Billionaires are giving your kid stock. Should you say thank you?

Several high-profile business leaders are turning company stock into a vehicle for public giving. The announcements involve direct share plans for U.S. children as well as a broader commitment to public-benefit work.

SpaceX shares could reach millions of children

Elon Musk announced that he plans to give every person under 18 in the United States one share of SpaceX next year. At a share price of $147.96, the planned distribution would represent about $10.7 billion in stock.

The announcement follows a pledge from SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell. She said she would give more than 2 million children a share of her stock through a Trump Account. Together, the proposals place company equity at the center of a large-scale giving effort aimed at young Americans.

Anthropic takes a different route

Anthropic co-founder and President Daniela Amodei announced that the artificial intelligence company will commit 5% of its shares to the Anthropic Public Benefit Fund. The fund is a wholly owned limited liability company dedicated entirely to the public benefit.

Unlike the SpaceX plans, Anthropic’s announcement does not describe shares being distributed directly to individual children. Instead, it directs a portion of the company’s equity toward an organization established for public-benefit purposes.

A growing focus on company ownership

The announcements highlight different approaches to using corporate equity for giving: direct transfers to children in the SpaceX proposals and an institutional commitment at Anthropic. The value and eventual impact of these plans will depend on how they are carried out, but each makes company shares a central part of the pledge.