Elon Musk gives away US$1 million per day to free speech, gun rights petitioners

Questions about legality have been raised as election law experts point to provisions in federal law that prohibit cash payments to voters

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Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk jumps on stage as he arrives to speak at an event on Friday hosted by America PAC in support of Donald Trump. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:06pm, 20 Oct 2024Updated: 1:48am, 21 Oct 2024

Billionaire Elon Musk promised on Saturday to give away US$1 million each day until November’s election to someone who signs his online petition, with the first prize awarded at a PAC event supporting Republican Donald Trump, raising questions about the legality of the payments.

Musk gave a US$1 million cheque to an attendee of his America PAC event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, aimed at rallying supporters behind presidential candidate Trump. The winner was a man named John Dreher, according to event staff.

“By the way, John had no idea. So anyway, you’re welcome,” the Tesla founder said as he handed Dreher the cheque.

The money is the latest example of Musk using his extraordinary wealth to influence the tightly contested between Trump and his Democratic rival Kamala Harris.

Musk awards a US$1 million cheque to John Dreher, an attendee of his event in Pennsylvania on Saturday aimed at rallying supporters behind Trump. Photo: X/America

Musk started America PAC, a political action organisation he founded in support of Trump’s presidential campaign. The group is helping mobilise and register voters in battleground states, but there are signs it is having trouble meeting its goals.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said on Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press that Musk’s plan to give money to registered voters in Pennsylvania is “deeply concerning” and “it’s something that law enforcement could take a look at”.