Elon Musk once described his father, Errol Musk, as “a terrible human being” and suggested he had “a carefully thought‑out plan of evil.”⁽¹⁾ This investigation delves into a complex, polarizing figure: the affluent engineer, politician, emerald trader, and father whose controversial actions and family turmoil have stirred public debate.

 Family Background and Personal Wealth

Political and Business Career:
Errol Graham Musk was elected to Pretoria City Council in 1972 as an anti‑apartheid Progressive Party member but later broke ranks, backing separate parliamentary systems.⁽¹⁶⁾ He became a successful engineer, property developer, and pilot. His businesses included retail, office complexes, and an auto‑parts store.⁽¹⁶⁾

Emerald Dealings:
Though widely rumored to have owned an emerald mine, a recent biography clarifies he never legally owned one. Instead, he traded his plane for emeralds, imported them to South Africa, and sold them covertly. He later lost the fortune.⁽³⁾

Turbulent Relationships and Accusations

Divorce and Abuse Allegations:
After his divorce from Maye Musk in 1979, she described him as verbally and physically abusive. She alleged that he treated her cruelly in public and restricted her financially.⁽²⁾

Relationship with Stepdaughter:
The most contentious controversy surrounds his relationship with his former stepdaughter Jana Bezuidenhout. After divorcing her mother, Errol fathered two children with Jana, whom he had known since she was four—drawing immense public criticism over ethics and legality. Errol has defended it as consensual and normal.⁽⁵⁾

 Elon Musk’s Accounts: Abuse and Emotional Harm

“Terrible human being”:
In a 2017 Rolling Stone interview, Elon called Errol “a terrible human being” and claimed his father planned evil. He recalled being slapped once and described their relationship as emotionally devastating.⁽⁰⁾

School Bullying Incident:
When Elon was assaulted at school and hospitalized, he said Errol then yelled at him, calling him “worthless” and an “idiot.” Errol denies this account.⁽¹⁾

Jekyll‑and‑Hyde Nature:
According to Walter Isaacson’s biography (based on interviews with both), Errol alternated between charm and verbal abuse, fueling tension and fear in his children’s early lives.⁽¹⁰⁾

Psychological Impacts:
Grimes, Elon’s ex, told Isaacson that Musk “associates love with being mean or abusive” due to his upbringing. Justine Wilson, his first wife, reported frequent put‑downs, echoing his father’s style.⁽⁷⁾

 Errol Musk Speaks: Denials and Defensiveness

Self-Defense Shooting:
Errol confirmed he shot and killed three intruders at his Johannesburg property, but says he was cleared of charges, acting in self‑defense.⁽²⁾

Rejecting the Villain Label:
He contends that Isaacson and media representations exaggerate his character as the villain in Elon’s story, comparing the narrative to Dickensian tropes.⁽¹⁰⁾

Criticism of Elon’s Politics and Parenting:
In recent interviews, Errol defended Elon’s political shifts—especially toward Trump—and blamed Biden for excluding Tesla from White House events.⁽¹⁴⁾ On parenting, he criticized Elon for relying heavily on nannies, saying he has “not been a good dad” and suggested tragedy followed from that detachment.⁽⁴⁾

 Public and Ethical Reactions

Family Fractures:
Elon and his brother Kimbal have publicly distanced themselves. Elon refuses to depict Errol’s support of Trump at his 70th birthday as anything but embarrassing.⁽⁰ ¹₂⁾

Moral Outrage:
His relationship with Jana sparked outrage across media and social platforms, with critics calling it exploitative.

Broader Cultural Implications:
Observers argue Errol represents a patriarchal archetype: wealthy, domineering, and unrepentant—inviting reflection on power, accountability, and legacy.

 Summary: A “Terrible Human Being”?

Elon’s Perspective:
Describes emotional cruelty, instability, and manipulative behavior—labeling his father with definitive moral condemnation.⁽⁰⁾

Errol’s Defense:
Maintains his actions have been mischaracterized, denies physical and emotional abuse, and asserts his version of events, including controversies, is misrepresented.

Ultimately, the question remains: is Errol Musk morally culpable for the allegations of manipulation, abuse, and scandal? This portrayal remains deeply polarizing—inasmuch as Elon’s life and psyche have been shaped by these early relationships.

References

Elon’s characterization of Errol and their past—Rolling Stone interview and Isaacson biography.⁽⁰⁾

Abuse allegations during childhood and school incident.⁽¹⁾

Background on emerald dealings and political career.⁽¹⁶⁾

Maye Musk’s divorce and abuse claims.⁽²⁾

Stepfamily controversy with Jana Bezuidenhout.⁽⁵⁾

Criticism of Elon’s parenting and politics.⁽⁴⁾⁽¹⁴⁾

Psychological and relational impact discussed by Grimes and Justine.⁽⁷⁾⁽⁸⁾