On The Campaign Trail, Elon Musk Juggled Drugs and Family Drama

44 danso 16 5/30/2025, 1:00:06 PM nytimes.com ↗

Comments (16)

disposition2 · 16h ago
I’ve always had the impression that some of the substances (ecstasy, psilocybin) mentioned in the article tend to illicit (even well after usage) a greater sense of empathy for others and caring for the world at large.

I think that juxtaposition alone makes this a relevant discussion topic, political associations or not.

tavavex · 15h ago
Is this true for ecstasy? I thought it was more of a short-term thing.

Regardless, even if it elicited some response in him... being a modern billionaire usually requires stepping on lots of heads, being ruthless and very self-interested. So I think it wouldn't bring someone like Musk a whole lot closer to the rest of us.

disposition2 · 14h ago
Fair point, I haven’t had either experience in a very long time but I recall having a more empathetic and eye opening experience long ago.

To your point, maybe it’s a good argument to not have billionaires that are seemingly ignorant of the normality we normals face on a day to day basis, be an influence on policy that they lack the ability to fully contemplate.

Such individuals might just consider policy based on data points that aren’t reflective of how their policy changes might affect everyday folks.

Zigurd · 14h ago
Bill Gates retired from the stepping on heads thing. If Elon was vaccinating, poor kids, he might get away with more eccentricities.
danso · 1d ago
Non-paywall: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/us/elon-musk-drugs-childr...

> Mr. Musk’s drug consumption went well beyond occasional use. He told people he was taking so much ketamine, a powerful anesthetic, that it was affecting his bladder, a known effect of chronic use. He took Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms. And he traveled with a daily medication box that held about 20 pills, including ones with the markings of the stimulant Adderall, according to a photo of the box and people who have seen it.

This will probably be flagged for being “political” but it feels relevant to HN to know that the world’s most famous engineer/technocrat is using the volume of drugs often associated with the Silicon Valley startup scene

greatgib · 13h ago
Most political articles are not flagged from what I can see, but it is probably flagged because Musk still has a lot of zealot supporters that don't want to see bad things said about him, despite the bad things he did to numerous persons...
pvg · 18h ago
HN's criteria aren't really "relevant to know", though, it's very nearly the opposite.
randomcarbloke · 22h ago
>most famous "engineer"
bediger4000 · 23h ago
> resembling a fascist salute.

Seems like a fairly damning article, particularly for those whom "drugs" are a giant societal problem. At least Mr Musk isn't using Fentanyl, the Devil's Sweat.

The reporters did mention that Mr Musk had sired 14 publicly known children, and indeed, they mentioned 14. But they also mentioned a rumored child with a Japanese Pop Star. This seems damning for the "family values" crowd.

tim333 · 2m ago
It kind of explains that for me. It seemed a fairly obvious nazi salute but he doesn't seem a nazi. Him being a bit off his trolly on drugs seems a reasonable explanation.
bravetraveler · 23h ago
> At least Mr Musk isn't using Fentanyl, the Devil's Sweat.

Yet. One misstep around "the supply" and, well, anything can happen

edit: I'm endorsing paranoia and test kits, in case it matters. Heh. Easy Palantir. Don't line me up for ~deportation~ exile, too.