Errol Musk, the father of Elon Musk, is at the center of serious allegations from within his own family, accused of sexually abusing multiple children and stepchildren over a span of decades. A recent New York Times investigation reveals a disturbing picture of a man described as having a “powerful grip over much of the family,” while his alleged victims repeatedly turned to Elon Musk for help.
The 79-year-old, who now lives in South Africa, has been accused of abusing five of his children and stepchildren in incidents dating as far back as the early 1990s, both in South Africa and California. According to The Times, police and court records document at least three separate investigations into the allegations. Two of those probes reportedly ended, while the outcome of a third remains unclear.
The earliest known accusation came in 1993, when one of Errol Musk’s stepdaughters alleged he abused her at the age of four.
Other relatives claim Errol also abused two daughters and a stepson. One family member even sent a five-page letter to Elon Musk in 2010, laying out the abuse and pleading for his intervention.
“We really need your advice, help and guidance in these matters because we daily see these children suffer,” the letter read.
It’s unclear if Elon ever read the letter, but one of his assistants reportedly reached out to the family afterward.
Errol Musk, who has not been convicted of any crime, has denied all accusations. In a statement to The Independent, he called them “false and nonsense,” and claimed they were fabricated “to get money from Elon.”
“We’re very close,” Errol said of Elon, claiming they spent a weekend together about 18 months ago. He added, “Families do sometimes fight.”
But that closeness is disputed. In Walter Isaacson’s 2023 authorized biography of Elon Musk, the tech mogul said he does not communicate with his father. Elon lived with Errol in Pretoria between the ages of 10 and 17 after his parents’ divorce, and according to the biography, the relationship was rocky and emotionally scarring.
Elon’s sister, Tosca Musk, painted a harsh picture of life with their father.
“His mood could change on a dime. Everything could be super, then within a second he would be vicious and spewing abuse,” Tosca said. She recalled lectures where he’d call his children “worthless, pathetic,” and said he made “scarring and evil comments, not allowing you to leave.”
Elmie Smit, the sister of Errol Musk’s third wife, didn’t hold back in her interview with The Times:
“He’s left a massive wound.”
Despite the family’s repeated pleas and troubling accounts, Errol Musk has continued to appear on television this year, weighing in on his son’s rising political profile. In February, he told TalkTV that Elon is “not cut out for politics.”
Errol has been married three times and has at least nine children and stepchildren. Elon is his eldest.
