Elon Musk, the richest person in the world, threw a challenge at the United Nations. He said that he will sell $6 billion worth of Tesla stock and donate the proceeds to the United Nations food agency if it could show how the money would solve world hunger.
This comes in response to a tweet made by David Beasley, director of the UNs World Food Programme (WFP).
In his tweet, Beasley had mentioned the $36 billion increase in Musks net worth after Hertz ordered 100,000 Teslas. He added that one-sixth of this increase, which is $6 billion, could help save 42 million people who are suffering from famine.
Musk has previously been criticized for not giving away more of his massive fortune, as the world’s richest man. Musk has maintained prefers to remain anonymous when giving away money and earlier this year asked Twitter users for critical feedback on ways he can donate.
Beasley responded to Musk a few hours later, offering to be on the next flight to you and saying that the executive can throw me out if you dont like what you hear.
Beasley also said that the $6 billion figure wouldnt solve world hunger, but WILL prevent global political instability, mass migration and save 42 million people on the brink of starvation.
Musk replied by asking him to publicly publish the organizations current and proposed spending in detail. Sunlight is a wonderful thing, Musk wrote.
In a separate tweet, Musk shared a link to a 2015 Express report alleging that UN peacekeepers were sexually abusing children in the Central African Republic in 2014, adding the comment What happened here?
If Musk were to sell $6 billion worth of Tesla shares to make a donation, it would be the largest known charitable contribution he has ever made.