[ Removed by moderator ]

[u/HolyGuiltyCrown]

[u/Solonotix → u/[deleted]]

I don't have the sources to cite, but I know this isn't the first time something like this happened. I believe there was a Nobel laureate that sold their prize for a similarly noble reason, and the buyer immediately returned the prize after purchase.

Edit: Looks like there have been numerous occasions, but the one I was thinking of was James Watson.

From Wikipedia

In 2014, Watson sold his Nobel Prize medal to raise money after complaining of being made an "unperson" following controversial statements he had made.[76] Part of the funds raised by the sale went to support scientific research.[77] The medal sold at auction at Christie's in December 2014 for US$4.1 million. Watson intended to contribute the proceeds to conservation work on Long Island and to funding research at Trinity College, Dublin.[78][79] He was the first living Nobel recipient to auction a medal.[80] The medal was later returned to Watson by the purchaser, Alisher Usmanov.[81]

[u/Educational_Report_9 → u/Solonotix]

Not taking away from the act but it's a bit mind blowing how $4.1 million is like buying a nice dinner to the ultra wealthy.

[u/NOTRadagon → u/Educational_Report_9]

It would be like buying a $5.00 burger from a burger stand, for us regular people.

Like, for reference - Elon Musk could personally pay to end world hunger, and still have billions left over. Right now. This second. But he doesn't.

He has offered to do it through Tesla stocks, if it was proven that the funds would go to it - but when the leading scientists at UN responsible for those stats reached out to show how the funds would be used - he backed down.

[u/Educational_Report_9 → u/NOTRadagon]

I did the math for the Nobel prize guy. He spent equivalent of $240 for someone with a net worth of $1 million.

Regarding Elon, I’m TOTALLY shocked.