2 Arizonans win Elon Musk's $1 million giveaway. Here's how it happened
Elon Musk's $1 million-a-day giveaway has evolved from what his America PAC initially called a random sweepstakes into a political tool to reward citizens for their support of Donald Trump's reelection campaign.
The contest has sparked legal challenges and accusations of fraud.
But a Pennsylvania judge on Monday allowed the giveaway to continue , and on Tuesday, the America PAC posted on Musk's social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that a Phoenix man was the latest recipient of $1 million.
According to the Election Day post, "Joshua of Phoenix, Arizona received $1M for signing our petition to support the Constitution." And Joshua isn't the only Arizonan who was awarded $1 million for signing the petition.
Here's what to know about Elon Musk's million-dollar giveaway.
Who won Elon Musk's $1 million giveaway in Arizona?
According to the Nov. 5 post on X, a Phoenix man named Joshua got $1 million for signing the America PAC petition.
No identifying information is given about Joshua. The photo in the post shows a man and a woman holding two small children outside a brick home with a flag in front.
Why is Elon Musk giving away $1 million a day?
Elon Musk's million-dollar giveaway is tied to his strong support for former President Donald Trump and is being run by Musk's political action committee, America PAC.
The $1 million-a-day giveaway began in October and has become a centerpiece of Musk's efforts to influence the election, especially in key swing states including Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Musk has said the purpose of the giveaway is to encourage people to sign a petition supporting constitutional rights, specifically the First and Second amendments — the right to free speech and the right to bear arms.
Critics have raised concerns that the contest may be a tool for voter manipulation. By attracting people to sign with the lure of $1 million, Musk is gathering voter data, which could be used for campaign purposes.
How does Musk's $1 million-a-day giveaway work?
It appears simple on the surface: Sign the petition for a chance to win $1 million. But the reality is more complex.
The contest is open to registered voters in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Individuals must sign the petition and provide their name, address, phone number and email address.
Musk first presented the giveaway as a random sweepstakes in which daily winners would be selected by chance.
But in a court hearing in Philadelphia, Musk's lawyer said the winners are actually chosen in advance based on how well their values align with America PAC's mission. The winners, according to the PAC's legal team, are effectively paid spokespeople for the PAC.
How winners of Elon Musk's $1 million giveaway were announced
The process of selecting and announcing winners has sparked controversy. The first two $1 million winners were present at the rallies in Pennsylvania where their names were called. This raised suspicions that the contest was not random at all.
On Nov. 4, a Phoenix man named Joshua was announced as the winner of the $1 million giveaway. According to 12News in Phoenix , Joshua, who has two young children, expressed gratitude for the prize and spoke about his hopes for a better America — one where his children could thrive and build their futures.
Joshua wasn't the only $1 million winner from Arizona. On Oct. 27, America PAC announced on X that Nancy from Arizona won $1 million.
Other winners include John, Kristine, Judy and Shannon, all from Pennsylvania; Andy from Holly Springs, North Carolina; Jason from Holland, Michigan; and Marie from Nevada.
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