Elon Musk Dragged to Court Over Alleged $1M Trump Petition Sweepstakes

In a surprising twist that has captivated legal observers and tech enthusiasts alike, Elon Musk finds himself firmly ensnared in a civil lawsuit alleging an unlawful $1 million lottery. The high-profile case, stemming from an alleged sweepstakes tied to a petition seeking the reinstatement of Donald Trump on X (formerly Twitter), has been given the green light to proceed by a California judge, much to the chagrin of Musk's legal team.

The plaintiff, Richard D.

Lindon, claims he was explicitly promised a staggering $1 million prize for his participation in a Change.org petition. This petition, widely circulated by seemingly unofficial yet influential accounts such as "Elon Musk Fan" and "Dogecoin," aimed to gather support for bringing the former President back to the platform.

Lindon asserts he not only signed the petition but also diligently shared it, fulfilling his end of what he believed was a legitimate offer, only to be met with silence and no prize.

Lindon's lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, accuses Musk and associated entities of violating California's stringent Unfair Competition Law, along with other critical business statutes.

At its core, the complaint alleges the promotion constituted an illegal lottery, a serious claim under state law which broadly defines a lottery by the presence of three key elements: consideration, prize, and chance. Lindon’s argument posits that his act of signing and sharing the petition served as the "consideration," with the $1 million being the enticing "prize," and the outcome of the draw representing "chance."

Musk's legal representatives vigorously sought to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that their client had no direct control over the third-party accounts promoting the alleged sweepstakes.

They contended that linking Musk to such activities was tenuous at best, given the decentralized nature of social media engagement. However, Judge Stephen M. Moloney remained unconvinced.

In a pivotal ruling, Judge Moloney denied Musk's motion to dismiss, asserting that Lindon's complaint had "adequately alleged the existence of an unlawful 'lottery' as defined by California law." The judge's decision underscores the court's view that sufficient connection and potential liability exist to warrant further legal scrutiny.

This means the case will now move into the discovery phase, potentially unearthing more details about the origins of the promotion and the extent of any involvement or awareness from Musk's side.

This development casts a long shadow over Musk's legal battles, adding another complex layer to his already busy schedule.

The unfolding legal drama promises to be a closely watched affair, not just for its implications for Musk, but also for its potential to set precedents regarding accountability for promotions disseminated by associated or fan accounts on major social media platforms.