Snopes: "No, Musk didn't offer Dawn Staley $10M" (and DU gets a mention)

[sl8]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/musk-dawn-staley-offer/

No, Musk didn't offer Dawn Staley $10M

Some social media posts claimed the University of South Carolina Gamecocks coach refused Musk's alleged offer.

Caroline Wazer
Published March 24, 2025

In March 2025, a rumor circulated online that Elon Musk, tech billionaire and adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, offered to donate $10 million to Dawn Staley. Staley is head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, the University of South Carolina's NCAA women's basketball team.

Some social media posts additionally claimed that Staley had refused the alleged offer. For example, a March 23 post (archived) from the Facebook page Women's Hoops read:

[...]

Versions of the claim also appeared on platforms including X, Threads and Instagram, as well as the message board Democratic Underground.

But there was no evidence to support the claim that Musk ever offered $10 million to Staley. As a result, we've rated the claim false.

[...]

[rampartd]

1. offers?

for what? what would she have to do for $10M? coach basketball? kim mulke makes $38M at lsu

so what would you not do for $10M?

sex would be disgusting, but i've done worse for a lot less money...............

[Wiz Imp]

2. An embarrassing incident for DU.

It was pretty obviously a fake story to begin with, then one of the first responses to the original post pointed out the source website for the story is known for posting false stories, yet many took it seriously. A reminder to question everything and don't just blindly accept anything posted on the internet.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. As far as embarrassment goes, DU is about 80 millionth in the US list

After the entire Trump regime, anyone who voted for them, and many gullible media outlets who take Trump as his word.

What was also notable about this story was its triviality. There was little scope for "taking it seriously". The page claimed "this donation didn't happen", and people speculated for a few minutes on what they thought that said about the personalities involved. Meh.

[Polybius]

4. No matter how fake, some will believe anything as long as it makes those they dislike look bad

Same thing with the JD Vance couch story.