Errol Musk, father of billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk, is full of controversy. According to the biography written by Walter Isaacson, Errol had two children with Jana Bezuidenhout, 40 years younger and the stepdaughter of Elon Musk, who was ‘angry and scared’ with the news.
Jana, who was the daughter of Justine, Musk’s first wife, gave birth to Elliot Rush in 2016, when she was 30 years old, but Musk’s discomfort with the relationship between his father and his stepdaughter began long before. In the biography, Elon remembers being concerned since Jana was 15 years old, as Errol seemed “uncomfortably attentive” to her.
Elon Musk's education marked by suffering
The relationship between Elon and his father has always been complicated. When Elon was 10 years old, he decided to move in with his father, a decision he would later deeply regret. According to his own words, living with Errol was "mental torture."
Errol Musk, a quirky and eccentric engineer who once claimed to have been involved in an emerald mine, exerted an influence that left emotional scars on Elon. Maye Musk, the businessman's mother, also had a drama-filled relationship with Errol, which ended in a separation after an incident at an Oktoberfest party.
The distance and the failed reunion
Elon Musk went over a decade without seeing his father in person, from 2002 until 2016. However, he organized a trip to South Africa to reunite with him, only to cut short his stay after an awkward dinner. Musk later described his father as "evil" in an interview with Rolling Stone, stating that "almost every terrible thing you can imagine, he has done."
Errol's philosophy of life
On Father's Day 2022, Errol sent an email to Elon announcing that he had a second child with Jana. In his message, he justified his actions by saying: "The only thing we are on Earth for is to reproduce. If I could have another child, I would."
The revelations about Errol have added another layer to Elon Musk’s complex family legacy. Although his business success is undeniable, this story underscores the personal struggles and emotional turmoil that have marked his path.