Elon Musk reportedly increased his use of recreational and prescription drugs significantly during the 2024 presidential campaign, a period during which he contributed approximately $270 million to support Donald Trump’s election bid.
According to insiders familiar with the situation, Musk’s substance use escalated beyond occasional recreational usage, reportedly reaching a level that drew attention and concern. Sources indicate that Musk regularly carried a medication case containing around 20 pills, including Adderall, a stimulant drug used to treat attention deficit disorders. Additionally, his heavy reliance on ketamine was believed to have caused noticeable health impacts, including serious discomfort and bladder-related issues.
Musk’s use of drugs such as ketamine, psychedelics, and ecstasy has previously been widely reported and had already raised eyebrows among senior executives and board members at the companies he heads, most notably SpaceX and Tesla. Given SpaceX’s status as a major government aerospace contractor, maintaining a drug-free workplace is mandatory. However, the reports suggest Musk received forewarning about scheduled drug-testing, enabling him to avoid detection.
It’s unclear if Musk’s controversial behavior during this period, which at times included publicly insulting government officials, making inflammatory gestures such as a Nazi salute, and exhibiting confused speech patterns during investor calls, had a direct correlation with his alleged drug consumption.
The recent revelations emerged against the backdrop of Musk becoming increasingly engaged in right-wing politics, an involvement which coincided with significant personal upheaval, notably an ongoing contentious custody dispute with the musician Grimes over their five-year-old son, widely known as X.
Earlier this week, Musk announced he would withdraw from his governmental advisory role and step back from active political participation to refocus his attention on managing his multiple business ventures. Musk and President Trump are expected to jointly address the media at a scheduled press conference later today.
