Elon Musk made headlines once again during a town hall in Wisconsin on Sunday evening.
During the event, Musk revealed that he has directed his team at DOGE to look into members of Congress who have amassed considerable fortunes over their careers.
This announcement was part of a broader discussion about the wealth of career politicians and how some of them appear to accumulate wealth beyond their official salaries.
Musk’s fortune, which totals $343 billion, is largely tied to his businesses, Tesla and SpaceX.
However, he has long been vocal about his concerns over the wealth amassed by certain members of Congress.
At the town hall, Musk shared his thoughts with a crowd of around 2,000 people, noting that it’s hard to connect the dots on how some lawmakers have become incredibly rich despite their relatively modest salaries.
He pointed out that the financial trajectories of some politicians, earning an average of $200,000 a year, don’t add up to multi-million-dollar net worths.
Musk Calls Out Top Politicians While Pushing for Transparency
In his speech, Musk specifically named prominent politicians like Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, and Elizabeth Warren.
According to a post shared on Musk’s X account, these figures have a combined net worth of $439 million, although some of the figures cited by Musk may not be entirely accurate.
For instance, public disclosures from 2023 suggest that Schumer’s wealth is closer to $2.3 million, while Warren’s tax returns show a net worth of about $9 million.
While members of Congress are allowed to buy and sell stocks and cryptocurrencies, they are required to disclose all transactions.
Musk’s focus on wealthy lawmakers is part of his broader criticism of what he perceives as financial corruption within the political establishment.
He expressed his intentions to investigate these figures further and “stop it from happening.”
Musk Pushes for Political Change in Wisconsin
Beyond his comments about Congress, Musk has also been heavily involved in Wisconsin’s political landscape.
He voiced support for Judge Brad Schimel in the upcoming state Supreme Court election, aiming to flip the court’s balance from Democrat-controlled to Republican-controlled.
Musk believes that the outcome of this election will have significant implications for the future of the country, even if it might not seem like a high-stakes issue to everyone.
To make his influence felt in this race, Musk has poured over $20 million through his America PAC into the Wisconsin state Supreme Court election, aware that the court may play a pivotal role in redistricting congressional districts.
He believes that the way these districts are drawn could ultimately influence which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
Cash Prizes and Legal Challenges
In a move that has become somewhat familiar to his followers, Musk once again used cash prizes to encourage civic participation.
At the town hall, he announced that two lucky attendees would win $1 million each.
However, offering cash incentives for voter registration is illegal under Wisconsin state law, as it is considered a felony to offer “anything of value” in exchange for encouraging someone to vote.
Musk quickly adjusted his offer, changing it to provide the prizes to two people who agreed to become spokespeople for his petition.
The controversy surrounding Musk’s offer escalated quickly, but a Wisconsin court ruled in his favor.
Just before the event began, the Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously decided not to block the payments, a move that allowed Musk to proceed with his plans.
His legal team argued that these payments were a form of free speech and were intended to spark grassroots opposition to what Musk considers “activist judges.”
Musk’s attorneys emphasized that the giveaways were not intended to support or oppose any particular candidate.
Petition Drives and Legal Challenges on Voting Rights
Musk’s event in Wisconsin was packed with attendees who were required to sign a petition in order to receive an invitation.
The petition, which opposed “activist judges,” allowed attendees to receive a $100 check.
Musk’s strategy to influence political outcomes through financial incentives isn’t new.
During the presidential campaign, he used a similar approach in key battleground states like Wisconsin, offering $1 million a day to those who signed petitions supporting the First and Second Amendments.
Musk’s approach has sparked legal challenges, with critics arguing that these tactics cross into the realm of illegal lottery schemes.
However, some judges, including one in Pennsylvania, allowed the efforts to continue.
Musk’s legal team has worked hard to defend his rights to engage in political activism through these unconventional methods, and for now, his push to impact Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race remains active.