Errol Musk, 79, father of tech billionaire Elon Musk, has been accused of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren since 1993, according to a New York Times report on Tuesday.
The report suggests these claims may partly explain why Elon Musk rarely mentions his father. Family members have reportedly reached out over the years, occasionally prompting Elon to intervene.
Errol Musk has denied the allegations, calling them “false” and describing the claims as “nonsense” and “absolute rubbish” in an interview with the Guardian.
Drawing on letters, emails, and interviews with family members, the Times reported that Errol, who has at least nine children and stepchildren and has been married three times, “maintains a powerful grip over much of the family.” Elon Musk did not respond to requests for comment.
Court records, personal correspondence, social workers, and family interviews indicate the earliest allegation dates to 1993, when a four-year-old stepdaughter claimed he touched her at the family home. About ten years later, the same stepdaughter accused him of sniffing her underwear. Other family members have alleged abuse of two daughters and a stepson.
Three law enforcement investigations were reportedly opened, according to police records and family accounts. Two concluded without action, and the outcome of the third remains unclear.
“There was no evidence because this is nonsense,” Errol Musk told the Times, claiming that family members pressured children to make false accusations in an attempt to extort Elon.
Elon Musk has occasionally spoken about his difficult relationship with his father. In a 2017 Rolling Stone interview, he said Errol had done “almost every evil thing you could possibly think of,” recalling that he lived with his father at age 10 while his siblings stayed with their mother. “I felt sorry for my father… He seemed very sad and lonely by himself. So I thought, ‘I can be company,’” Elon said.
He added, “I didn’t really understand at the time what kind of person he was … It was not a good idea,” describing Errol as someone who “will have a carefully thought-out plan of evil. He will plan evil.”
