Elon Musk Vows To Sell $6B Tesla Stock If UN Can Prove It’ll Help Hunger Crisis
Image via Naresh777 / Shutterstock.com
Currently, Elon Musk holds the position of the world’s richest individual, with a net worth of nearly US$300 billion. He recently spoke out about a “billionaire tax” proposed by congressional Democrats, saying it would interfere with his mission to Mars.
Earlier this week, Musk responded to another matter put forward by the UN World Food Program (WFP), which posited that billionaires could help solve a hunger crisis. He issued a challenge saying that if the organization could describe exactly how US$6 billion would resolve world hunger, he would sell Tesla stock and pony up the money immediately.
According to Fortune, Musk then followed up by saying that the WFP’s plan had to include “open-source accounting,” which would allow the public to see “precisely how the money is spent.”
While billion-dollar discussions don’t usually happen via social media, WFP Director David Beasley chimed in and said that the original headline—which was from an article by CNN—wasn’t accurate, and that US$6 billion would not “solve world hunger.” Instead, the money was needed to feed “42 million people that are literally going to die if we don’t reach them.”
In a reply to Beasley, Musk asked the executive to publicly detail the WFP’s current and proposed spending. He then shared a link to a 2015 report alleging the organization’s volunteers had been sexually abusing children in the Central African Republic, saying: “What happened here?”
Earlier, in an interview with CNN, Beasley said that while this would be a “one-time” sum, WFP still had to find solutions for the larger, more important systemic issues that result in hunger and poverty around the world. If they persist, this wouldn’t be the last time the organization would have to seek for donations.
Wealthy individuals such as Musk have often been criticized for not doing more to help those in poverty, especially as they set their sights on outer space exploration. CNBC reported that the Tesla founder said he preferred to remain anonymous when donating, and had asked his Twitter followers for “critical feedback” on ways he can help.
Though it’s not yet known if Musk will come up with the money the WFP is asking for, it’s interesting to see such high-profile individuals have no-holds-barred discussions on the open web. Maybe social media can inspire change, after all.
But it must be open source accounting, so the public sees precisely how the money is spent.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 31, 2021
.@elonmusk With your help we can bring hope, build stability and change the future.
— David Beasley (@WFPChief) October 31, 2021
Let’s talk: It isn’t as complicated as Falcon Heavy, but too much at stake to not at least have a conversation. I can be on the next flight to you. Throw me out if you don’t like what you hear!
[via Fortune and CNBC, cover image via Naresh777 / Shutterstock.com]
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