On March 15, 2025, a viral Facebook post claimed that Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, had pledged $10 million in support of WNBA star Caitlin Clark.
Elon Musk pledged $10 million to Caitlin Clark, a standout basketball player from the University of Iowa, following her remarkable performance in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Clark's exceptional skills, including her ability to score from long range and her overall court vision, captured widespread attention, leading to her becoming a viral sensation. Musk's donation was in response to a tweet by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who suggested that Clark deserved a significant financial reward for her contributions to the sport. This gesture by Musk not only highlights Clark's impact on women's basketball but also underscores the growing recognition and support for female athletes in high-profile sports. However, the story also sparked discussions on the implications of such high-profile endorsements and the future of athlete compensation in college sports.