SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and her husband are putting their money where their rocket dreams are. On Monday, Shotwell announced they'll donate shares of SpaceX stock to "Trump Accounts" for more than 2 million American children.
"My husband and I are honored and thrilled to participate in the Invest America program and gift a share of our SpaceX stock to a Trump Account for each of more than two million children across our great nation," Shotwell wrote on X.
The gift is targeted at children ages 11 to 17 living in areas with lower average household incomes, with "a bit more emphasis" on kids near her central Texas home. Shotwell said she and her husband "have been fortunate" in their careers and hope the donation encourages the next generation to continue "enabling humanity to live and fly amongst the stars."
Shotwell's announcement came after Altimeter Capital founder Brad Gerstner launched the Trump Accounts through the Invest America effort on July 4, 2026 — the nation's 250th anniversary. The program gives eligible children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, a $1,000 federal seed investment. Older children can open accounts but don't get that government deposit.
Gerstner thanked Shotwell and her husband for their "extreme generosity," noting the SpaceX shares will be locked until the kids turn 18. The Invest America website says Trump Accounts are privately owned by children, locked until adulthood, and can be used later for college, a home, a business, or continued investment.
Shotwell joins a growing roster of wealthy donors and corporate backers. Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to give $250 each to 25 million children. Ray and Barbara Dalio pledged at least $75 million for more than 300,000 children in Connecticut. Ray Dalio earlier praised the accounts as a way to teach young people how finance, stocks, and capitalism work. Meanwhile, Elon Musk argued there would be "no need to save money" in a future shaped by AI and robotics.
Wall Street is also getting in on the action. JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Goldman Sachs (GS), and Morgan Stanley (MS) have announced $1,000 matches for eligible employees' children. Vanguard, Coinbase, Charles Schwab, and other financial firms have joined the broader corporate support push.
It's a big moment for the Trump Accounts program, which has drawn both enthusiasm and skepticism. But for Shotwell, it's about giving kids a stake in the future — and maybe a little piece of the space economy.
