Elon Musk’s reported use of illegal drugs was reportedly common knowledge among various current and former directors at Tesla Inc. and SpaceX, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report published on Saturday. The report indicates that there were concerns about the extent of Musk’s illegal drug use and that he allegedly consumed drugs with some board members. However, the board did not conduct any investigations into the matter, and there is no documented evidence of concerns, as per the WSJ.
The revelation about Musk’s alleged drug use comes in the wake of a Delaware judge’s recent criticism of the relationship between Musk and his directors. The judge raised concerns about conflicts of interest within the board while ruling that Musk’s $55 billion pay package was excessive.
According to the WSJ report, some friends and directors reportedly felt compelled to partake in illegal drugs with Musk, possibly to avoid upsetting him. The report suggests that there may have been an unwritten understanding that participating in such activities helped maintain social capital and connections with Musk. The board’s alleged knowledge of Musk’s drug use raises questions about corporate governance and the handling of such matters within the company.
Musk and his lawyer, Alex Spiro, have not responded to requests for comments from the WSJ regarding the latest report. In a previous report by the WSJ, Musk was said to have used LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms, often at private parties. At that time, Spiro stated that Musk underwent regular and random drug testing at SpaceX, passing every test.
In response to the WSJ’s initial report on his alleged drug use, Musk took to the social media platform X to share his thoughts. “Whatever I’m doing, I should obviously keep doing it!” Musk posted on X, citing Tesla and SpaceX as the world’s most valuable car and space companies. He added, “If drugs actually helped improve my net productivity over time, I would definitely take them!”
Elon Musk oversees a diverse portfolio of companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly known as Twitter), The Boring Co. (a tunneling venture), Neuralink (brain implant developer), and xAI (artificial intelligence startup). The revelations about his alleged drug use raise questions about the impact on his leadership and the corporate culture within these companies.
As the news unfolds, it may have implications for corporate governance practices and how boards address issues related to the behavior of top executives, particularly when it comes to matters of public concern or potential legal consequences.