Elon Musk‘s father has been accused of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren since 1993, including one he allegedly touched when she was four years old – who he later had a child with.
The explosive allegations against Errol Musk, 79, are allegedly why the tech billionaire and Tesla founder has kept his distance from his estranged father over the years.
Despite being outspoken on social media, the 54-year-old mogul has rarely delved into his strained relationship with his father.
Errol made headlines when he had a baby with his own stepdaughter, who was 40 years younger than him.
The accusations have repeatedly seeped into Elon’s life, reported the New York Times, which has seen more than 50 personal letters and emails and has conducted interviews with relatives.
On several occasions, family members have contacted him for assistance and he has sometimes taken action to intervene, the newspaper said.
The family drama has meant the SpaceX founder has remained tied to South Africa, where he was born and where Errol lives, despite his booming business empire in the U.S and former role in the Trump administration.
Errol is accused of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren in South Africa and California, as per police and court records, personal correspondence, social workers and interviews with relatives, The New York Times reported.
The earliest allegation dates back to 1993 when the businessman’s stepdaughter, then four years old, accused him of touching her at a family house.
She told relatives about the incident. A decade later, she said she caught Errol sniffing her dirty underwear.
She said she later had a baby with him when she was in her 20s and has grappled with drug use, while her mother – who married Errol twice – has struggled with mental health issues.
Other family members have accused him of abusing a stepson and two of his daughters.
Two years ago, his then five-year-old son accused him of groping his buttocks, causing family members and a social worker to intervene, The New York Times said.
Over the three decades of allegations, three separate police investigations were opened, according to records and relatives cited by The New York Times.