Elon Musk Drug Use: How ketamine, ecstasy drugs cause erratic behaviour and unpredictability

Time of India

4 days ago

is undoubtedly one of the most powerful people in the world. The 53-year-old is the richest person in the world with a net worth of $386.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
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While technology and brain power had always been Musk's forte, in 2025 he delved into another aspect of the global realm- politics. The Tesla CEO donated a whopping $275 million to Trump's campaign and was involved in hands-on governing of the United States by heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) where he was assigned the task of downsizing the federal apparatus.
But now according to the New York Times, Musk was not merely running on the adrenalin of a new experience and the rush of expanding his power.
No, Musk was onto something and that something was a string of drugs including psychedelics, stimulants, ketamine and more.
Elon Musk was on ketamine drug
Image credits: X/@consequence
During his time at DOGE and with Trump, Musk was using ketamine, an anaesthetic with hallucinogenic properties and antidepressant actions. He even shared with his associates how the excessive usage was affecting his bladder, which is a typical effect of chronic use. Previously he had shared that he was prescribed the drug for depression and took it about every two weeks.
"I don't like doing illegal drugs," he told his biographer.
But it's not medicinal use for Musk. He had been using ketamine daily and even with other drugs, as per people familiar with his consumption.
That's not all
Image credits: X/@EvasTeslaSPlaid
Musk also consumed ecstasy, commonly known as MDMA and psychedelic mushrooms at private gatherings across the United States and in at least one other country, according to those who attended the events.
Additionally, he travelled with a daily medication box that had 20 pills, some including the stimulant Adderall which is known to boost alertness and concentration.
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While it was not clear whether he was taking drugs during his time at the White House, those around him noticed symptoms that suggested otherwise. Musk exhibited erratic behaviour, insulted cabinet members, gestured like a Nazi and garbled his answers in a staged interview.
The drug use has coincided with a queue of personal battles the billionaire has been dealing with in regard to his brood of children. Many close to him were worried about him joining the political arena with his constant drug use, mood swings and fixation on having more children.
Effects of drugs seen in Elon Musk's behaviour
Image credits: X/@MariaLangholz
Previously, Musk has described some of his mental health issues, revealing in a post that he has felt "great highs, terrible lows and unrelenting stress." Even his lifestyle substantiates his erratic behaviour with him being addicted to video games, binge eating, weight-loss medication, and his social media platform X, where he posts day and night.
In 2024, WSJ reported that Musk has a history of recreational drug use.
Even his co-workers at Tesla revealed their worry about his drug use which included Ambien, a sleep medication.
During his time in the Trump administration, Musk has made many actions that underline his drug intake and its effects. In January, at Trump's inauguration event, he thumped his chest and thrust his hand diagonally upward, resembling a fascist salute, which he later termed as a "positive gesture"
Then in February, he appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference and received a chain saw on stage from Javier Milei, the president of Argentina 'This is the chain saw for bureaucracy!' Musk shouted to the cheering crowd.
During an on-stage interview, he spoke in disjointed bouts of stuttering and laughing and the clips of the instance went viral enhancing people's suspicion about his drug use.
The FDA has warned about the use of drugs such as ketamine that have psychedelic properties and can cause dissociation from reality. Chronic use of such drugs can lead to bladder pain and control which is something Musk said he struggles with.
All in all, while there is no comment from the billionaire on the same, with his overactive personal and professional life, he might have a problem with drug use that he has been trying to keep under wraps.
Disclaimer: The above content is based on media reports and alleged claims which may not be independently verified. This material is intended for informational purposes only.