An ironic flash mob: X users send donations to the "impoverished" Elon Musk
Users of social network X have launched a viral ironic campaign: they are mass-sending small amounts of money to the richest person on the planet, Elon Musk, via the new payment service XMoney. The trigger was the billionaire's rapid, albeit temporary, loss of his "trillionaire" status.
Over two weeks, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX saw his fortune drop from a historic $1.4 trillion to $943 billion. The reason is a global stock market correction that has hit the technology sector and the artificial intelligence industry hard, where Musk's key assets are concentrated.
A Joke That Became a Trend
It all started with a post from a blogger under the handle Corey. He published a screenshot of a $25 transfer, accompanied by the succinct caption: "Buy coffee on me." In the comments, he wrote: "Call me an idiot, but I just sent $25 directly to Elon Musk via XMoney — just because I can."
Musk himself did not stay on the sidelines and briefly replied: "Thanks." This gesture instantly turned a single joke into a mass flash mob. Other users stated they were ready to send money if the billionaire also replied to their posts. Thus, XMoney received unexpected but powerful viral PR.
Why Musk Lost the "Trillion"
As a reminder, Elon Musk became the only dollar trillionaire in history in June 2026. However, market conditions proved merciless. A massive sell-off on the stock market, affecting shares of Tesla and other tech giants, quickly "cut off" the symbolic milestone. Despite this, Musk confidently holds the top spot in the ranking of the world's richest people, significantly ahead of his closest competitors, Jeff Bezos and Larry Page.
Expert opinion: This flash mob is a vivid example of how meme culture and new financial tools intertwine in real-time. For Musk, this is less about money and more about a brilliant PR move for XMoney, demonstrating his audience's loyalty and the platform's viral potential. However, investors should remember: the volatility of the billionaire's fortune is a direct indicator of the risks embedded in the capital-intensive sectors where he dominates.