Elon Musk’s father, Errol Musk, has long been a figure surrounded by controversy, estrangement, and occasional headlines – and the latest allegations only add to the complex portrait of the 79-year-old South African engineer, entrepreneur, and adventurer. Rarely discussed by his billionaire son, Errol has now been accused of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren since 1993, according to a New York Times investigation published on September 23.
Elon Musk’s Father Accused Of Sexually Abusing His Children
The Times’ report paints a disturbing picture, citing personal letters, emails, and interviews with family members that describe accusations spanning decades. The earliest reported allegation dates back to 1993, when a four-year-old stepdaughter claimed Errol had touched her. Over the following years, family members also accused him of abusing two daughters and a stepson, with three separate law enforcement investigations reportedly opened. Two concluded without action, and the outcome of the third remains unclear.
Errol Musk has vehemently denied the allegations, telling the Times that the claims are “false” and “nonsense in the extreme.” He accused family members of attempting to extort his son Elon, dismissing the accusations as fabrications intended to secure money. Despite the public scrutiny, Elon Musk did not respond to the Times’ requests for comment.
When he has commented on his father in the past, Elon has been unflinchingly candid. In a 2017 Rolling Stone profile, he described Errol as having done “almost every evil thing you could possibly think of,” recalling a childhood in which he went to live with his father at age 10 while his siblings stayed with their mother. “I didn’t really understand at the time what kind of person he was… it was not a good idea,” Elon said, noting that Errol “will have a carefully thought-out plan of evil.”
A Life Of Wealth, Adventure, And Controversy
Errol Musk is no stranger to headlines beyond the allegations. He claims to have co-owned an emerald mine in Zambia, a venture he says made him extremely wealthy. In interviews, he described literally having more cash than he could physically handle, with safes overflowing with stacks of notes. He even involved his sons in selling emeralds to Tiffany & Co. in New York, though Elon has disputed many of his father’s claims, including that Errol invested in Elon and Kimbal’s first company, Zip2.
Errol’s past includes stints in politics – he was elected to the Pretoria City Council in 1972 as a member of the Progressive Party, opposing apartheid – as well as dramatic personal stories, like surviving an alleged home invasion in Johannesburg, in which he claimed he shot three intruders in self-defence.
He also comes from a family of adventurers: his parents were reportedly the first to fly from South Africa to Australia in a single-engine plane, and his grandmother became the first chiropractor in Canada.
How Many Children Does Errol Musk Have?
Errol Musk has fathered at least nine children, including Elon, Kimbal, Tosca, Alexandra, Asha Rose, and two children with his stepdaughter Jana Bezuidenhout, who he married indirectly through her mother, Heide. His relationship with Elon and the other children has been fraught with tension and acrimony for decades.
Elon has repeatedly described his father as irredeemable. “You have no idea about how bad. Almost every crime you can possibly think of, he has done,” he told Rolling Stone. Despite multiple attempts to repair their relationship, Elon concluded that it was impossible. “There is nothing you can do,” he said. “I’ve tried threats, rewards, intellectual arguments, emotional arguments… no way, it just got worse.”
For his part, Errol Musk has dismissed his son’s criticisms as childish. In a 2018 interview with the Daily Mail, he said Elon “needs to grow up” and accused him of throwing a tantrum over Errol’s perceived shortcomings. “I’m not going to hit back,” he said. “He can’t have what he wants and now I am apparently an evil monster.”
Fathering Children With His Stepdaughter
One of the most controversial aspects of Errol’s life has been his relationship with his stepdaughter, Jana Bezuidenhout. The two share a son, Elliot “Rushi” Rush, born in 2017, and a daughter, born in 2019. Errol has defended the relationship as a result of loneliness and circumstance, claiming it was part of “God’s plan or nature’s plan.” Elon and Kimbal reportedly disapproved, believing the children were akin to siblings, though Errol dismissed the objections.
What Does His Ex-Wife Maye Musk Have To Say?
Errol Musk’s public persona is a study in contradictions. He portrays himself as a daring adventurer, successful businessman, and self-made patriarch, yet his estrangement from Elon and other children, allegations of abuse, and turbulent marriages paint a far more complicated picture. His former wife, Maye Musk, has publicly described him as abusive during their marriage, adding that his wealth never compensated for the trauma inflicted.
Despite the turmoil, Errol Musk continues to live a life defined by extremes: high-profile family drama, allegations of abuse, rare moments of wealth and adventure, and a persistent estrangement from one of the world’s most famous sons.
