After Elon Musk Remarks 'Money Won't Matter in 2036', Nobel Economist Asks Him to 'Donate $1 Trillion to Charity'

After years of defending his cautious approach to philanthropy, Elon Musk said, “I’m actually going to do something along those lines!” in response to a public appeal by economist Daron Acemoglu. The former billionaire has faced flak for years for not donating more of his fortune to charity than several other billionaires.

During an appearance on Nikhil Kamath’s podcast in December 2025, Musk acknowledged the importance of helping others, but said that doing so effectively is difficult. “I agree with the love of humanity and I think we should try to do things that help our fellow man. But it’s very difficult.”

His comments resurfaced after Nobel economics laureate Acemoglu publicly challenged him over his views on artificial intelligence and wealth.

In a post on X on Monday, Acemoglu suggested that if Musk truly believes that money will lose its meaning over the next decade due to AI, he should commit to giving away his fortune.

“Proposed commitment for Elon Musk. An opportunity to put your money where your mouth is. If money doesn’t matter in 2036, why not commit to donating your current wealth of around $1 trillion to charity no later than 2036? That would vindicate your belief in the power of AI and technology with great credibility.”

Acemoglu added that such a commitment could ease concerns about the growing political and social influence of billionaires and trillionaires.

“Charities selected for this purpose should be approved by an impartial body as effective and non-ideological.”

Elon Musk’s answer

Musk’s reaction surprised many observers. “Actually, I’m going to do something along these lines!”

The Tesla and SpaceX chief didn’t provide further details, so it’s unclear what form such a commitment might take.

Musk has previously questioned the effectiveness of high-profile charitable donations, including those made by MacKenzie Scott.

In June, the viral media Pubity highlighted Scott’s philanthropic record, noting that she had donated more than $26 billion, making her one of the largest individual donors in history.

In response to the post, user X claimed that Scott “spends making the world a worse place.” Musk replied, “Unfortunately, yes.”

Although Musk’s foundation reportedly held about $14 billion in assets by the end of 2025, reports in The New York Times said much of its funding went to organizations closely tied to Musk’s own business interests.

According to the report, roughly three-quarters of the foundation’s charitable giving in 2024 — about $370 million — went to a Texas nonprofit run by one of Musk’s top aides.

The newspaper said the organization runs an elementary school near a cluster of companies owned by Musk in rural Texas, where many of his employees live, suggesting the charity also supports his broader business ecosystem.