Elon Musk's Dangerous Descent: How Drug Abuse is Ruining His Life and Career

Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul behind Tesla, SpaceX, and the social media platform X, has long been known for his larger-than-life persona and unpredictable behavior. But recent revelations about his intense drug use, particularly his heavy ketamine consumption, have cast a darker shadow over his public image and personal life.

As Musk's drug use escalated in recent years, it raised concerns among those closest to him and sparked a larger conversation about the potential consequences of his actions on his career, family, and health.

Musk's political involvement began in earnest in 2024, when he became one of Donald Trump’s most vocal and prominent allies. He led rallies, donated millions to Trump’s campaign, and became an essential figure in Trump’s inner circle. However, as Musk's political engagement grew, so did the intensity of his personal struggles.

The New York Times reports that during this period, Musk’s drug use spiraled, moving well beyond his previously admitted occasional use. Musk himself reportedly confessed to using ketamine—an anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties—so frequently that it began affecting his bladder, a well-known side effect of chronic use.

Along with ketamine, Musk was reportedly using other substances, including ecstasy, psychedelic mushrooms, and the stimulant Adderall. He traveled with a box containing approximately 20 pills, a stark reminder of the severity of his drug use. This was far from the infrequent use Musk had previously described in interviews.

Musk had claimed that he only took ketamine every other week as a prescribed treatment for depression, but it became clear that his usage was far more intense, and it had serious consequences on both his health and behavior.

Musk’s drug use was not only taking a toll on his physical health but was also contributing to an increasingly erratic and unpredictable public persona. The New York Times reports that his behavior during his time at the White House and in his business dealings became increasingly concerning.

His erratic actions included insulting Cabinet members, making bizarre gestures that resembled Nazi salutes, and delivering disjointed and nonsensical answers during public interviews. These actions raised alarms, especially among his associates and those working closely with him.

While Musk was in the White House, working as a special government employee under the Trump administration, he had the power to push forward ambitious initiatives, particularly through his role overseeing the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, the same impulsive and erratic tendencies that fueled his success also seemed to manifest in his political role.

Musk's leadership in DOGE was marked by massive cuts to government spending, the firing of thousands of federal employees, and the restructuring of the government. Although these efforts were celebrated by Musk’s supporters as a bold approach to government reform, they were also riddled with controversy, lawsuits, and inefficiency, leading to questions about Musk’s ability to handle such a high-pressure role while grappling with personal issues.

The White House remained tight-lipped about Musk’s behavior and drug use during his tenure, but reports from those close to the administration revealed that Musk's actions had raised concerns among several members of Trump's staff. Some of Musk's associates within the government raised alarms about his substance use, fearing that it could lead to severe consequences for his professional duties and personal health.

Yet, Musk’s dedication to his work, along with his larger-than-life personality, helped him maintain his position in Trump’s orbit, despite the growing tension surrounding his personal issues.

While Musk’s drug use and professional behavior were garnering attention, his personal life was also unraveling in parallel. Musk, who has been married and divorced three times, has a growing number of children from various relationships. His most high-profile relationship has been with musician Claire Boucher, known as Grimes, with whom he shares a 5-year-old son, X Æ A-Xii, known as X. Despite their public relationship, the couple’s private life has been filled with tension, leading to ongoing custody battles and disputes over their children’s public exposure.

Grimes has expressed concern about Musk's decisions to bring their son into the public eye, taking him to high-profile events such as rallies and public appearances. According to sources close to the couple, Grimes believes that these public outings violate their custody agreement, which was designed to keep their children out of the spotlight.

She also expressed worry that Musk’s travel schedule, combined with the lack of proper rest and his apparent disregard for their son’s well-being, could harm X’s health.

In addition to his complicated relationship with Grimes, Musk's personal life became more tumultuous with the revelation of his 14th child. Ashley St. Clair, a writer with right-wing political views, publicly disclosed her secret relationship with Musk and the birth of their child.

Musk allegedly offered St. Clair a large financial settlement to keep their child’s paternity a secret, but she refused. The situation became further complicated when Musk sought a gag order to silence St. Clair, a move that sparked legal battles and a public showdown.

Musk’s drug use was not just affecting his behavior—it was also worsening his mental health. Musk has long been open about his struggles with depression, stress, and feelings of isolation. He has publicly denounced traditional therapy and antidepressants, turning instead to substances like ketamine to manage his emotional lows. However, his increasing dependency on these substances only exacerbated his mental health issues.

Musk’s use of ketamine, while legally prescribed, was reportedly taking a toll on his health, contributing to bladder problems and other side effects. In addition to ketamine, Musk’s use of other substances like ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms raised further concerns. Musk’s behavior, both in his personal and professional life, began to reflect the toll these substances were taking on his psyche.

He would often spend hours playing video games, binge eat, and post incessantly on his social media platform, X, reflecting his erratic mood swings and deteriorating mental health.

Despite all of this, Musk continued to push forward with his ambitious goals. He remained focused on his work, both with Tesla and SpaceX, but the cracks in his personal life and behavior were becoming more apparent. His fixation on having more children, coupled with his growing reliance on substances to manage his stress, suggested that Musk was struggling to maintain control over his life.

As Musk’s personal and professional behavior became increasingly erratic, some of his friends and colleagues began to distance themselves from him. Public intellectual Sam Harris, who had once been close to Musk, expressed his concerns about Musk’s toxic public behavior.

Harris criticized Musk for using his platform to defame people and promote lies, suggesting that Musk had lost touch with reality.

Musk’s Nazi salute gesture at a rally further alienated some of his closest allies, with neuroscientist Philip Low calling Musk’s behavior “reprehensible.” Low, who had once been a friend of Musk’s, criticized him publicly for the salute, citing it as an example of Musk’s descent into dangerous territory.

Other people who had worked closely with Musk expressed similar concerns about his behavior and the impact it was having on his personal relationships, health, and career.

The escalation of Elon Musk’s drug use, along with his erratic behavior, serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power, addiction, and mental health struggles. Despite his massive success and influence, Musk is not immune to the consequences of his actions.

His personal and professional life are increasingly intertwined, and the impact of his behavior on his health, relationships, and public image cannot be ignored.

As Musk continues to navigate his tumultuous life, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to regain control and make the necessary changes to ensure his well-being and continued success. His story serves as a stark reminder that even the most influential and successful figures are not invulnerable to the challenges that come with fame, pressure, and personal struggles.