Sources: Elon Musk engaged in intense drug use during the 2024 presidential campaign, as he juggled the messy consequences of efforts to produce more babies
As Mr. Musk entered President Trump's orbit, his private life grew increasingly tumultuous and his drug use was more intense than previously known.
New York Times
Context & Ripple Effects
This report extends an existing governance thread around Musk: earlier coverage said executives and board members worried his drug use could harm his companies, while separate reporting raised questions about director independence at Tesla and SpaceX. It also places those concerns alongside Musk’s unusually deep involvement in the 2024 election, increasing the overlap between personal conduct, corporate leadership and political influence.
First-order effects
The reporting puts renewed scrutiny on Musk’s judgment and on the oversight exercised by boards at companies he leads or influences.
Musk’s proximity to Trump during the campaign makes the allegations more consequential for stakeholders assessing whether his personal conduct could affect corporate and political roles.
Second-order effects
Tesla and SpaceX directors may face sharper pressure to demonstrate independent oversight, given prior reports that some directors felt an expectation to use drugs with Musk.
The story increases reputational and diligence risk for counterparties and investors whose assessment of Musk already must account for his highly visible political engagement.
Third-order effects
If recurring reports continue to connect a founder-CEO’s private conduct, board dynamics and political access, governance quality—not just operating performance—will become a more central test of founder-led companies.
The episode points to a broader question for companies led by politically influential executives: whether conventional board safeguards can remain credible when personal and institutional power are tightly concentrated.
The trend: This is one data point in the growing convergence of founder-led corporate governance risk and political influence.
4/ “...at a Trump inauguration event, Mr. Musk thumped his chest and thrust his hand diagonally upward, resembling a fascist salute.” — “There is something seriously wrong with his moral compass, if not his perception of reality,” — www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/u...
NYT: On the Campaign Trail, Elon Musk Juggled Drugs and Family Drama — As Mr. Musk entered President Trump's orbit, his private life grew increasingly tumultuous and his drug use was more intense than previously known. — www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/u...
Ketamine. — Ecstasy. — Mushrooms. — “.. Mr. Musk told people that his ketamine use was causing bladder issues ..” — @nytimes.com — www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/u... [image]
There's always a reminder somewhere in these stories that “the rules” mostly exist to punish workers and never apply to bosses — www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/u... [image]
Losing bladder control. Erratic behavior. Normal people get interventions or CPS calls. Elon gets the keys to destroy government agencies. [embedded post]
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/u... Elon is ruining his life while ruining so many Americans' lives due to his drug use and awful judgment! — I LOVED TESLA! Now I can't wait to get rid of my Tesla and remaining stock. — He used those who believed in him and shit on us. — FU-E…
Good and important reporting from The Times. — Gift link: — On the Campaign Trail, Elon Musk Juggled Drugs and Family Drama https://www.nytimes.com/...
@WSJ ... 16 months since @WSJ first reported on @ElonMusk's drug use over the past year, @NYTimes reports he has developed a “serious habit — “using ketamine often, sometimes daily,” and mixing it with other drugs, including Adderal, MDMA, & psilocybin. Chronic abuse of ketamine …
“He told people he was taking so much ketamine that it was affecting his bladder. He took Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms. And he traveled with a daily medication box that held about 20 pills, including ones with the markings of the stimulant Adderall...” https://www.nytimes.co…
Elon's drug use was rampant while leading DOGE. Ketamine hourly, along with adderall, ambien, Percocet. He'd do rallies while stoned. Has 16-30 kids. Pays for advance notice of SpaceX drug tests (needed for defense contracts) and use someone else's urine. https://www.nytimes.com/…
There's always a reminder somewhere in these stories that “the rules” mostly exist to punish workers and never apply to bosses https://www.nytimes.com/... [image]
So Trump handed over control or oversight of the entire government to someone who was abusing drugs the whole time, and we're left with this mess and Republicans will try to call “squirrel” to distract us all? https://www.nytimes.com/...
With every single day there's further proof we live in a world where @ByYourLogic's zaniest jokes about the people running the country are revealed to be actual truths https://www.nytimes.com/... [image]