Elon Musk has taken to X to deny taking illegal drugs – while admitting to using prescribed ketamine to “get out of dark mental holes” in the past. The New York Times had claimed the tech billionire was suffering from bladder problems brought on by ketamine use, citing insiders who claim the billionaire’s drug use is escalating and prompting serious concerns among senior colleagues.
Mr Musk posted: “To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their a** off. I tried *prescription* ketamine a few years ago and said so on X, so this not even news. It helps for getting out of dark mental holes, but haven’t taken it since then.” The Tesla and SpaceX boss was alleged by the New York Times to have taken part in multiple “ketamine binges” in recent years, with people close to him alarmed about the potential impact on his health and judgment.
Sources cited in the investigation said Mr Musk had displayed erratic behaviour in recent years, which they claimed may be linked to his alleged pattern of drug consumption. The newspaper said the 53-year-old appeared to use ketamine not just as a treatment for depression — a use for which it has been explored medically — but in a recreational context, sometimes at parties and private events. In one case, he was reportedly seen using the substance in a boardroom setting.
According to sources, Mr Musk’s ketamine use had become so excessive that it caused urinary issues — a known side effect of frequent or high-dose consumption of the dissociative anaesthetic. One source described it as a “bladder problem from too much ketamine.” The Times investigation cited several people it said had direct knowledge of the situation. Some of them said Mr Musk’s alleged use of ketamine and other substances, including MDMA and LSD, had prompted anxiety among executives, board members, and investors at his various companies. In some cases, they said those close to him feared that his alleged drug use could impair his ability to lead businesses worth hundreds of billions of dollars and to make decisions on sensitive issues, including those involving government contracts and national security.
SpaceX, one of Mr Musk’s most high-profile ventures, holds a multibillion-dollar contract with NASA and other US agencies. Tesla is one of the world’s most valuable car manufacturers. Mr Musk is also the owner of social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Despite this, the report claimed that warnings about his behaviour were often met with indifference or even resistance, with some associates hesitant to confront him directly.
One executive reportedly raised the issue of drug use in a message to board members several years ago, urging them to take the matter seriously. However, no formal action appears to have followed.
Mr Musk is understood to have passed several drug tests administered by SpaceX to comply with federal safety requirements, particularly in connection with the company’s work with NASA. However, sources said these tests were known in advance and conducted infrequently, leading to questions about their effectiveness as a deterrent.
Mr Musk previously has previously acknowledged taking a small amount of ketamine under prescription for depression, telling The Wall Street Journal in 2023 that it helped him “occasionally” and that he believed more people should consider it for mental health reasons.
He has also drawn attention in the past for allegedly smoking marijuana on camera during a podcast appearance in 2018 — an incident which prompted NASA to review SpaceX’s workplace culture.
The fresh allegations are likely to reignite debate about Mr Musk’s leadership style and the level of scrutiny applied to his personal conduct. Some investors have raised concerns in the past about his social media posts and public comments, arguing that they could affect share prices or undermine confidence in his companies.
The new claims are likely to intensify pressure on both companies’ boards to demonstrate they are taking governance and leadership issues seriously, particularly as Mr Musk continues to wield substantial influence across multiple industries.
Express.co.uk has contacted X, SpaceX, Tesla and legal firm Quinn, Emmanuel, Urquahart and Flynn LLP, where his personal lawyer, Alex Shiro, works, for comment.