Elon Musk is reportedly taking illegal drugs, including ecstasy and cocaine, a lifestyle choice that preoccupies his executives and board members at these companies, the Wall Street Journal reports.
In recent years, some executives and board members of his companies and others close to the billionaire have become increasingly concerned that his drug use is fueling his erratic behavior.
Their concern for the tech tycoon's health also extends to the potential impact on his six companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, sources told the Journal.
Musk is tied to and critical to the value of his companies, potentially putting around $1 trillion in investor assets, tens of thousands of jobs and large parts of the U.S. space program at risk.
Alex Spiro, a lawyer for Musk, said the CEO told the Journal that Musk was “regularly and randomly tested for drugs at SpaceX and has never failed a test.”
Musk smoked marijuana on the Joe Rogan Show and publicly discussed his recipe for the psychedelic-like ketamine
The 2018 incident landed him in trouble as NASA demonstrated to executives how Musk's personal decisions could affect the companies he oversees
Musk smoked marijuana on the Joe Rogan Show and publicly discussed his recipe for the psychedelic-like ketamine.
However, witnesses told the Journal that the owner of the
In 2018, for example, he took several tablets of acid at a party he hosted in Los Angeles, the Journal reported.
The next year, he allegedly used magic mushrooms at an event in Mexico and in 2021, he allegedly used ketamine recreationally with his brother at a house party in Miami.
According to the Journal, the billionaire even did drugs with current SpaceX and former Tesla board member Steve Jurvetson.
Those close to the 52-year-old reportedly fear that the extent of his drug use could lead to a health crisis or a crisis for his company.
SpaceX is the only U.S. company currently approved to transport NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
However, illegal drug use would likely be a violation of federal policy that could jeopardize SpaceX's billion-dollar government contracts.
Musk is said to have consumed LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, often at exclusive private parties around the world
Musk has form when it comes to making controversial statements on social media
According to the Journal, the billionaire even did drugs with current SpaceX and former Tesla board member Steve Jurvetson
The Journal reports that Musk's drug use and associated volatile behavior have already led to resignations at the top of Musk's companies.
Linda Johnson Rice, a former Tesla director, reportedly became increasingly concerned about Musk's drug use and was so frustrated with his behavior that she did not seek re-election to the company's board in 2019, people familiar with the matter said of publication.
According to the Journal's sources, serious concerns about Musk's drug use were raised in 2017 when Musk slurred his words and spoke incomprehensibly for fifteen minutes at a SpaceX meeting about the Big Falcon rocket prototype.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell reportedly stepped in and took over the meeting.
SpaceX executives reportedly spoke privately after the meeting about their concerns that Musk was taking drugs.
One of those described told the Journal that the event was “nonsensical,” “unhinged” and “disgusting.”
In 2018, Musk ran afoul of NASA after publicly smoking marijuana with Joe Rogan.
This raised concerns among executives and board members because it showed the potential business impact Musk's behavior could have.
Board members were again concerned that Musk may have been under the influence of drugs when he tweeted his intention to take Tesla private in 2018.
The tweet sparked an SEC investigation and led to Musk agreeing to temporarily step down as Tesla chairman.