Elon Musk is one of the most iconic figures of the 21st century. He is a self-made billionaire, a renowned inventor and innovator, and an inspiration to many. But in recent years, revelations of abusive behaviour have riddled his image, bringing questions of whether he was actually ever abused as a child. It is difficult to draw conclusions without looking at his formative experiences and understanding his early life.
Musk’s parents divorced when he was 17, after his father reportedly beat his mother. Musk himself has been known to be very vocal about his mother, labeling her a “saint” and describing her as “strong willed, warm hearted and adventurous.” Despite his mother always being a large part of his life, his father wasn’t as involved. Musk has gone on record to say that he was “definitely neglected” and isolated from a young age.
Forbes reported that during an audience with South Africa’s then-president, Nelson Mandela, Musk was in tears as he confided that he had been “abused” by his father. Musks’s then-wife, Justine Musk, has also spoken openly about her ex-husband’s “difficult” childhood. While Justine stayed away from specifics regarding his abuse, she has said that his formative years were “cruel,” and it was “hard” for him to talk about his childhood.
Testimonies from former schoolmates, teachers and family also paint a tumultuous picture of the young Musk. His former teacher shares how Elon was an unhappy, angry student who often retreated into himself and was extremely uncomfortable with social situations. The teacher further noted that Elon’s relationship with his father was distant, strained and pointedly absent.
In 2019, Elon was accused of making abusively disrespectful comments by employees of his company, Tesla. The employees reported a persistent pattern of being ignored, degraded and insulted by Musk. His tyrannical management style has seen Tesla become one of the most litigated companies on the planet, and brought to light numerous complaints about Musk’s treatment of employees.
Though no definitive conclusion can be drawn, looking at Musk’s life experiences and testimonies from those who know him best, it would not be wrong to suggest that the billionaire tech businessman was abused in some form or another, both as a child and an adult.
Relationships with Girlfriends
Musk’s relationships with his girlfriends have also been called into question, often portrayed as emotionally and financially abusive to the women he dated. In 2018, he was in a very public and tumultuous relationship with international pop star, and his now ex-girlfriend, Grimes. In early 2019, their break-up was fraught with drama and allegations of mental manipulation and financial control by Musk.
An article on Vanity Fair featured testimonies from a few of his past girlfriends and ex-wives, describing Musk’s old-school views on gender roles and divulging details about his manipulative behaviour. These reports are shocking, and imply a disregard for intimacy and relationships. He reportedly controlled numerous aspects of the lives of his partners, including what they wore, and how often they could take off for business trips.
These reports suggest a much more complex and traumatic history of abuse coming from Musk than originally thought. While this behaviour is likely an extension of his formative years and experiences, the scope of what he might have gone through is difficult to tell without ever having met him.
Mental Health Issues
Musk’s mental health has also been a prevalent topic of discussion. Mental health issues are known to arise in many people who have experienced abuse, as they attempt to repress painful feelings and cope with the trauma. Considering Musk’s formative experiences, it is highly likely that his defence mechanisms have ended up creating further issues.
In the past, he has admitted to having behavioral issues, like indulging in “excessive work,” ceaseless focus on achieving goals, and not taking enough breaks. Another factor of his behaviour highlighted by some of his exes is his notorious need for control, which also serves as a defence mechanism for his mental wellbeing.
Musk’s behaviour during his 2019 appearance on SNL is an example of this; he appeared to be uncomfortable and unable to connect with the crowd. Such withdrawal is often a sign of feeling unsafe and of difficulty in trusting those around them; this is common in the case of those who have experienced abuse.
Ultimately, the answer to whether Musk was or is being abused is difficult to ascertain without deeper information about his personal life. However, through studying his behaviour, familial relationships and childhood experiences, it is not a far-fetched idea to assume that he had been taken advantage of at some point in his life.
Isolation
Forbes reported that during interviews in the past, Musk grew visibly emotional while divulging details of a very isolated childhood. Ever since his parents divorced, Elon stayed with his father, initially in South Africa, and later, in Canada. A statement by Elon portrays a very lonely episode in his life.
Elon explains that he was the butt of many jokes. It further shows that the mother and son relationship suggested was not as strong or vital as it once was. According to some reports, Elon claimed that if his grades did not improve, his father threatened to send him back to South Africa to live with his mother. This could possibly be classified as a form of emotional abuse, as it would instill fear in a young Elon.
In 2016, Elon posted a tweet about how he was bullied in school, which received an overwhelmingly large response from people who related to his story. He has also admitted to his own struggles with all sorts of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, agoraphobia and even autism.
Whether the cause was the environment he was in, the events that took place, or the people he was surrounded by, Elon’s state of mind provides an interesting look into his life as a child and an untold story of his formative years.
Public Perception
Musk’s public image also reflects his traumatic childhood experiences, often hovering between a cruel “genius” and a public punching bag. In many ways, he has come to represent a fatherless child, who is desperately trying to make his parents proud. Musk has since been known to take to social media often, which is one of his strongest suits.
A study conducted by the Yale University showed how Musk-related content receives more engagement on Twitter than posts related to tech giants like Apple and Google. The same study also revealed how Elon Musk’s tweets resulted in an average of more than 350,000 retweets on a daily basis.
It is a daunting story to tell, and ultimately, the facts about Elon Musk’s experiences remain shadowy and open to speculation. Despite Musk having gone on to become one of the world’s most successful individuals, the possible thoughts and trauma from abuse can never be erased.
Lawsuits and Controversies
In the past couple of years, several lawsuits and controversies have arisen that have put Musk in a very public spotlight. Musk has been accused of making insensitive comments, nondisclosure of vital information, and even exhibiting homophobic behaviour.
Musk has fired back time and time again, denying or counter-punching with his own words. His perpetual defensiveness often implies that criticism is a form of attack, which is a very common response to those who have been abused.
Musk has also been subject to presidential action from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on more than a few occasions. In 2018, he was asked to step down from his position as chairman at Tesla for two years and pay a liquidated damages amount of $20 million for inflammatory comments made about his stock prior to market closing.
Due to past history in the tech sector, speculations began to emerge that Musk was being bullied by the White House Administration. This speculation, however, is largely baseless and fails to take into consideration other, larger organizations like the SEC.
In light of these ongoing issues, it is natural to wonder where these tendencies of being combative and controlling come from. Taking a look at Musk’s early life, it becomes evident that he may have had to navigate difficult and painful situations, and bring them into his daily life and work.
Musk’s Capitalisation on Trauma
As much as Musk is accused of abusing his employees, there are also reports emerging that show he may have used his trauma as a means of capitalizing in order to survive. Many have interpreted his ambition to be a sign of healing and reclamation.
Musk’s use of Twitter and clever marketing tactics, such as his jovial and manipulative mannerisms, is a testimony to how he capitalized on his pain. It could also be argued that he learned how to use his pain and trauma in order to become a stronger, more successful person.
As difficult as it is to get a true understanding of his past experiences, one thing is clear: Elon Musk has experienced a hard life, with enough pain and suffering to make it difficult for him to trust people and trust himself. His remarkable accomplishments, despite all his pain, offer a window into his extraordinary character.
