Ask A Genius 1169: $1,000,000 a Day for Politics!
Author(s): Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/11/12
*Interview conducted in October-November, 2024.*
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Let’s move on. I wanted to ask—what’s up with this $1 million-a-day deal that Musk is doing?
Rick Rosner: So, Musk, when he bought Twitter nearly two years ago, really revealed himself to be somewhat of a fraud in certain ways. Yet, he still has strong supporters. The crypto enthusiasts love him, the Tesla fans love him, and those interested in Mars colonization support him too. But he’s very chaotic. He’s smart, sure, but he’s scattered. He’s also thrown his support behind Trump.
Jacobsen: And that’s cost him quite a bit, hasn’t it?
Rosner: Yes, you could argue that it’s cost him more than $30 billion. He paid $44 billion for Twitter, but it’s now thought to be worth less than $12 billion as of six months ago. It’s probably even less valuable now, so he could be down close to $35 billion. On top of that, he’s contributed at least $75 million to Trump-aligned political action committees. But as the world’s richest man, he can afford it.
Jacobsen: What’s this lottery deal about?
Rosner: Musk has been offering $1 million a day to one individual, chosen from those who sign a pledge to support the First and Second Amendments. This runs until the election, and it targets voters in Pennsylvania. However, offering financial incentives tied to political support skirts dangerously close to being unconstitutional. It’s illegal to pay people to vote in a certain way, whether for a party or candidate.
Jacobsen: Has there been any legal response?
Rosner: Governor Shapiro has said that it needs to be investigated for legality, but realistically, nothing significant is likely to happen before the election. Even if action were taken, it might just give Musk more publicity and help Trump gain more attention. It’s a questionable tactic with the clear intent of incentivizing votes for Trump.
It’s quite the maneuver. I remember thinking years ago that a lottery for registered voters could be a way to increase voter turnout, as voting rates in the U.S. are lower than in some other countries.
It’s not a terrible idea on its own, but in this context, where it’s being used to drive registration and votes specifically for Trump, it comes across as sleazy.
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