Elon Musk says he is willing to spend his $6 billion to fight world hunger—citing one condition.
Elon Musk recently became the first person to be worth more than $300 billion and apparently he’s ready to spend. Musk tweeted on Sunday that he was willing to consider a proposition from a United Nations official who stated that a $6 billion donation from Musk could help stop world hunger.
Last week, David Beasley, the director of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), told CNN that it was time for the ultra-rich to step up, on a one-time basis and help the 42M people that are literally going to die if not assisted adequately. Musk replied to a Twitter user who pointed out that $6 billion would be just 2% of his net worth that if the WFP could describe “exactly” how his donation would solve world hunger, he would “sell a Tesla stock right now and do it.”
Further adding to his answer, Musk added that the UN’s plan must have an open source accounting so as the public can see precisely how the money is being spent. Beasley responded to Musk a few hours later suggesting to “be on the next flight to you” and that Musk can “throw me out if you don’t like what you hear.”
Beasley also added that the $6 billion figure wouldn’t precisely solve world hunger, but will prevent other global issues like political instability, mass migration and save 42 million starving people. Musk replied by asking him to make the organization’s current and proposed spending public.
If Musk was to keep his word and sell a Tesla share to make a donation, it would be his largest known charitable contribution till date. Musk has previously been slated for not giving away more of his massive wealth, though he has said that he prefers to remain anonymous when it comes to donating his money.
Earlier this year, Musk vowed to give away $150 million, including a $100 million prize in a carbon removal contest.
