Elon Musk, the enigmatic billionaire and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has once again found himself at the center of controversy. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Musk’s company directors feel an “expectation” to use drugs with him in order to avoid upsetting him.
The report details how Musk has created a culture of peer pressure among his friends and business associates, encouraging them to partake in his substance use. Witnesses have reportedly seen Musk taking ketamine recreationally through a nasal spray and drinking liquid ecstasy from a water bottle at parties. Current and former directors and board members of Tesla and SpaceX, some of whom have significant financial ties to Musk’s companies, have also been known to use drugs with him.
The “volume” of Musk’s drug use has created a culture of fear among his closest business associates. They worry that refusing to use drugs with him could result in losing their wealth and social status. This fear is compounded by the fact that many of these individuals have invested tens of millions of dollars in Musk’s companies or have significant stock options tied to their roles.
The report comes on the heels of a previous article by The Journal that detailed Musk’s use of cocaine, LSD, ecstasy, and magic mushrooms over the years. In response to that article, Musk defiantly stated, “Whatever I’m doing, I should obviously keep doing it!” However, the revelations about his drug use could potentially jeopardize his security clearance as well as the billions of dollars of government contracts enjoyed by SpaceX as a defense contractor.
NASA, one of SpaceX’s key partners, has stated that they do not have evidence of noncompliance from the company regarding drug use regulations. However, the report has raised concerns about Musk’s behavior and its impact on his companies.
Indeed, a former director at Tesla reportedly chose not to stand for reelection to the company’s board due to concerns about Musk’s drug use and unpredictable behavior. Additionally, executives at SpaceX have expressed worries about Musk being on drugs during a meeting, where he arrived late, rambled and slurred his words for about 15 minutes before the meeting was taken over by another executive.
The revelations about Musk’s drug use shed light on the potential influence he wields over those around him. The fear of upsetting the billionaire and losing financial security has created a culture of enabling and participation in his substance use. It remains to be seen how these revelations will impact Musk’s reputation and the future of his companies.
In conclusion, Elon Musk’s company directors reportedly feel pressure to use drugs with him in order to maintain their wealth and social status. Musk’s drug use has created a culture of fear and peer pressure among his closest business associates. The revelations about his substance use raise concerns about his behavior and its potential impact on his companies.