• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Elon Musk says he will give Wikipedia $1 billion if it agrees to rude name change

Home> News> Technology

Updated 19:36 23 Oct 2023 GMT+1Published 19:37 23 Oct 2023 GMT+1

Elon Musk says he will give Wikipedia $1 billion if it agrees to rude name change

The tech tycoon has offered to give Wikipedia a huge handout - on one condition

Olivia Burke

Olivia Burke

Billionaire Elon Musk has offered to give Wikipedia a significant chunk of change - if it agrees to his eyebrow-raising demand.

The Space X founder declared he would give the free online encyclopaedia $1 billion if it agrees to change its name.

But believe it or not, he doesn't want to swap its moniker to Muskipedia - it's something much more ridiculous.

As you may have noticed, Wikipedia is constantly looking from donations from readers to keep the website afloat.

Advert

When you're looking up your favourite celebrity or browsing the history of the Cold War, there's no doubt that you have been interrupted by a plea for cash.

The site is run by a team of hard-working volunteers, who help fact-check and keep the site up to date, among other things.

The world's richest man offered to pay Wikipedia $1 billion to change its name.
Chesnot/Getty Images

They even rigorously translate articles into different languages so the pages are accessible to readers across the globe.

But no matter where you live, you are probably greeted by a message asking for a few quid when you click on Wikipedia.

Advert

It typically calls on users to donate some money to make sure the site can keep 'thriving for years to come', or some similar fundraising jargon.

Musk has now decided to make the encyclopaedia a 'stiff and firm' offer to hopefully get rid of the constant appeals for cash.

The world's richest man promised to reach his hand into his pockets if the company complys with his quite frankly childish request.

Wikipedia regularly asks users to donate cash to keep the free online encyclopaedia going.
KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images

In a tweet, he wrote: "I will give them a billion dollars if they change their name to D**kipedia."

Advert

Before he promised to get out his cheque book, he had shared a screenshot of a 'personal appeal' from Wikipedia's co-founder Jimmy Wales asking for donations.

The tech tycoon posted the image alongside a snooze emoji, suggesting he is tired of his reading being interrupted.

He also shared a number of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, questioning why Wikipedia was always looking for financial support.

Musk asked: "Have you ever wondered why the Wikimedia Foundation wants so much money?

"It certainly isn’t needed to operate Wikipedia. You can literally fit a copy of the entire text on your phone!

Advert

"So, what’s the money for? Inquiring minds want to know..."

It turns out his burning question has actually already been answered, which a quick Google search would have told him.

Wikimedia spokesperson Samantha Lien previously told The Washington Post: "Based on guidance from the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees, our reserve amounts to one year of operating budget.

“If there were circumstances that affected our ability to raise those funds during that period, we could end up in an urgent situation — the reserve is a safety net to protect Wikipedia against such a possibility.”

In other words, Wikipedia wants to have a decent amount of cash on standby incase its financial well suddenly runs dry.

Advert

Seen as though it's one of the few websites on the internet that's ad-free, it needs to make money somehow.

I for one would be sad to see Wikipedia go. Where else am I going to double check what year the Spice Girls split?

Featured Image Credit: Chesnot/Getty Images/KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images

Topics: Technology, Elon Musk, Money, News

Olivia Burke
Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

X

@livburke_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

12 mins ago
2 hours ago
4 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • 12 mins ago

    Man robbed bank claiming 'it was art' and filmed the whole thing

    Gonna have to try this one

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Someone made a £5000 Bitcoin investment in 2011 and has now made ridiculous profit 14 years later

    Maybe they're a time traveller who did what we all dream of

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Woman who can remember everything that happens in her life shares awful downside of the ability

    Apparently, only around 0.00001% of the world's population can do it

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    Psychologists have found that one flirting technique works ‘almost every time’ for men and women

    You're welcome, everyone

    News
  • Moment Joe Rogan left stunned as Elon Musk posts Donald Trump Epstein file claim mid-podcast
  • South Park makes brutal Elon Musk 'ketamine' dig during new trailer of controversial series
  • Elon Musk Has Announced Date For When SpaceX Will Fly Humans To Mars
  • Elon Musk Says Humans Shouldn't Live Longer And 'His Own Death Would Come As A Relief'