In an election campaign rich in dramatic moments, Elon Musk’s actions over the weekend still raised eyebrows. 

At an event in the swing state of Pennsylvania, Musk, the world’s richest man, with an estimated wealth of $246bn (£190bn), announced he would be giving away $1 million (£774,000) per day to registered voters in seven key states who had signed a petition for his America PAC (political action committee). 

To many, it looked a lot like an attempt to indirectly bribe potential Republican voters into registering. Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, said it was “deeply concerning” and something law enforcement should “take a look at”. 

Mr Musk replied by saying it was “concerning that he would say such a thing”.

While experts debate the legality of the scheme, with just 12 days [AS OF Thurs 24/10] to go until the election, a more pressing question for many is whether Musk’s money will help generate more support for Donald Trump. Musk has a devoted following of predominantly young men – a group that tends to vote Republican, if they vote at all. By increasing the number of registered voters or turnout (or both) among that demographic, he could help tip the scales in Trump’s favour.  

In such a tight race, with most prediction markets at 50-50, even a tiny number of voters could sway the result. 

“In an election this close, anything could make a difference, so Musk’s intervention could be that difference,” says Ben Page, CEO of Ipsos, the polling company. “It will be hard to prove it statistically but if it literally comes down to the wire then it will be important.”