March 8th 2024.
Elon Musk recently expressed his disapproval of MacKenzie Scott's philanthropic efforts, which have seen her donate billions of dollars to organizations that support women and minorities. In a now-deleted post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX referred to Scott as a "super rich ex-wife who hates her former spouse." His criticism seemed to stem from her donations to organizations that address issues of race and gender, as reported by Business Insider.
This is not the first time Musk has spoken out against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. "DEI is just another word for racism. Shame on anyone who uses it," he wrote on X in January. He also took aim at Scott's donations to political action committees in 2022, accusing them of being "posing as charities." According to Musk, these actions were not motivated by a genuine desire to make a positive impact, but rather by her animosity towards her ex-husband, Jeff Bezos.
In contrast to Musk's criticism, Scott's philanthropic approach has been widely praised. Since her divorce from Bezos in 2019, she has donated nearly $2 billion to 343 organizations that support underserved communities. What sets her apart from other wealthy philanthropists is her no-strings-attached approach. This has been welcomed by recipients, with Ruth Simmons, then-president of Prairie View A&M University, saying, "The most cherished gifts are definitely those that are unrestricted because a complex university has a wide variety of needs," according to Business Insider.
It's worth noting that Scott received $38 billion worth of Amazon shares as part of her divorce settlement with Bezos. However, her ex-husband has a different approach to giving away his wealth. "The hard part is figuring out how to do it in a levered way," he told CNN, as reported by Business Insider. While Scott's donations have been met with praise, Bezos seems to be taking a more strategic approach to his philanthropy.
Musk's criticism of Scott's philanthropy is not surprising, given his previous comments and actions. He has been vocal in his opposition to DEI initiatives and has been known to speak out against those who he believes are using their wealth and influence for personal gain rather than genuine philanthropic efforts. In contrast, Scott's actions have been widely recognized and appreciated for their impact on underserved communities.
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