The billionaire’s philanthropy is corrosive to everything philanthropy should stand for

For one of the world’s richest and most famous men, who exerts a magnetic forcefield of attention, it is remarkable that comparatively little has been written about Elon Musk’s philanthropy – until, that is, a recent investigation in the New York Times last month. In it, The Times revealed jaw dropping details of what it called Musk’s ‘haphazard and self-serving’ and – it might be added – self-centred approach to philanthropy. I would go further: Elon Musk is an enemy of philanthropy.

The Times report illuminated Elon Musk’s deep contempt for the norms, values and best practices of philanthropy – a two fingers salute to everyone working in the field. As Kathleen Enright, President of the Council on Foundations, pointed out in The Times article, the Musk Foundation – registered as a 501c3 PF – ‘is not a private, family-owned company. It’s a charitable organization.’

Philanthropy is about the intent to help others, to be purposeful, responsible and accountable in efforts to fuse private money with public purposes. Musk’s motivation is driven by a will to power and profit