Musk endorsed a June 28 X post saying Scott was “paying to make the world a worse place,” replying: “Sadly, yes.”
The criticism targeted Scott’s funding of HBCUs and groups focused on DEI, climate and LGBTQ+ issues, reflecting a broader right-wing backlash against her grantmaking.
Scott gave $7 billion in 2025—about one-third of all U.S. megagifts last year—making her the top American individual philanthropist, Fortune reported.
Her five-year total has reached $26.2 billion across roughly 2,700 organizations, even as her net worth remains about $34 billion after the appreciation of Amazon stock.
In 2025, Elon Musk publicly criticized philanthropic strategies, but MacKenzie Scott responded not with words, but with action—continuing and expanding her distinctive approach to giving. That year, Scott reached a new peak by donating nearly $7.2 billion, bringing her total contributions to over $26 billion. Her method, marked by large, unrestricted gifts, represents a new brand of philanthropy that trusts recipients to use funds as they see fit. This approach stands in contrast to traditional models and serves as a clear, indirect answer to Musk’s criticisms, highlighting Scott’s commitment to impactful, community-driven giving.