Here are 6 ways Elon Musk could change Mississippi’s future with $44 billion
He’s an entrepreneur. He’s incredibly rich. And he’s arguably one of the most polarizing public figures in recent history.
Like the Charli XCX song, businessman and billionaire Elon Musk is wanted down on Earth but he (literally) seems to be up in space.
Between Space X and Tesla and AI, Musk stays busy. And now, he’s buying Twitter.
Musk is reportedly paying $44 billion to acquire the social media company, polarizing America and bringing free speech to the forefront of conversations on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
“The Good Place” actress and activist Jameela Jamil announced she was leaving Twitter.
“I fear the free speech bid is going to help this hell platform reach its final form of totally lawless hate, bigotry, and misogyny,” she Tweeted on Monday.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, however, tweeted in support of Musk’s newest venture.
“Elon Musk buying Twitter is a victory for free speech and a loss for those wanting to censor views they don’t like,” the governor said.
No matter how you feel about Grimes’s ex buying Twitter, I think we can all agree that $44 billion is a lot of money.
Here’s a list of six ways he could spend the money on the Mississippi Coast.
- Fix fishing piers destroyed in hurricanes across South Mississippi. The iconic walking bridges over water are part of the Coast’s history, but many from Pass Christian to Pascagoula have damaged or destroyed in severe weather over the last few years, including in hurricanes Zeta and Ida.
- Provide universal pre-K and child care for Coast families. Pre-K is not yet mandatory in the state, but many school districts are making moves to try to ensure all children can attend if needed. Bay-Waveland included pre-K for all in their latest bond measure, but residents voted against it. Average weekly, full-time rates for child care in Mississippi ranged from $125 for infant care to $111 for preschool care per child, according to data from the Mississippi State Department of Health. $25 million could fund care for every child under 5 in the state.
- Give teachers a bonus. Yes, teachers just got a raise, but many argue that it’s still not a living wage. Many teachers in Mississippi work second and third jobs to make ends meet. Musk could give every teacher in Mississippi a $20,000 check and it would cost around $652 million.
- Give one graduating senior a Tesla in every school. If Musk chose a deserving student to get a 2022 Model S Tesla at every public and private school in the state, it would cost him around $61 million. Also, make Teslas more readily available! The closest dealership to the Coast is 3 hours away in Pearl.
- Pay off student loan debt in the state. Millennials and Gen Z are leaving the state at alarming rates after college, often to cities that pay higher salaries. If Musk spent $15.2 billion on the state’s student loan debt, Mississippi could change the face of its future and keep young people home.
- Give local college students paid internships at Space X. Musk is converting two oil rigs in Pascagoula into floating launch pads for his SpaceX program. Giving 10 internships to local college students at $25 per hour over 12 weeks in the summer could allow young Mississippians to be part of a mission to Mars.
This story was originally published April 27, 2022 at 5:50 AM.
