Errol Musk denies all allegations, calling them “false and nonsense in the extreme,” while Elon Musk has previously described his father as “a terrible human being” and remains estranged.

Errol Musk, the estranged father of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, is facing disturbing allegations of child sexual abuse spanning decades, according to a New York Times investigation published Tuesday.

Family members say the 79-year-old businessman, who spent his early life in apartheid-era South Africa, sexually abused multiple children and stepchildren, beginning in the early 1990s.

One of the most serious accusations involves his then four-year-old stepdaughter, who later became the mother of at least one of his children when she was an adult.

“I never thought I’d see my father like this in the news,” one of Errol’s former stepchildren said. “It’s painful, but it’s important people know what happened.”

The earliest known claim dates back to 1993 when the stepdaughter confided in relatives that Errol touched her inappropriately.

Years later, she alleged that he was caught sniffing her underwear, a memory that she said still haunts her. “It’s not something you forget,” she explained. “Even after all this time, it feels like it never really left me.”

In 2018, Errol Musk publicly revealed that he had fathered a child with the same former stepdaughter once she became an adult.

He attempted to downplay the situation, explaining that both of them were “lonely, lost people” and calling the child’s conception “God’s plan or nature’s plan.” “I didn’t see her as my stepdaughter,” Errol said. “She spent most of her time growing up away from the family.”

The woman, now 37, told the Times that she only shares one child with Errol, despite his public claim of two. “My kids are safe and looked after,” she said. “That’s what matters now. We don’t live with him, and we don’t intend to.”

Other family members have also accused Errol of abusive behavior, including two daughters and a stepson. In 2023, his five-year-old son reportedly told relatives that Errol groped him.

Three separate police investigations were launched in response to these allegations, but none resulted in criminal charges. Authorities cited insufficient evidence and conflicting testimony.

Errol Musk has strongly denied all accusations. “These reports are false and nonsense in the extreme,” he told the Times. “This is fabricated by family members trying to extort money from Elon. They are using his name to gain sympathy. I have never harmed a child in my life.”

He also defended his relationship with his former stepdaughter, insisting that their relationship was between consenting adults and that public perception has twisted the facts. “It’s being painted as something it’s not,” he said.

The revelations shed new light on the long-standing estrangement between Errol and Elon Musk. Elon has previously described his father as “a terrible human being” and “evil” in a 2017 Rolling Stone interview, crying as he recounted his childhood experiences.

“You have no idea how bad. Almost every crime you can think of, he has done,” Elon said. “Almost every evil thing you could imagine … it’s so terrible, you can’t believe it.”

Family members revealed that a detailed letter outlining allegations was sent to Elon around 2010 seeking advice and guidance, though it is unclear whether he ever saw it or took action.

“We hoped he could intervene or help,” a relative said. “But we don’t know if he even read it. That silence was part of the hurt.”

The Musk family has long been divided, with disputes over inheritance, business dealings, and personal relationships.

Several children and stepchildren have described Errol as controlling, domineering, and manipulative. “Even as adults, we never felt safe around him,” one daughter said. “He had a way of making you doubt yourself constantly.”

Despite police investigations failing to produce charges, family members insist the abuse is real and ongoing in its emotional consequences. “Just because the system didn’t prosecute doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” one relative explained. “The trauma remains.”

The resurfacing of these allegations also intensifies public scrutiny of Elon Musk, who rarely comments on his father.

While Elon has previously labeled Errol as irredeemable, he has not publicly addressed these specific claims. “It’s chaos, always chaos,” a family member said. “And now the truth is finally coming out.”

Legal experts note that even without criminal charges, civil litigation could be possible. Victims may pursue lawsuits for damages, especially when past investigations were inconclusive. “The absence of prosecution does not eliminate accountability,” one attorney said.

Errol Musk continues to live in South Africa, largely away from the public eye. He gives occasional interviews defending himself and criticizing Elon, claiming he is misunderstood and misrepresented.

“I live quietly, and I work on my projects,” he said. “I’m not the villain they make me out to be.”

For Elon and his family, however, the allegations and public attention only reinforce the fractures in their relationships. “There is nothing you can do to fix some of these wounds,” Elon has said in the past. “Some people are just toxic, and you have to accept it.”

The New York Times report highlights the complexity, pain, and long-term consequences of abuse within a high-profile family, exposing a side of the Musk dynasty rarely seen by the public.

As the story spreads, the Musk family and the public alike are left grappling with questions of accountability, justice, and the cost of silence.