Larry Page: I'd Give Money to Elon Musk Before Charity

Google founder and chief executive Larry Page said that he's rather give his money to Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, than to charity.

Page said he wanted his billion going to people like Musk, who can change the world, according to Wired. In a Q and A with Charlie Rose at the TED 2014 conference in Vancouver, Page said that business was innovating for the benefit of humanity and building a better future. From the article

Rose asked him about a sentiment that Page had apparently voiced before that rather than leave his fortune to a cause, that he might just give it to Elon Musk. Page agreed, calling Musk’s aspiration to send humans to Mars “to back up humanity” a worthy goal. “That’s a company, and that’s philanthropical,” he said.

Others on Twitter seemed to have suggested that Page was urging the audience to donate money to corporations creating such innovation -- although that's usually considered investment rather than charity, as Business Insider pointed out.

Page also took time to point out that not all companies were creating "revolutionary change" in technology like Google and Musk, nor working to create an optimistic future.

While Page's comments are a bit controversial -- giving money to Musk when so many are without food or shelter -- his ideas are the lofty kind often espoused by the wealthy. Page wants to see humanity colonizing planets and eventually that greatness will trickle down.

It is a lofty goal, but it also comes with no space colony in sight for decades.

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