Elon Musk debuted a fresh financial incentive on Sunday as part of his scheme tobuy votesfor the state Supreme Court election in Wisconsin . And it ’s peculiarly ironic since the Tesla CEO accuses wraithlike left - flank billionaire of funding demonstrator against him and buying elections . But do n’t expect to actually get any money if you observe through on what the billionaire oligarch is recount people to do .
Musk say anyone can be paid $ 20 per photograph for getting people in Wisconsin to pose for a picture go for an double of conservative evaluator Brad Schimel , who ’s running against liberal Judge Susan Crawford . People who participate do n’t even involve to be residents of Wisconsin to get the money , according to Musk . However , the terminus and status list on Musk ’s website appear to oppose that title .
Musk assume a cheesehead hat at a exchange Sunday night in Green Bay , Wisconsin , where he handed out two $ 1 million checks and urged hoi polloi to vote for the MAGA - array Judge Schimel in the election Tuesday . The $ 1 million giveaways are manifestly illegal , but that has n’t stopped the billionaire . The Wisconsin Attorney General sued Friday to stop Musk ’s giveaways for clearly violating anti - bribery law , but an appellate Margaret Court denied the asking Saturday to stop the scheme . Then on Sunday , shortly before Musk took the stage in Green Bay , the commonwealth Supreme Courtdenied a requestto get wind the case .
Elon Musk gives $1,000,000 to a Wisconsin voter, Ekaterina Diestler, during a town hall meeting he was hosting at the KI Convention Center on 22 January 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.© Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Musk , who ’s poured over $ 20 million into the Wisconsin election through entities like America PAC , said Sunday that masses could become so - called “ block captain , ” to broadcast the word about voting for Judge Schimel , watch up with a tweet later that night about the pass .
The billionaire described it as gentle money , explicate that it was open to anyone , whether they survive in the DoS of Wisconsin or not . All they necessitate to do is get people to “ hold a photo ” of Judge Schimel while give a thumbs up . “You could make over $ 1000 in one day just by getting out the ballot in Wisconsin ! ” Musk write Sundayon X.
“ Easiest money you ever made ! ” Muskwrote on X. “ You do n’t even call for to be from Wisconsin , you just ask to get people in the state to hold a picture of@TeamSchimelcan be on a phone / gimmick or report ) in one paw and go thumbs up with the other hand . Every time you do that you get $ 20 and they get $ 20 . The goal is to build up knowingness about the election tomorrow , so this offer applies to today and tomorrow . ”
Screenshot showing the form that must be filled out to be a “block captain” in Wisconsin for Elon Musk’s America PAC. Screenshot: America PAC
The musical phrase “ today and tomorrow ” refers to Monday and Tuesday .
But if you in reality read the terms and conditions on America PAC’swebsite , it seems pretty cleared that being a “ blockage captain ” is only open to registered voters in Wisconsin ( emphasis ours ):
To be eligible to be an O.K. Block Captain , the person must be a registered elector in Wisconsinand bow the requested selective information , including , but not limited to , an electronic mail computer address and cell phone number . Notwithstanding the foregoing , applying to be a Block Captain and submitting the required information does not grant any someone the right to be a Block Captain or create any contractual obligations . America PAC , in its lone free will , has the authority to sanction or deny a person ’s applications programme to be a Block Captain .
It ’s not clear why Musk said that anyone could get pay , even if they do n’t live in Wisconsin . But the billionaire does have a history of blatantly lie about things that are prosperous to wait up . The term on America PAC ’s site , which contain spelling errors , are also confusing when it come up to how someone might be capable to get over $ 1,000 . phone line like “ each menage is throttle to receiving one $ 20 ” do n’t bring home the bacon any clarity on what limitation exist for defrayal ( accent ours ):
For payments being made for bow pictures supportive of Brad Schimel ( a “ Pro - Schimel Photo ” ) , the Wisconsin occupier must be holding a picture of Brad Schimel in one paw and give the “ thumbs - up ” sign with their other hired man . Each family is specify to receiving one $ 20.For example , if two people in the same family submit Pro - Schimel Photos , America PAC will only pay $ 20 ( not $ 40 ) for those submissions . If Block Captain submits Pro - Schimel photograph from 100 households , they will be desigated [ sic ] a “ Block General ” and receive an extra $ 200 payment . America PAC will not ante up a Block Captain for submitting Pro - Schimel pic from a household that has already submitted a Pro - Schimel Photo . All Pro - Schimel Photos must be submitted by 8 pm CT on Tuesday , April 1 , 2025 , to be eligible for payment .
The website also explicate that photos guide near polling booths will also be eligible for compensation , though that also rear a horde of thorny legal questions . canvassing is illegal within 100 feet of a polling position in Wisconsin .
Will anyone see money from this system ? It ’s entirely potential . But even if the great unwashed get compensate , America PAC require everybody to know that there are no guarantees and you should n’t expect anything promptly ( emphasis ours ):
America PAC makes no warranties , whether express or implied , regarding any specific timeframe in which payment for the Block Captain Program will be issued . America PAC will make its best drive to promptly make out requital to all Participants whom it square up are eligible to receive payment . fond requital may be made on a rolling basis . Due to a high-pitched engagement rate in the Block Captain Program , Participants should not needs bear to receive bonus payment within a calendar month or even two months . America PAC thanks Participants in progress for their solitaire .
The $ 1 million giveaways on Sunday went to people who signed a petition against “ activistic ” evaluator , though it ’s not clear how they were in the end chosen . Musk execute a similar scheme in swing state leading up to the 2024 presidential election , which was also challenged in court . prosecutor in Philadelphia argued that Musk was apparently breaking the law of nature by offering people money to vote , but the province courtallowed it to continueand then the full topic was drop after the election .
One of the recipient of the $ 1 million checks on Sunday , Ekaterina Deistler , spoke in a video to hype up the experience , though $ 1 million checks are n’t useable any longer .
In a TV send by Elon Musk ’s PAC , a $ 1 molarity check recipient link up voting to receiving the money :
“ My name ’s Ekaterina Deistler . … I did just what Elon Musk told everyone to do : sign the petition , refer friends and family , vote , and now I have a million dollars . ”
[ image or embed ]
— PatriotTakes 🇺 🇸 ( @patriottakes.bsky.social)March 31 , 2025 at 7:10 AM
The other receiver of the $ 1 million check on Sunday was identified as Nicholas Jacobs , who looks like the chairman of the Wisconsin College Republicans , consort to hisX report . Again , it ’s not clear how these two multitude were select , but they ’re identified as spokespeople for America PAC , not sweepstakes winners .
Musk expend over $ 250 million in the 2024 presidential election to elect Donald Trump , money that ’s paid off handsomely as he ’s now a de facto co - president , running a mathematical group called DOGE that ’s currently break apart the U.S. federal government . But Musk call for control at the state level as well if he wants to unfeignedly transubstantiate the country from the ground up into a fascist Caesarism . And Wisconsin will be a test of whether he can get out it off .
America PACDonald TrumpelectionsElon Muskvotingwisconsin
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