Errol Musk, the 79-year-old father of tech billionaire Elon Musk, has been accused of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren over a period spanning three decades, according to an investigation by the New York Times.
The newspaper cited personal letters, emails, interviews with family members, and court records that describe allegations stretching back to 1993. That year, a four-year-old stepdaughter reportedly told relatives Errol Musk had touched her in the family home.
A decade later, the same stepdaughter alleged that she caught him sniffing her dirty underwear. Other family members have also accused him of abusing two of his daughters and a stepson, according to the Times.
The report stated that at least three separate law enforcement investigations were launched into the allegations. Two concluded without action, while the outcome of the third remains unclear.
Errol Musk dismissed all claims when approached by the Times, describing them as “false,” “absolute rubbish,” and “nonsense.” He alleged that family members were coaching children to make false accusations in order to extort money from his eldest son, Elon.
The Times reported that Elon Musk has occasionally intervened when approached by family members for help, though he has remained largely silent on his father. He did not respond to requests for comment.
Elon Musk has previously described a fraught relationship with his father. In a 2017 Rolling Stone interview, he said: “My dad will have a carefully thought-out plan of evil. He will plan evil.” Musk recalled moving to live with Errol at the age of 10, saying he felt sorry for him at the time but later realised it “was not a good idea.”
Errol Musk, who has at least nine children and stepchildren, has been married three times and described in the report as maintaining a “powerful grip” over much of the family.
The New York Times said the allegations help explain why Elon Musk rarely speaks publicly about his father, despite his prominence in profiles of the Tesla and SpaceX founder.