The New York Instances printed a brand new report last Friday that claimed Elon Musk has been utilizing illicit medication, which led to hypothesis about why he seemed so spaced out throughout his “farewell” press convention on the Oval Office. However the billionaire spent the weekend denying that he makes use of medication, going as far as to insist the newspaper was “mendacity their ass off.”
The denials began in a moderately jokey method after a Musk fan account named Entire Mars Catalog tweeted, “Given Elon Musk’s enterprise observe file, any medication he’s taking needs to be put within the public’s consuming water.”
Musk replied with a crying-laughing emoji and “100” earlier than stepping into his denial: “Additionally, to be clear, I’m NOT taking medication! The New York Instances was mendacity their ass off. I attempted *prescription* ketamine just a few years in the past and stated so on X, so this not even information. It helps for getting out of darkish psychological holes, however haven’t taken it since then.”
The Entire Mars Catalog replied: “nothing mistaken with being a bit horsey each infrequently.” Ketamine is usually used as a veterinary anesthetic, particularly for horses. Other than ketamine, the report from the New York Instances claimed Musk has been utilizing Ecstasy, psychedelic mushrooms, and the prescription remedy Adderall.
The Wall Avenue Journal was the primary main newspaper to publish an in depth report on Musk’s alleged drug use again in Jan. 2024. The crux of the story was that many individuals who labored with Musk have been anxious that his alleged drug use might hamper his capability to efficiently run his firms. Other than the Ecstasy, psychedelic mushrooms, Adderall, and ketamine, the Journal’s reporting additionally included allegations that he used cocaine and LSD.
Musk smoked hashish on Joe Rogan’s podcast in 2018, although that was earlier than Rogan’s podcast moved to Texas. Leisure use of marijuana has been authorized in California, the place that episode was filmed, since 2016. Nonetheless, drug use remains to be prohibited for folks to amass high-level safety clearances, which Musk holds as a federal contractor by means of SpaceX.
One of many new allegations from the New York Instances reporting is that Musk has obtained “advance warning” of medicine checks required to maintain his safety clearance, citing “folks near the method.” The newspaper didn’t additional elaborate on how Musk would be taught concerning the timing of supposedly random drug checks. NASA issued a statement in 2024 saying the company “doesn’t have proof of non-compliance from SpaceX on how the corporate addresses the drug- and alcohol-free workforce laws.”
It was Musk’s alleged use of ketamine that has obtained essentially the most consideration on social media, particularly after the Journal report got here out. And the brand new report from the New York Instances on Friday claims Musk has skilled bladder points from utilizing the drug. The 53-year-old has used ketamine “usually, generally each day, and mixing it with different medication,” in keeping with the Instances.
Musk made a moderately weird look on the White Home on Friday, showing with a black eye that he claimed was attributable to his 5-year-old son. Musk apparently informed the boy, nicknamed X, to punch him within the face. The Tesla CEO additionally rolled his head round and appeared to gaze into the space at odd intervals as Trump was talking.
Musk has beforehand stated that he was prescribed ketamine for despair, however on Saturday he denied utilizing it in any respect lately. “I’m not on ketamine ffs,” Musk wrote over the weekend in response to social media speculation he could have been utilizing the drug lately when he was filmed enjoying with silverware at a dinner with President Trump.
Musk enjoying together with his silverware whereas tripping on ketamine at Bedminster.pic.twitter.com/2nvI7Wzuri
— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) March 22, 2025
The Entire Mars Catalog’s joke about having “a bit horsey each infrequently” most likely greatest summarizes the relaxed angle most Individuals have about drug use within the 2020s by non-public people. However the potential hypocrisy appears to be the larger concern.
Musk’s work for President Donald Trump has been centered round supposedly rooting out fraud within the federal authorities. However the billionaire is a federal contractor who’s now been accused of someway getting round drug checks. And Trump is the man who complains that immigrants and “drug sellers” are flooding into the U.S. and harming Individuals. If Trump’s right-hand man is utilizing unlawful medication—substances that may in any other case get the typical individual into bother—regular persons are going to see that as terribly hypocritical.
Musk has additionally complained about how different folks deal with psychological sickness with medicines, writing as lately as Friday, “Overprescription of psychiatric medication is an actual drawback.” The SpaceX CEO wrote in a tweet last year, “We’re undoubtedly oversubscribing medication to children,” apparently intending to jot down “overprescribing.”
Gizmodo reached out to Musk’s firms X and Tesla for remark however didn’t obtain a response. We’ll replace this put up if we hear again.
