Elon Musk Will Turn Kids Into Capitalists

By Sharona Mazalian Levi

Nov. 3, 2026 2:22 pm ET

Elon Musk has captured the world’s attention again. His announcement that he intends to give one SpaceX share to “every kid in America” next year is more than an extraordinary act of generosity. It could change how millions of people think about investing.

At Bank Hapoalim, the largest retail bank in Israel, we launched a similar initiative in 2025 and gave more than one million shares to our customers. What began as a way to share our success became something more meaningful: an opportunity to dismantle barriers separating people from capital markets.

For millions of people, the stock market is unfamiliar territory. Many perceive it as complicated, risky and reserved for financial professionals, the wealthy or people with economics degrees. The problem often isn’t a lack of interest. It is fear of making a mistake, losing money or entering a world governed by industry jargon and seemingly endless decisions.

So we asked: What if, instead of trying to persuade people to take that first step, we made it easier for them to do so?

Enter our Gifted Stock Initiative. We offered one million customers the choice of two shares of Bank Hapoalim, which trade on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, or a fixed cash grant.

The monetary value of the gift was modest, but its significance went far beyond financial benefit. During our first share-distribution initiative in September 2025, some 240,000 customers who had never held securities in their Bank Hapoalim accounts became shareholders. We launched a second round later that year, during which we gave more than half a million shares. For many customers, it was their first time participating in capital markets.

Ownership changes one’s perspective. A person who owns even a single share has a reason to understand markets. Why did its price rise today? What caused it to fall? What is a dividend? How do corporate earnings affect a company’s valuation? These questions are crucial for financial literacy, especially for new shareholders.

In 2025 we created an educational platform to explain investment fundamentals at an accessible level. The initiative attracted substantial interest from the Israeli public. It also reflected Bank Hapoalim’s philosophy. We believe a bank shouldn’t merely respond to customers’ financial needs but help them build the knowledge, tools and confidence to improve their financial futures.

Receiving shares doesn’t automatically make someone a knowledgeable investor. Nor does it eliminate investment risk. But that initial participation matters enormously for sustained engagement with capital markets.

This is what makes Mr. Musk’s plan so compelling. If it is implemented, an entire generation of Americans could be introduced to share ownership at an early age. Children and their families might begin following SpaceX’s performance and learning about stock prices, corporate earnings and the link between innovation and shareholder value.

A single share might be worth far less than the financial awareness it inspires. Sometimes the most effective way to teach people about ownership is to let them experience it.

Last year, “Trump’s fund for children” set up 60 million American children with personal tax deferred investment accounts, giving them a financial head start through long term investment, in low cost U.S. stock index funds. They each received a $1000.00 from the government and many rich men donated more to them.

Keith

The only weakness of capitalism is greed....That's exactly why socialism (communism lite) is gaining traction.

On that checks & balances thing mentioned above - If anyone can figure out a way to make rich business people less greedy, I'm all ears.

The only weakness of capitalism is greed....That's exactly why socialism (communism lite) is gaining traction.

On that checks & balances thing mentioned above - If anyone can figure out a way to make rich business people less greedy, I'm all ears.

…. And less globalist and more nativist … like Henry Ford

… Elon has some potential given what he saw happen to South Africa

White Marlin - I'm sure that's a factor, but I look at where the wealth is concentrated.....That lopsided reality is unsustainable.

The only weakness of capitalism is greed....That's exactly why socialism (communism lite) is gaining traction.

On that checks & balances thing mentioned above - If anyone can figure out a way to make rich business people less greedy, I'm all ears.

The only weakness of capitalism is greed....That's exactly why socialism (communism lite) is gaining traction.

On that checks & balances thing mentioned above - If anyone can figure out a way to make rich business people less greedy, I'm all ears.

I can't argue that that is why socialism is gaining traction but have not the slightest clue how you equate that to being the fault of the business owners. Socialism is gaining traction because the last several generations were taught to believe that the world owned them a living. My generation was taught that if you want something in life, you need to go out and earn it.

I guess I've never understood the whole greed argument. To me, those that make it just sound petty and jealous. Perhaps it's because I have not ever been envious of anyone else's physical possessions. I've never had a doubt that if I wanted something I would be able to obtain it eventually. (Material items, anyways). Therefore, I've never been the least concerned with what someone else might have... because I know if I want it badly enough, I can have it as well.