According to sources from The New York Times, Elon Musk may have downplayed the “small amount” of ketamine he mentioned using during a Don Lemon interview last year. Reports indicate that around the time Musk publicly supported Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, he informed acquaintances that his ketamine intake was significant enough to impact his bladder—a known side effect of prolonged use. The extent of this usage during his four-month leadership of DOGE remains uncertain, per the Times.
Based on interviews with over a dozen individuals familiar with Musk’s life and work, the Times notes that some of them expressed concern regarding his frequent drug use, erratic mood shifts, and his desire for more children.
The report further claims that sources acquainted with Musk’s habits indicated he sometimes used ketamine daily and mixed it with a variety of other unlisted drugs. This level of usage far exceeds the biweekly treatments for depression that Musk described to Lemon. Although government contractors like SpaceX are required to conduct random drug tests on their employees, including Musk, individuals close to this process revealed to the Times that Musk often received prior notification about these tests.
A January 2024 article from The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk allegedly used various drugs, including LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms, frequently at exclusive parties worldwide where guests must sign nondisclosure agreements or surrender their phones. The Journal also mentioned that some members of Tesla’s board have privately discussed concerns regarding Musk’s alleged substance use, making it a sensitive issue for directors who are often close friends with him and partake in social gatherings and travel together.
