Elon Musk sued! Million-dollar lottery causes controversy
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5 Nov 2024 •
Reading time: 4 minutes Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and CEO of Tesla, is under fire in Pennsylvania. He is being sued for allegedly setting up a lottery to influence elections in a so-called “swing state.”
The deal? Voters have a chance to win a million dollars a day, but only if they sign a petition and vote for Donald Trump. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office considers this a blatant attempt to buy votes and has taken legal action to stop the lottery.
Controversial lottery raises questions about fair elections
The US Department of Justice had previously warned Musk that his action may violate federal law. Nevertheless, Musk continued the lottery. Pennsylvania Attorney General Larry Krasner says that participants will receive $100 just for signing the petition.
And the chance to win a daily grand prize of $1 million makes it extra tempting. Krasner finds the action misleading and dangerous: “These kinds of initiatives can really undermine confidence in fair elections.”
Lottery does not comply with rules, prosecutor says
The lawsuit states that every lottery in Pennsylvania must adhere to strict rules, and Musk’s election lottery does not, according to the prosecutors. For example, there is no approval from local gaming authorities, and participants must register with Musk’s political action committee (PAC) to have a chance to win.
This violates the rules around election financing and promotion. The prosecution is seeking to immediately shut down the lottery to prevent further “manipulation” of the election.
Judge rules
On Monday, Pennsylvania judge Angelo Foglietta, who presides over the case, allowed Elon Musk’s $1 million daily lottery for voters to continue, despite objections from Philadelphia’s district attorney. The court’s decision, while largely symbolic, allows Musk, a Trump ally, to continue the initiative through Election Day.
Judge Angelo Foglietta rejected arguments from prosecutor Larry Krasner that the lottery was illegal under state law and called for it to be stopped immediately. The hearing was tense, with Krasner’s team calling Musk’s campaign a “fraud” and Musk’s lawyers denouncing a “violation of constitutional rights.”
Musk’s initiative, via a pro-Trump political action committee, had drawn a warning from the Justice Department, suggesting that the incentives could violate federal election laws that prohibit financial incentives for voter registration. Musk has said the contest is designed to reward citizens who support the Constitution, not chance, a distinction that his lawyers say exempts the program from the sweepstakes framework.
But Krasner and his team have insisted that the program remains a “political marketing ploy” that targeted voters by making them believe they were being randomly selected, a claim Musk disputes, calling the case a “publicity stunt.” The legality of the lottery remains an open question, with upcoming reviews of the allegations of illegal lottery and potential electoral influence.
Who is Elon Musk?
Elon Musk is an American entrepreneur and innovator, born on June 28, 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa. He is best known for his role in developing some of the most groundbreaking companies in technology and aerospace, including Tesla and SpaceX. Musk moved to the United States at a young age to pursue his ambitions in technology and entrepreneurship, and has since made a name for himself as one of the most influential and talked about figures in the modern business world.
Here are some key points about Elon Musk:
- Tesla: Musk is the CEO and product architect of Tesla, the company known for its electric cars. Under his leadership, Tesla has helped make electric vehicles mainstream and promoted the concept of sustainable energy.
- SpaceX: Musk founded SpaceX with the goal of making space exploration more accessible and affordable. SpaceX developed reusable rockets and was the first private company to fly astronauts to the International Space Station. His long-term goal with SpaceX is to take humanity to Mars.
- Other companies: Musk has also founded companies such as The Boring Company, which is working on underground tunnels to reduce traffic, and Neuralink, which focuses on developing brain-computer interfaces. He is also involved in Starlink, a SpaceX satellite network that aims to provide broadband internet worldwide.
- Early successes: Musk achieved his first major success when he co-founded Zip2, a company that was later sold. He was then involved in the creation of PayPal, one of the first and largest online payment services.
- Fame and controversies: Musk is known not only for his work, but also for his outspoken personality, especially on Twitter (now X, which he also acquired). His direct and sometimes provocative statements have won him both fans and critics.
Musk is known for his forward-looking vision, wanting humanity to become more independent of fossil fuels and be prepared to colonize other planets. This has earned him a huge fan base, but his approach – which sometimes involves drastic measures – has also made him a controversial figure in both the business world and the public debate.