Listen to the audio version of the article
Cocaine, ecstasy, hallucinogenic mushrooms and ketamine. These would be the reasons behind Elon Musk’s extravagant behavior. This was revealed by the Wall Street Journal, according to which some executives and members of the board of directors of the tycoon’s companies – from Tesla to SpaceX – are worried that the tycoon’s use of drugs could have consequences not only on his personal health, but also on the six companies and the billions in assets that he supervises: “Musk is an integral part of the value of his companies and could affect investor confidence, putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk.”
Drug-fueled parties around the world
The newspaper reports direct testimonies from people who claim to have seen Musk consume drugs such as LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms during private parties. These episodes would not be limited to the United States, but would occur in different parts of the world. Participants would be required to sign confidentiality agreements and turn off their cell phones upon entry, in order to avoid recording videos or taking compromising photos. In particular, an event in Los Angeles, in 2018, in which Musk allegedly took “several tablets”, and one in 2019, in Mexico, during which he “celebrated” with mushrooms, were targeted. “Musk is known to attend parties and events at Burning Man, the Nevada art and music festival where he uses drugs extensively, to let off steam, according to people close to him,” states the WSJ.
The possible violation of federal policies
One of the most controversial aspects is the use of ketamine, a substance known for its psychedelic effects, for which Musk claims to have a prescription and uses it to combat depression. However, its consumption could constitute a violation of federal policies, jeopardizing SpaceX’s billions of dollars in government contracts. Federal contracts, in fact, oblige companies to comply with the Drug-Free Workplace Act, a 1988 regulation according to which those who win a contract from the federal government or obtain federal grants must ensure drug-free work environments as a precondition. Any violation of the law, we read in the Wall Street Journal, could blow up SpaceX’s contracts.
Not just Musk. The newspaper reveals, in fact, that Steve Jurvetson, current member of the SpaceX board of directors, also shared the consumption of illegal drugs with the tycoon. This is an element that raises further concerns among the managers of the South African entrepreneur’s companies.
Elon Musk’s “quirks,” as described by the WSJ, include contrary opinions, unfiltered speech and provocative behavior. Many consider these characteristics an expression of the billionaire’s creativity or the result of mental health problems, stress or sleep deprivation. Yet, according to the financial newspaper, there is growing concern among company leaders that another element, the use of drugs, could influence his behavior.