political activities, I probably won’t mind that one bit.
“Recent questionable activities”…like discovering/announcing and handing off fraud concerns to THE PEOPLE that SHOULD attend to the matter?
Or, perhaps the resources he’s devoted to political figures is questionable? What’s questionable there…other than, perhaps, they’re figures with whom you aren’t aligned?
Or, perhaps there’s an amount $$ that’s more suitable (apparently less)?
Set up a Roth IRA for your child to begin investing $50 a week as soon as the child can start earning money at a fast food restaurant or neighborhood lemonade stand or cutting grass or whatever. Invest in Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) or similar from Schwab or Fidelity, etc. If they start before age 20, will easily have over $1M when they reach age 65. Tax free.
Hating Elon is a mental disease !
Mind Boggling what Envy can do!
BS. He and all you rightwing fascist supporters can go deport yourselves. How disgusting! He is now a mass murderer in case you haven’t noticed, a traitor to us all.