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Early voting is open through Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3, 14 days away. Elections

Federal

Elon Musk settles federal lawsuit over $1 million voter sweepstakes in Austin

Elon Musk and his political action committee America PAC settled a federal class-action lawsuit filed in Austin over a $1 million sweepstakes offered during the 2024 presidential campaign. Musk and the PAC were accused of misrepresenting how winners would be selected, claiming the process was random when it actually used specific criteria.

Where
Austin, Travis County
When
Oct. 10, 2026
Sources
Reported by 2 outlets

Counties: Travis

Taxes and money

None stated in sources.

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Elon Muskdefendant
  • America PACdefendant
  • Joy HarvickArizona plaintiff
  • Jacqueline McAfertyArizona plaintiff

The facts

  • Settlement filed Thursday in federal class-action lawsuit in Austin before Musk's deposition.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Suit alleged Musk and America PAC claimed petition signers would be randomly selected for $1 million payments.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • America PAC later disclosed 18 recipients were selected using specific criteria, not randomly.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Settlement details remain undisclosed pending court approval.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • Motion for preliminary approval expected within 30 days.1 2 Stated by 2 sources
  • America PAC created about one month before 2024 election to support Donald Trump's campaign.2

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Suit plaintiffs Voters were misled about how $1 million recipients would be chosen.2
  • America PAC attorneys Recipients were selected based on suitability to serve as spokespeople and were compensated for that role.2
  • Joy Harvick She would not have signed petition or provided personal information if she knew selection was not random.2

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

Sources

Outlets: 2 not rated Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. Elon Musk settles Austin lawsuit over $1 million voter sweepstakes before he had to testify Austin American-Statesman Not rated, October 15, 2026
  2. Elon Musk Settles America PAC Voter Lawsuit in Texas SuaraGarut.ID Not rated, October 15, 2026

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

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All corrections and updates

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Reported by 2 outletsFound via Google News

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