Errol Musk, the father of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been accused of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren, according to a report published on Tuesday by The New York Times.
The investigation by The Times, drawing on letters, emails, legal documents, and interviews with family members, states that allegations against the 79-year-old date back to 1993. One of the earliest claims came from his then four-year-old stepdaughter, who told relatives that he had touched her at their home.
Years afterwards, the same stepdaughter alleged that she caught him sniffing her soiled underwear. Additional accusations involve two daughters and a stepson.
The report further notes that three law enforcement investigations were opened regarding the claims—two were closed without further action, while the third remains unresolved.
Errol Musk Dismisses Report
Errol Musk has denied all allegations, labelling them “nonsense” and “false.” He told the publication there is “no evidence” to substantiate the claims and accused relatives of manipulating the children to attempt to extort Elon Musk.
The Times observed that Elon Musk, who briefly served as an advisor during the second term of the Trump administration, has seldom spoken publicly about his father. On occasions when family members sought his help, he reportedly intervened.
Family members interviewed for the report said Errol Musk, who has at least nine children and stepchildren from three marriages, continues to “maintain a powerful grip over much of the family.”
Elon Musk has long described his relationship with his father as deeply troubled. In a 2017 Rolling Stone profile, he said Errol had committed “almost every evil thing you could possibly think of.” Recalling his childhood, Musk said that at age 10, he went to live with his father while his siblings, Kimbal and Tosca, stayed with their mother.
“I felt sorry for my father because my mother had all three kids. He seemed very sad and lonely by himself, so I thought, ‘I can be company,’” Musk told the magazine. “I didn’t really understand at the time what kind of person he was … It was not a good idea.”
Musk also described his father as someone who “will have a carefully thought-out plan of evil. He will plan evil,” though he did not provide further details.
(With inputs from IBNS)
