Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk is back at the center of a public scandal. This time, his criticism on social media platform X is aimed at Jeff Bezos’s ex-wife, billionaire and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. In just four days, Musk reposted or approvingly commented on at least eight posts mocking and condemning her approach to charity.

For instance, Musk shared a post by one user who claimed that Scott had "blown $26 billion of her ex-husband's money, achieving absolutely nothing worthwhile."

Billions Without Strings Attached: What Is Scott Investing In?

According to the official website of MacKenzie Scott’s foundation, Yield Giving, her team has distributed over 2,700 grants totaling more than $26 billion (with over $7 billion paid out last year alone). She has pioneered so-called "trust-based philanthropy" — a method where money is given to organizations quickly, directly, and without bureaucratic strings attached, BI reports.

Her organization has backed over 2,000 non-profits, ranging from the world-renowned Meals on Wheels (food delivery for seniors) and Habitat for Humanity (housing construction) to the Ghetto Film School and the Florida Immigrant Coalition.

However, this approach doesn't sit well with everyone. "Sadly she's spending that money to make the world worse," one X user wrote. "Unfortunately, yes," Elon Musk bluntly replied.

In another thread where users speculated that Jeff Bezos himself is likely unhappy that his ex-wife is pouring billions into progressive and left-wing non-profits, Musk responded with approving emojis, signaling that he finds the situation both relatable and comical.

Echoes of Old Grudges and Political Context

Musk’s current attacks on Scott come amid a fresh wave of criticism directed at him. The public is still reminding the billionaire of his brief stint leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), during which he initiated sweeping budget cuts at the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

At the time, the world's richest man fiercely defended the freeze on USAID programs and mass layoffs, calling it a "war on waste, fraud, and abuse."

However, Musk’s opponents — including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates — warned that blocking international aid would lead to preventable deaths and humanitarian disasters abroad.

Right now, Musk is feuding not only with Scott but also with New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. The journalist published a list on X of people who, in his opinion, "died because of Musk's aid cuts." In response, the SpaceX chief’s supporters actively pushed the narrative that American tax dollars should be spent domestically rather than sent overseas.

"The Reason Western Civilization Dies"

Musk has long expressed open concern regarding the speed and scale of Scott's philanthropy. He is particularly vexed by the fact that the money flows into projects related to racial equality, social justice, migrant rights, and LGBTQ+.

Earlier, in March 2024, Musk published a post (which he later deleted) stating point-blank: "'Super-rich ex-wives who hate their ex-husbands' should be officially listed among the 'Reasons why Western civilization died.'"