Kathrine Frich
The contest was never a random draw.
When a massive cash prize is on the table, it is hard for anyone to resist signing up.
Most people hand over their contact details assuming everyone in the draw has an equal shot at life-changing money.
Now, a prominent legal battle over a famous campaign giveaway has quietly come to an end.
A million-dollar promise
According to HuffPost, billionaire Elon Musk agreed on Thursday to settle a class action lawsuit accusing his political group of tricking voters during the 2024 presidential race.
Back then, Musk launched an organization called America PAC just weeks before voting day to help elect President Donald Trump.
Through the group, he offered swing-state voters a shot at a $1 million payout. To enter, Trump backers had to hand over their personal contact details and sign a petition backing “free speech and the right to bear arms,” HuffPost reported.
More than a dozen people walked away with the seven-figure checks. However, the contest was never a random draw. When Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner sued to stop what he called an illegal lottery, a Pennsylvania judge let the handouts continue after Musk’s legal team revealed the truth.
According to HuffPost, the lawyers argued the recipients were actually chosen “based on their suitability” to act as paid spokespeople for the group.
Angered voters push back
That courtroom admission sparked a wave of lawsuits right after the election from frustrated participants who felt used. Among them was Arizona resident Joy Havrick, who claimed in a legal complaint that the political organization treated her as a “marketing prop,” according to HuffPost.
“Had Plaintiff been aware that the lottery was not random, or that she did not have a fair chance to win the prize, or that her selection hinged on her perceived favorability to Defendants as a marketing prop, she would not have signed or supported the America PAC petition and would not have provided her PII [Personal Identifying Information] to Defendants,” the complaint stated, as cited by HuffPost.
Now, both sides are ready to wrap things up behind closed doors. A brief court document cited by HuffPost noted:
“The Parties have reached a Settlement and respectfully request that the Court vacate all deadlines and stay further proceedings for a period of thirty (30) days to allow the Parties to finalize and execute the settlement agreement and file a Motion for Preliminary Approval.”
Financial terms of the deal remain secret for now. HuffPost noted that Musk’s attorney did not reply to a request for comment, while Havrick’s lawyer, Mark Bankston, told the outlet he is “unable to comment at this time.”
