What's this? This is an unbiased just-the-facts news timeline ('newsline') about Errol Musk, created by Newslines contributors. Become a contributor

Errol Musk

Errol Musk3 posts

Errol Musk is a South African retired politician, electromechanical engineer, pilot, sailor, consultant, and property developer who once co-owned a Zambian emerald mine near Lake Tanganyika. In 1972, he was a Pretoria city councillor representing the anti-apartheid Progressive Party.

Biography view > Click for Latest News view
6 May, 2023

Musk responds to ‘wealthy background’ community note

Makes Statement0 Comments

In response to a Twitter Community Note that says that ‘Musk was born into an extremely wealthy family’, Musk writes:

I grew up in a lower, transitioning to upper, middle income situation, but did not have a happy childhood. Haven’t inherited anything ever from anyone, nor has anyone given me a large financial gift. My father created a small electrical/mechanical engineering company that was successful for 20 to 30 years, but it fell on hard times. He has been essentially bankrupt for about 25 years, requiring financial support from my brother and me. That said, he does deserve credit for teaching me the fundamentals of physics, engineering and construction, which is more valuable than money, but did not support me financially after high school in any meaningful way. Our condition of providing him financial support was that he not engage in bad behavior. Unfortunately, he nonetheless did. There are young children involved, so we continued to provide financial support for their well-being. Regarding the so-called “emerald mine”, there is no objective evidence whatsoever that this mine ever existed. He told me that he owned a share in a mine in Zambia, and I believed him for a while, but nobody has ever seen the mine, nor are there any records of its existence. If this mine was real, he would not require financial support from my brother and me.

26 Jun, 2023

Musk’s father: ‘crazy fight’ is a ‘no-win situation’ for Musk

Makes Statement2 Comments

Musk’s father Errol calls the cage match with Mark Zuckerberg a “crazy fight” and a “no-win situation” for his son. He says the Musk family is worried about it, and thinks Musk has gotten himself into this situation as a result of “high school behavior.” Asked whether Musk can “handle himself,” Errol says his son earned a purple belt in Japanese Karate Association, but “does not know how to go for the kill.”

The thing is if this crazy fight goes ahead, if Elon beats this guy, Elon will be called a bully, being so much heavier and taller, while if he loses the humiliation would be total. It’s a no-win situation for Elon. Wins, he’s a bully. Loses, he’s a loser.

31 Jul, 2023

Biographer: Musk considers father ‘evil’

Makes Statement0 Comments

Musk biographer Walter Isaacson says Musk told him “vivid and psychologically brutal tales” about his past, calling his father “evil” and a “terrible human being,” while Errol gave his side “forcefully.” (Musk previously described his father as “evil” in a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone.) Isaacson’s biography describes Musk being beaten regularly by bullies as a boy, but says the physical scars from that trauma were “minor compared to the emotional ones inflicted by his father – an engineer, rogue, and charismatic fantasist.” Isaacson says Musk inherited many of his most distinctive traits from his father Errol, who “instilled his drive but also his demons, beginning at an early age.” Crying, Musk said this about his father:

He was such a terrible human being, you have no idea. My dad will have a carefully thought-out plan of evil. He will plan evil. Almost every crime you can possibly think of, he has done. Almost every evil thing you could possibly think of, he has done. It’s so terrible, you can’t believe it.