New York, May 31, 2025 — Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has strongly refuted recent media allegations that he has used illegal substances including ketamine, MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), and psychedelic mushrooms.
The claims originated from a New York Times report, which cited unnamed sources suggesting that Musk's alleged drug use has raised concerns among board members of his companies and some U.S. government officials — particularly given SpaceX’s work with sensitive federal contracts, including with the Department of Defense and NASA.
According to the report, some insiders have worried about the impact Musk’s personal behavior might have on national security clearances and the operational reputation of the companies he leads. The publication also claimed that there had been previous informal discussions within Tesla’s leadership circles regarding Musk’s well-being.
In response, Elon Musk took to his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to dismiss the allegations, calling them "baseless" and "politically motivated." He wrote, “I do not use illegal drugs. Occasional prescription ketamine under medical supervision is no secret. These media attacks are designed to distract from real issues.”
Musk’s legal team also released a statement emphasizing that he complies with all legal and regulatory guidelines, and that there has been no breach of conduct that would jeopardize his businesses’ federal relationships.
This is not the first time Musk has faced scrutiny over alleged drug use. In 2018, he made headlines for smoking marijuana during a podcast appearance, which briefly impacted Tesla’s stock and prompted NASA to review its partnership with SpaceX.
Despite the latest controversy, Tesla’s share prices remained stable in early Friday trading, while SpaceX has not commented further on the matter.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and NASA have not yet issued official responses to the new allegations.
