Elon Musk is taking aim at MacKenzie Scott's philanthropy, weighing in multiple times on X after viral posts highlighted the billionaire author's record-setting charitable giving. On June 28, Musk agreed with criticism of Scott's donations, mocked a user's suggestion that she could have ended world hunger, and even endorsed a meme that joked Jeff Bezos was watching his ex-wife give away his former fortune.
The online exchange began after Pubity posted that Scott, the former wife of the Amazon founder, has donated more than $26.3 billion to charity and intends to give away most of her wealth "helping others and making the world a better place." Responding to a post from X user Officer Frenly that read, "Unfortunately, she's spending it making the world a worse place," Musk replied simply: "Sadly, yes."
Hours later, Musk responded again after another viral post questioned Scott's priorities. X account Whole Mars Catalog wrote, "I thought it only cost $6 billion to solve world hunger. Why didn't she do that?" Musk answered, "Maybe she didn't feel like it 🤷♂️."
But the Tesla and SpaceX CEO wasn't finished. Later that evening, he reacted to a meme showing a headset-wearing Jeff Bezos with folded arms under the caption, "Jeff Bezos watching his ex-wife give another billion dollars to sh*tlib NGOs." Musk replied with a single "💯" emoji.
The social media posts arrived just weeks after Scott was named to TIME's 2026 TIME100 Philanthropy list, in recognition of a giving campaign that has dramatically reshaped higher education and nonprofit funding. According to TIME, Scott has donated roughly $26 billion since 2019 while largely avoiding public appearances, interviews, or naming rights attached to her gifts.
Education has become one of the biggest beneficiaries of Scott's philanthropy. Earlier this year, she donated $42 million to Elizabeth City State University, pushing her cumulative giving to historically Black colleges and universities beyond $1 billion.
She has also provided $70 million each to the United Negro College Fund and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Scott has expanded that effort beyond HBCUs as well. Tribal colleges such as Red Lake Nation College, Bay Mills Community College, Nebraska Indian Community College, and Little Priest Tribal College have all received multi-million-dollar grants.
Other recent gifts include $70 million to Meals on Wheels America, $50 million to the Native Forward Scholars Fund, hundreds of millions of dollars to Habitat for Humanity, and major investments in climate initiatives, rural colleges, and community organizations.
Scott has consistently defended a philosophy of unrestricted, trust-based philanthropy. In a December 2025 essay, she argued that generosity creates effects far beyond what can be measured, writing, "It is these ripple effects that make imagining the power of any of our own acts of kindness impossible."
