Legal

Musk Lawyer Says $1 Million Winners Weren’t Picked by Chance

Giveaway winners picked for their suitability as spokespeople
Philadelphia DA calls contest a ‘grift’ at court hearing

Elon Musk awarded Kristine Fishell with a $1 million check during a town hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 20. — Elon Musk awarded Kristine Fishell with a $1 million check during a town hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 20.
Photographer: Michael Swensen/Getty Images

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By Chris Dolmetsch

November 4, 2024 at 6:40 PM UTC

Updated on

November 4, 2024 at 8:34 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Elon Musk’s lawyer told a Pennsylvania judge that the winners of a million-dollar voter giveaway were chosen “not by chance.”

The lawyer, Chris Gober, made the surprise admission at a court hearing where the Philadelphia district attorney is trying to stop the contest, saying it’s an illegal lottery. Gober argued, however, that the sweepstakes is not a lottery because the winners were selected on their “suitability” to be a public spokesperson for Musk’s political action committee, often based on their personal stories.