Billionaire Musk's Million-Dollar Trump Giveaway Sparks Outrage, Influence Fears
Paul Riverbank, 1/11/2025Musk's $1M Trump campaign giveaway sparks controversy over winner's campaign connections and influence.
Elon Musk's controversial $1 million election giveaway has sparked outrage and allegations of undue influence, with a Trump campaign worker emerging as the surprising final winner. Tyler VanAkin, a chiropractor from Michigan, was pictured on election day at an Atlanta airport, clutching a giant check as the last recipient of Musk's pro-Trump campaign cash prizes.
"Elon Musk sought to use his power as the world's richest person to help elect his preferred presidential candidate and, in turn, buy an extraordinary level of access to and influence in the incoming Trump administration," said Erin Chlopak, a campaign finance expert at the Campaign Legal Center. The giveaway, devised by Musk weeks before the election, offered $1 million prizes to registered voters in swing states who signed a petition "in support of the constitution" through his America political action committee.
While Musk's Pac successfully argued in court that the contest was a "job posting" and winners were chosen based on their "personality" and "fit for the role," VanAkin's selection has raised eyebrows. "A person familiar with the campaign said VanAkin's campaign co-workers were surprised by the announcement, and sought to limit its further promotion," the article notes.
VanAkin, who worked for the Trump campaign between June and October, received over $30,000 in payments and reimbursements, according to Federal Election Commission filings. "Instagram posts show VanAkin with campaign staff at a bus tour stop and at the West Palm Beach party," further solidifying his ties to the campaign.
The giveaway was not without controversy, facing a lawsuit from Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who claimed Musk was operating an "illegal lottery scheme" to collect voters' contact information. The Department of Justice also warned that such prizes could violate laws prohibiting payments for votes.
Musk, however, remained undeterred, spending over $250 million of his own money and holding rallies to support Trump's push for the presidency. His America Pac also promised payments of $47 or $100 to every registered swing-state voter who signed the petition, as well as bonuses for referring others to do the same — a program that paid out $40 million through a Musk-controlled firm called "United States of America Inc."
Since Trump's victory, Musk has been a frequent visitor at Mar-a-Lago, attending high-level meetings with the president-elect. He was even appointed by Trump to co-lead a commission to eliminate government waste — a move that has raised concerns about the potential for undue influence.
"The $1 million prizes were just one of the ways Elon Musk sought to use his power as the world's richest person to help elect his preferred presidential candidate," Chlopak reiterated, adding that while VanAkin's award may not amount to a federal campaign finance law violation on its own, the giveaway as a whole raises legal concerns.
As the dust settles on this controversial election, the question remains: what influence will Musk's millions buy him in the new administration? Only time will tell if the billionaire's gamble will pay off or backfire in the court of public opinion.
