The Mercury News

Tesla boss goes green, will give $1 million to help online campaign

Musk makes pledge to YouTuber’s quest to plant 20 million trees

- By Rex Crum rcrum@ bayareanew­sgroup.com

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has recently said that despite being a billionair­e on paper, he is financiall­y “illiquid”.

But, it sounds like he still has enough green in his wallet to make a big donation to a green cause that is dedicated to planting 20 million trees.

Musk said on Twitter that he would donate 1 million trees, worth a total price of $1 million, to the #TeamTrees campaign launched by YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson. Musk became aware of Donaldson’s efforts earlier this week, and after asking what kinds of trees were involved and where they would be planted, made his donation public via a tweet.

“Ok, sounds legit, will donate 1M trees,” Musk tweeted.

Late Tuesday, Donaldson, who goes by the name Mr Beast, confirmed Musk’s donation, naturally, by tweeting about it.

“Elon Musk has taken the throne,” Donaldson tweeted.

Donaldson, who is known for his YouTube videos featuring him doing things such as counting to 100,000 and also making sizable donations to charities like St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the Wounded Warrior Project, launched his #TeamTrees effort after being challenged to plant

20 million trees once he reached 20 million followers on YouTube. The goal of #TeamTrees is to raise $20 million and begin planting trees next year.

The #TeamTrees effort, which is being run in partnershi­p with the Arbor Day Foundation, has already raised $6 million. Other donors have included Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who has pledged $150,000 to the cause.

 ?? ALEX GALLARDO — ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Elon Musk says he will donate 1million trees to help a YouTube initiative reach a goal of planting 20million trees.
ALEX GALLARDO — ASSOCIATED PRESS Elon Musk says he will donate 1million trees to help a YouTube initiative reach a goal of planting 20million trees.

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