Justine Musk, ex-wife of tech mogul Elon Musk, has once again captured public attention with the republication of her essay from 2010 in Marie Claire. In this candid and unfiltered account, Justine narrates her relationship with the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, from its beginnings to their painful divorce in 2008.
Her testimony reveals details that contrast with the public image of the billionaire, offering a more intimate and complex perspective of his life as a partner. The romance between Justine and Elon began at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. “He is not a man who takes no for an answer,” Justine wrote in her essay.
An essay by Justine Musk reveals details about her failed relationship with Elon Musk
Unlike previous partners who saw their ambitions as a threat, Elon encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. However, over the years, their relationship turned into an unequal power struggle. The first warning signs emerged when Elon sold his company Zip2 and began amassing a great fortune.
As his wealth grew, so did his control over Justine. During their wedding party in 2000, Musk casually said to her, “I am the alpha in this relationship.” The phrase, which seemed like a joke at the time, turned out to be a foreshadowing of what was to come.
Musk’s control over his wife became more evident. Justine remembers bitterly a phrase he used to repeat to her: “If you were my employee, I would fire you.” In addition, Elon encouraged her to change her appearance, suggesting that she dye her hair platinum blonde to better fit into the lifestyle they had adopted.
The strange relationship between Justine and Elon Musk
The constant pressure led her to feel like a trophy wife. Tragedy struck the couple when their first child, Nevada Alexander, passed away at ten weeks old. Instead of processing the grief together, Elon urged her to move on quickly, something that Justine perceived as a way to minimize her pain.
Over time, they had five children through in vitro fertilization, but the relationship was already irreparably fractured. In 2008, the couple divorced. Six weeks later, Musk announced his engagement to British actress Talulah Riley.