By John Ikani
Elon Musk’s recreational drug habits have raised concerns among executives and board members at the companies he leads, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing individuals familiar with both Musk and his businesses.
The Journal states that Musk has engaged in the use of LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms, frequently at private gatherings. Witnesses and insiders, who chose to remain unnamed, informed the Journal about these activities.
According to people close to Musk at Tesla Inc. and SpaceX, his drug usage persists, with a particular focus on ketamine, despite Musk claiming in August to have a prescription for its use as an antidepressant.
In September 2018, Musk’s marijuana use drew attention when he smoked a blunt on Joe Rogan’s podcast. The incident prompted a review of his federal security clearance tied to his role as CEO of Space Exploration Technologies Corp by the Pentagon, which holds certification for launching military spy satellites, as first reported by Bloomberg News in March 2019.
“After that one puff with Rogan, I agreed, at NASA’s request, to do 3 years of random drug testing,” Musk, 52, disclosed on X, his social media platform. “Not even trace quantities were found of any drugs or alcohol.”
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Musk did not respond to Bloomberg News’ request for comment. Alex Spiro, Musk’s attorney, mentioned that Musk undergoes regular and random drug tests at SpaceX, with no failed tests reported. Spiro acknowledged “false facts” in the article without specifying them.
As the sole U.S. company authorized to transport NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station, SpaceX holds a crucial position. The Pentagon has increased its purchases of launches from SpaceX in recent years. In June, SpaceX’s satellite communications business, Starlink, secured a contract to support Ukraine’s military.
The Journal revealed that Linda Johnson Rice, a Tesla director since 2017, opted not to seek re-election two years later, expressing frustration with Musk’s behaviour and her apprehensions about his drug use.
Elon Musk oversees a portfolio of six companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter). His other ventures encompass The Boring Co., Neuralink (a brain implant developer), and xAI (an artificial intelligence startup). With a net worth of $219.4 billion, Musk currently holds the top spot on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
