Photo: Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Elon Musk confirmed this week that his time with the Trump administration was coming to an end, at least in an official capacity. On his way out the door, he made a point of complaining about the Republicans’ congressional megabill, and whining that, thanks to entrenched interests, he could only wreak a portion of the havoc he was aiming for in Washington.

Now, reports have emerged that have painted a troubling portrait of Musk and his behavior behind closed doors, including reported claims of the Tesla CEO’s increasing drug use.

The New York Times reports that Musk is a habitual user of numerous drugs including ketamine, an anesthetic that is sometimes prescribed for the treatment of depression. That is no surprise: In a 2024 interview with CNN, Musk acknowledged being prescribed ketamine for his depression, describing himself as only taking “a small amount once every other week or something like that.” And speculation about his use of the drug has abounded in recent years.

But sources tell the Times that Musk’s ketamine use is extensive, with the Tesla CEO sometimes taking the drug every day and even mixing it with other drugs, with some reporting that Musk is known to use ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms. Additionally, the Times reports that Musk travels with a medication box filled with pills, including ones that resembled Adderall, a drug used to treat attention deficit disorder.

The heavy use of ketamine has come with physical effects, with Musk reportedly telling others that it has impacted his bladder, a common side effect.

Musk has made no secret of his occasional drug use beyond ketamine; he famously smoked marijuana during an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast. But reporting from The Wall Street Journal last year suggested the Tesla CEO would occasionally partake in heavier fare. Sources told the outlet at the time that the Tesla CEO would go to private parties where Musk could be seen partaking in he has taken LSD, psychedelic mushrooms, cocaine, and ecstasy. At these events, partygoers would often have to relinquish their cell phones or sign nondisclosure agreements to attend.

At the time, Musk’s attorney Alex Spiro insisted in a statement to the Journal that Musk is “regularly and randomly drug tested at SpaceX and has never failed a test.” But the Times’report alleges Musk gets advance notice of the drug tests, unlike his employees, who are subject to random screenings.

Musk avoided a question about the report during an Oval Office event honoring his exit from the Trump administration, questioning the Times’s journalistic integrity instead. “I think a judge just ruled against the New York Times for their lies about the Russiagate hoax and they might have to give back that Pulitzer Prize,” he said. “That New York Times? Let’s move on.”

The White House similarly dodged questions about Musk’s drug use. In a scrum with reporters, national security adviser Stephen Miller said, “The drugs we’re concerned about are the drugs pouring across the southern border. Next question.”

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