Judge allows Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day sweepstakes amid allegations of election meddling

Tesla CEO Elon Musk at a rally

A Pennsylvania court has ruled that a high-profile $1 million-a-day raffle organized by Elon Musk’s America PAC in key swing states can continue through the presidential election. The decision by Judge Angelo Foglietta on Monday comes after Musk’s lawyers argued that the recipients of the lottery are not chosen at random, but rather selected based on alignment with the PAC’s values. However, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner had tried to halt the program, describing it as a “fraud” that violates state election laws.
The sweepstakes, designed to register over a million voters in battleground states, offers significant payouts to selected participants who sign a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments. Musk’s attorney, Chris Gober, defended the program, explaining that recipients were not randomly selected but pre-screened to ensure they represent the PAC’s ideals. Gober confirmed that two more recipients would be named before Election Day, one in Arizona and another in Michigan.
In response, Krasner’s legal team argued that the initiative is a thinly veiled attempt to influence the election. US PAC director Chris Young testified in court, admitting that recipients undergo personality assessments to determine whether they fit the PAC’s messages and sign confidentiality agreements to keep details of their selection process confidential. However, in previous social media posts, Musk has suggested that anyone who signed the petition had a “chance” to win the $1 million daily prize, which Krasner’s team pointed out contradicts claims that the winners were not chosen at random.
The contest also caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice, which recently issued a warning to Musk’s PAC about potential violations of federal election laws, specifically those that prohibit financial incentives tied to voter registration. That warning, reportedly sent by the department’s Public Integrity Section, has prompted America PAC to revise its message. Under new guidelines, recipients are now referred to as “spokespersons” rather than “winners,” a change that some experts suggest does little to change the structure of the lottery.
Legal experts are divided on the issue. Some argue that the program exists in a legal “gray area” that potentially circumvents direct violation of voter laws, while others argue that it is dangerously close to illegal compensation for voter turnout. Matthew Sanderson, a Republican election law expert, stated that while the program raises legal questions, it does not necessarily break the law.
The sweepstakes has already seen four winners from states like Pennsylvania and Michigan, all of whom publicly supported Trump and constitutional rights in promotional videos. America PAC has promised that all prize funds will be paid out by the end of November, although it is still unclear whether recipients have received their winnings. Meanwhile, concerns linger over the PAC’s potential long-term use of voter data from over a million registrants, which Krasner suggests could exploit participants beyond the election season.
Elon Musk, who did not attend the hearing, has already poured more than $70 million into the PAC, which supports Trump’s campaign and other Republican candidates ahead of the election. Krasner hinted he may pursue civil damages for Pennsylvania residents who signed up for the contest, suggesting Musk’s operation abuses election integrity and violates state lottery laws.