Elon Musk is accepting the recent challenge made to the world’s billionaires to kick in $6 billion to help solve world hunger and says he will sell Tesla stock “right now” to help if the UN’s WFP can prove how it will do so.
UN says 2% of Elon Musk’s could solve world hunger
Five days ago, the director of the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP), David Beasley, said that a one-time donation of a mere fraction of the net worth of a few of the world’s richest individuals combined could solve world hunger. Beasley went on to say that only 2% of Elon Musk’s wealth alone could make the difference.
Last week, Tesla stock soared to a value of $1 trillion, NPR reported, boosting Musk’s wealth by another $36 billion, Insider reported. As a result, Musk’s net worth climbed to $287 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, making him the richest individual in the world.
UN food program chief pleads to Elon Musk for help save 42 million people from starvation
“Congratulations to @elonmusk for passing up @JeffBezos as the world’s richest person – worth a whopping $221B!” the chief of the WFP, David Beasley wrote on Twitter. “Elon, to celebrate I’m offering you a once in a lifetime opportunity: help us save 42M people from starvation for just $6.6B!! Offer expires SOON.. and lives do too.”
“42 million people are on famine’s edge this year. An unprecedented global crisis spiked by Covid. Starvation, destabilization of nations & mass migration if we do not respond. @elonmusk, you made $6 billion just yesterday—the exact $ we need to avert catastrophe! Please help!” Beasley pleaded in a follow-up tweet.
Fact check questions UN’s ability to solve problem
Dr. Eli David did a fact check, stating that “2% of @elonmusk’s wealth is $6B” and added “In 2020 the UN World Food Program (WFP) raised $8.4B. How come it didn’t ‘solve world hunger’?”
Elon Musk says he’s willing to sell Tesla stock to solve world hunger, but UN must prove how it will work
On Halloween, Elon Musk responded to the pleading by the WFP for help to solve the world hunger crisis.
“If WFP can describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6B will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it,” Musk tweeted.
“But it must be open source accounting, so the public sees precisely how the money is spent,” Musk added in a second tweet.
“I can assure you that we have the systems in place for transparency and open source accounting. Your team can review and work with us to be totally confident of such,” Beasley responded.
Beasley later replied: “.@elonmusk Instead of tweets, allow me to show you. We can meet anywhere—Earth or space—but I suggest in the field where you can see @WFP’s people, processes and yes, technology, at work. I will bring the plan, and open books.”
“.@elonmusk! Headline not accurate. $6B will not solve world hunger, but it WILL prevent geopolitical instability, mass migration and save 42 million people on the brink of starvation. An unprecedented crisis and a perfect storm due to Covid/conflict/climate crises.”
