Mackensie Scott
Dear Commons Community,
Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk has raised concerns about MacKenzie Scott‘s charitable donations, highlighting growing tensions over billionaire philanthropy and its societal impact.
Responding to a social media post about Scott’s donations to liberal nonprofits, Musk offered a one-word critique: “Concerning.” The comment came after author John LeFevre highlighted Scott’s contributions to organizations focused on racial equity, social justice, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Scott, who received Amazon.com Inc. shares worth billions in her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos, has emerged as one of America’s most prolific philanthropists. Through her Yield Giving organization, she has donated over $19 billion to more than 2,450 nonprofits since 2019, while maintaining a net worth above $30 billion due to Amazon’s stock performance. As reported by Benzinga.
This marks Musk’s latest criticism of Scott’s giving. In March, he suggested in a now-deleted post that “super rich ex-wives who hate their former spouse” could contribute to the decline of Western civilization. Shortly after his comment, Scott announced an additional $640 million in donations to 361 organizations.
The debate over billionaire philanthropy has drawn in other prominent voices, including Melinda French Gates, who has publicly supported Scott’s rapid-giving approach while criticizing other tech billionaires, including Musk, for prioritizing public influence over charitable giving.
In a recent New York Times interview, French Gates questioned whether certain tech leaders should even be called philanthropists, suggesting they use their platforms primarily to shape public opinion rather than contribute meaningfully to charitable causes.
Her giving strategy contrasts sharply with other tech billionaires, including Musk, who has focused his recent attention on political causes, including substantial support for President-elect Donald Trump‘s campaign.
Scott’s donations for 2024 include significant support for economic security initiatives and repeat grants to organizations like CAMFED, which supports girls’ education in Africa, demonstrating her continued commitment to addressing systemic inequalities despite criticism from fellow billionaires.
Could it be that Musk is envious of Scott putting the needs of poor and disenfranchised people above all else in her giving and has become a model for other billionaires.
Tony
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Surely the lady concerned can do what she likes with her money
The rich in a way have made these people poor because they keep on putting prices up to such a degree that most of us cannot afford it anymore.
If I could get a grant from said lady I would like to create a system of Kibbutz type dwellings to assist the unemployed, impoverished and starving.
Where someone spends thier money on is entirely their prerogative. Just as it is for Elon.
Journalists use Elon Musk’s ‘quotes’ to attract readers. Though the use of his proposed input is often exaggerated and vaguely connected. There are plethoras of Musk linked videos on YouTube that make all sorts of Musk connections in there story but are false representations.
What Mac does with her money is none of his business. He’s always got to open his big mouth. He definitely reminds me of someone on the spectrum who can not easily control his behavior. And I don’t care!! Autistic or not, it’s no excuse for his appealing behaviour.
At least. She is doing a good deed when she give her Money to charity and not give it to kiss someone butt for political gain Like elon musk and make himself richer. Elon like the duck kissing butt routine because he paid plenty for it when he could havr fed million of people with that money. Elon is a rat they came out of the rat hole with that trash donald duck.
It’s not his money. Why should he care???