Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, faces new allegations of sexual misconduct and creating a hostile work environment. A report by the Wall Street Journal claims Musk had sexual relationships with two employees, including an intern, and asked another employee to have his babies. These accusations add to previous claims against Musk involving drug use and fostering a toxic workplace.
The Wall Street Journal report highlights a culture at SpaceX and Tesla that left female employees feeling uncomfortable. Women at Tesla reported receiving unusual amounts of attention from Musk, while a SpaceX flight attendant alleged that Musk exposed himself to her and offered to buy her a horse in exchange for sex. Another former SpaceX employee claimed Musk repeatedly asked her to have his children, citing his belief in an underpopulation crisis and the need for high-IQ individuals to procreate.
Text messages and workplace behavior
The report also includes text exchanges between Musk and a female employee, revealing invitations to his home and suggestions of stress-related drug use. Musk’s text messages reflected a casual approach to inviting the employee over, with one message saying, “Come by! Look, it’s either me or 6am [exercise] :)”. The following day, the woman apologized for not responding, indicating a desire to adopt more responsible habits.
Company response
SpaceX and Musk’s legal team have dismissed the allegations, calling the report “full of untruths.” Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and COO, defended Musk, stating, “The untruths, mischaracterizations, and revisionist history in your email paint a completely misleading narrative. I continue to be amazed by what this extraordinary group of people are achieving every day, even amidst all the forces acting against us. And Elon is one of the best humans I know.”
The ongoing allegations against Musk raise significant questions about workplace culture and the treatment of employees at two of the most high-profile companies in the tech industry.