Associates of Elon Musk are planning to launch a new primary and secondary school, and ultimately a university, in Austin, Texas, with the help of a nearly $100 million donation from the billionaire, tax documents show.
The move may be a sign that Musk is seeking to further expand his empire of influence beyond X, the massive communication platform he now runs, as well as the multiple other companies he owns and leads, his investments in artificial intelligence development and his engagement with world leaders.
“The School is being designed to meet the educational needs of those with proven academic and scientific potential, who will thrive in a rigorous, project based curriculum,” the filing posted by Bloomberg states.
The school plans to initially enroll about 50 students and grow over time, according to the filing. It expects to be funded through donations and tuition fees, although it notes that the school will offer scholarships to support students who couldn’t otherwise afford to attend. The filing also noted that the group was in the process of hiring an executive director, as well as teaching and administrative staffers, and eventually plans to seek accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
It also comes as Austin emerges as a growing alternative education hub. The city is home to the University of Texas’ flagship Austin campus, as well as a start-up university called University of Austin, launched by a group including conservative journalist Bari Weiss, that’s aiming to combat perceived “illiberalism” at mainstream schools and plans to begin enrolling students next year.
Musk moved to Austin from California in 2020 — and Tesla’s headquarters moved with him a year later — after expressing frustration with California’s Covid-19 safety measures at the height of the pandemic.
The billionaire has also previously discussed the possibility of starting a new university. In 2021, he tweeted that he was considering starting a school called the “Texas Institute of Technology & Science” — although it was unclear if the post was a joke given the raunchy potential acronym and a follow-up post that said the school would have “epic merch.”
The Foundation said in its filing said that it had raised around $100 million in contributions since mid-2022 for the new Austin school. The Musk charity donated $10 million in cash to the group that year, as well as nearly $90 million worth of Tesla stock.
