Allegations of sexual abuse first surfaced in 1993, when Elon Musk’s estranged daddy, Errol Musk’s, then 4-year-old stepdaughter told relatives he had touched her when the family lived in South Africa.
A New York Times investigation found that a significant factor in Elon Musk’s rupture with his father stems from accusations against Errol Musk of child sex abuse. The allegations have repeatedly spilled over into Elon Musk’s life as relatives have contacted him for help and he has sometimes taken action to intercede, according to personal letters, emails and interviews with family members.
The allegations against Errol Musk involve five of his children and stepchildren, whom he was accused of abusing in South Africa and California, according to police and court records, personal correspondence, social workers and interviews with family members.
A decade after Errol’s daughter disclosed allegations of sexual abuse, said said she caught Errol Musk “sniffing her dirty underwear.” The incident was reported to police, and a complaint was filed with the city’s child protective services.
Some family members have also accused Errol Musk of abusing two of his daughters and a stepson. And as recently as 2023, family members and a social worker attempted to intervene after his then 5-year-old son said his father had groped his buttocks.
Family members reached out to Elon and asked for his help. Around 2010, one relative wrote Elon Musk a five-page letter about some of the accusations and implored him to intervene. It is unclear if Elon ever read it.
“We really need your advice, help and guidance in these matters because we daily see these children suffer.”
In response to questions from The Times, Errol Musk said “the reports are false and nonsense in the extreme.” He said that the accusations were concocted by family members who were “putting the children up to say false things” and that they were trying to get money from Elon Musk.
