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Elon Musk, a billionaire, stated he would sell Tesla stock and donate the money if the UN could show that a small portion of his fortune might save tens of millions of lives.
Musk was replying to David Beasley, the UN's World Food Programme head, who stated last week on CNN's "Connect the World" that a $6 billion investment from billionaires like Musk and Jeff Bezos might help 42 million people who were "actually going to die if we don't reach them."
Musk is the richest man on the planet, having recently become the first individual in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index to have a net worth of more than $300 billion.
The Tesla CEO's net worth is now listed at $311 billion on the index, implying that $6 billion represents 2% of his total wealth. Even if he gave $100 billion, he would still be worth more than the world's second-richest person, Jeff Bezos. The majority of both men's net worth is made up of stock in firms they established.
Musk, on the other hand, is disputing the assertion that a specific sum will solve the food crisis, claiming on Twitter that if the World Food Programme could show its math, he would "sell Tesla stock right now and do it." He also urged that the money be utilized in a transparent manner.
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.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 31, 2021
But it must be open source accounting, so the public sees precisely how the money is spent.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 31, 2021
Beasley responded to Musk by tweeting: "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."
He also clarified that the UN World Food Programme had never said $6 billion would "solve world hunger," which is the wording Musk used on Twitter. "This is a one-time donation to save 42 million lives during this unprecedented hunger crisis," he tweeted.
Beasley has been repeating his call to billionaires, asking them to step up to address world hunger.
The world needs to wake up. We’ve got a global humanitarian crisis on our hands that is spiraling out of control. 42M people in 43 countries face famine NOW.
— David Beasley (@WFPChief) October 27, 2021
All we need is $6.6B—just .36% of the top 400 US billionaires' net worth increase last year. Is that too much to ask?? pic.twitter.com/YMD7zuPwsf
$36 billion in one day - @elonmusk's net worth increase due to a @Tesla / @Hertz deal. Congratulations, Elon! 1/6 of your one day increase would save 42 million lives that are knocking on famine's door. Unprecedented crisis. Unprecedented wealth. Help!! https://t.co/n4hfpl5NRE
— David Beasley (@WFPChief) October 28, 2021