Elon Musk has promised to give every child in the United States one share of SpaceX next year, a giveaway that could cost the world's richest man more than $10 billion. But how much money would each child actually receive?

At SpaceX's closing share price of $146.03 on Friday, October 16, every eligible child would receive stock worth approximately $146, although its value could change before the distribution. Musk made the announcement on Monday in a post on X, writing: "Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America."

He added that the giveaway would be the first of many, without explaining what else he intends to distribute. According to US Census Bureau estimates, there are more than 72 million children under 18 in the country.

If Musk gives one share to each of them, the total value would exceed $10.5 billion at Friday's closing price. However, several important questions remain unanswered regarding the execution of this massive corporate giveaway.

Musk has not explained whether all children under 18 would qualify automatically, how parents would claim the shares, or whether young recipients could sell them immediately upon receipt. One possibility is that the shares could be distributed through government-backed investment accounts established for children, although Musk has not confirmed any such administrative arrangement yet.

The announcement came after artificial intelligence company Anthropic pledged to allocate 5% of its shares to a public benefit fund. Musk criticised that approach publicly, suggesting companies should distribute shares directly to ordinary people instead.

SpaceX went public earlier this year, allowing public investors to buy shares in the aerospace manufacturer behind the Starlink satellite network and reusable orbital rockets. Financial analysts are currently reviewing the logistical challenges of transferring equity to millions of minors without traditional brokerage accounts or prior legal consent mechanisms in place.

For American families, the biggest question is now whether Musk's social media promise will actually materialise into a formal government-approved financial programme in 2027.