Fact Check: Did Elon Musk give WNBA star Caitlin Clark $10M in funding?
AUSTIN, TEXAS: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is known for making headlines for his posts on X. The multibillionaire, chosen by Donald Trump to lead DOGE, has frequently voiced his opinions on social media.
However, numerous rumors about Musk often circulate online, only to be debunked later.
Recently, a rumor spread online claiming that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had pledged $10 million to support basketball player Caitlin Clark and expressed his support for her on X. But is there any truth to this? Let's find out.
Claim: Elon Musk supported Caitlin Clark with $10 million in funding
On March 15, a viral post across social media claimed that Elon Musk supported WNBA player Caitlin Clark with $10 million in funding.
Moreover, the post also claimed that the Tesla CEO announced his support for the WNBA star on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The viral post by Facebook user Chef Andrew Gruel read, "BREAKING NEWS: Elon Musk Backs Caitlin Clark with $10 Million in Funding: 'I Support You, Caitlin Clark'."
The post continued, "In a surprising and generous move, Elon Musk has announced that he is providing $10 million in funding to basketball star Caitlin Clark, a gesture of support that has caught the attention of sports fans and business communities alike."
"The billionaire entrepreneur made the announcement via Twitter, stating, 'I support you, Caitlin Clark', alongside the news of the significant financial backing. The funding will reportedly help Clark further her career, with the specifics of its use still unclear. Many speculate that the money could go toward her training, endorsement deals, or even the launch of her own initiatives in the world of sports," it added.
Interestingly, the claim surfaced in a YouTube video in October 2024. The viral Facebook post has already amassed 7,000 likes and approximately 1,800 comments.
False: Trump did not fund Caitlin Clark with $10 million
The claims made in the viral online post are false as it originated from a satirical source, according to Snopes.
Moreover, no evidence supports the claim that Elon Musk posted about supporting Caitlin Clark on X or pledged $10 million to sponsor her.
Furthermore, no authentic news outlet covered any such news or statements from Clark or Musk to confirm the claims.
Moreover, in December 2024, Musk criticized Clark in an X post for talking about her "White privilege".
He wrote, "100%" and shared a post that stated, "'My truth' and 'White privilege' are code for someone who has been captured by the woke mob and is pandering to get people to like and accept them. No matter how much Caitlin Clark panders, they'll still hate her guts."
Proof: The claim originated from a satirical website
The viral claim originated from a June 2024 article on Esspots.com. The website specializes in satire, parody, and humor, as per their description.
The article read, "In a bold and unexpected move, Elon Musk has thrown his support behind Caitlin Clark, the rising star of women's basketball, by offering her a $10 million endorsement deal."
It continued, "Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur known for his ventures in technology and space exploration, made the announcement via social media, expressing his admiration for Clark's talent and potential."
"This endorsement not only highlights Clark's growing influence in the sports world but also underscores the evolving nature of athlete sponsorships in the age of social media and tech magnates," it added.
The website's disclaimer read, "Welcome to Esspots.com, a website that specializes in satire, parody, and humor. Before you proceed to read our content, we would like to emphasize that nothing on this website is real. All of the articles, stories, and commentary found on Esspots.com are entirely fictitious and created for the purpose of entertainment only."
