Cape Town – Tesla owner and billionaire Elon Musk’s estranged father Errol Musk, 79, is facing new allegations of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren, according to police and court records obtained by The New York Times (September 23).
The alleged abuse took place in California and South Africa, with incidents dating back to 1993, when his then four-year-old stepdaughter Jana Bezuidenhout reportedly told family members he had touched her. (Years later, Errol fathered a child with Jana after divorcing her mother.)
According to NBC4 Washington, Errol is the father of at least nine biological children and two stepchildren, and besides his marriage to Heide, he was earlier married to Maye Haldeman and later to Sue Musk.
🚨 NEW
A New York Times investigation has revealed that Errol Musk, Elon Musk’s father, has been accused of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren since 1993. pic.twitter.com/nm0sEojKgM— Amber Speaks Up (@AmberWoods100) September 23, 2025
Family members have also accused him of abusing two daughters and a stepson, and in 2023 a social worker intervened after a five-year-old son alleged Errol had groped him.
Three police investigations were opened; two were closed, and the outcome of the third is unclear. Errol has not been convicted of any crimes.
Errol denies all allegations, calling them false and claiming some relatives are trying to get money from Elon by coaching the children.
He says he is only aware of one accusation but offered explanations for two others.
In Errol Musk’s incest and child sexual abuse allegations, there are no known tapes, but there IS a family tree without a branch. https://t.co/jv4iZDnplC pic.twitter.com/w2Ru5dJhLh
— The Feng Hunter (@TheFengHunter) September 23, 2025
In an interview with IOL, Errol dismissed the allegations as coming from “jealous people seeking some sort of satisfaction.”
He criticised The New York Times, saying it has “a terrible reputation for false reporting and people know that,” and noted it was too soon to decide on legal action.
When asked if his family, including Elon, had reached out after the story broke, he responded, “Family interaction is confidential.”
On the impact to him and the Musk family name, he said, “It is fake so we just get on with our lives.”
Elon has not commented publicly, though Errol says they remain “very close” despite previously criticising Elon’s parenting style.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
