A claim circulated online suggesting that Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, offered a staggering sum of $10 million to Dawn Staley, the head coach of the University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team.
In March 2025, social media posts alleged that Musk, an advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, pledged the donation, which Staley reportedly rejected with the remark, “Keep it and spend it on something that actually helps people!” The claim spread widely across platforms like X, Threads, Instagram, and Democratic Underground, often linking to an article on the website Btuatu.com, which purportedly detailed the offer and Staley’s rejection.
Musk, known for his outspoken nature, was quoted as saying, “I stand with you, Coach Dawn Staley.” However, there is no credible evidence to support the claim that he ever made such an offer.
A search for “Musk” and “Staley” yielded no reliable news coverage of the alleged donation. Additionally, Musk’s official X account contained no references to Staley or her team, nor did Staley’s official social media accounts mention Musk.
Furthermore, Btuatu.com, the site at the center of the rumor, has a track record of publishing fabricated stories to generate engagement. AI text detection tools indicated a high likelihood that the articles about Musk’s supposed donation were generated by artificial intelligence.
While the precise origin of the rumor remains unclear, it surfaced around March 19, coinciding with the start of the 2025 NCAA women’s basketball tournament, in which Staley’s team, the South Carolina Gamecocks, held a No. 1 seed.
This is not the first time false stories about celebrities have appeared on Btuatu.com. Similar misinformation has previously circulated, including a baseless claim that the Kansas City Chiefs had banned Musk from attending NFL games.
Due to the lack of verifiable evidence, the claim that Musk offered Staley $10 million is false.
Sources:
2025 March Madness: Women’s NCAA Tournament Schedule, Dates, Times | NCAA.Com. https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2025-03-23/2025-march-madness-womens-ncaa-tournament-schedule-dates-times. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
