Behind the tech empires, rockets, and global influence, there is a deeply personal battle that Elon Musk has never been able to win — one that doesn’t involve AI, space, or billion-dollar companies. It involves something far more complex: his own father, Errol Musk.
While Elon Musk has revolutionized industries and dominated headlines for decades, his relationship with his father has remained distant, strained, and unresolved. And now, sources close to the Tesla and SpaceX CEO say the once-hopeful son has quietly given up the fight to reconcile with the man who shaped — and scarred — much of his early life.
“It’s the one connection he couldn’t fix,” a longtime associate of Musk’s family said. “He’s made peace with the idea that some wounds never heal.”
A Complicated Childhood
Elon Musk has spoken sparingly, but candidly, about his turbulent upbringing in South Africa. His parents divorced when he was 9, and he chose to live with his father — a decision he would later regret.
“I felt I needed to be with him,” Elon once said in an interview. “But he wasn’t a good person.”
Errol Musk, an engineer and adventurer, was by all accounts brilliant — but also volatile, emotionally distant, and, at times, cruel. Elon has described his father as a “terrible human being”, even going as far as to say that Errol was capable of “evil, almost every crime you can think of.”
Despite this, Elon spent years trying to understand, repair, and reconnect with his father — quietly funding parts of his life, extending invitations, and reaching out during family milestones.
But every attempt, sources say, ended in coldness, criticism, or disappointment.
The Turning Point
According to insiders, the final blow came not from a single explosive incident, but rather from a gradual realization: no matter how successful, powerful, or generous Elon became, it would never be enough to earn the kind of respect or affection he longed for from Errol.
“He once said to me, ‘If I built a rocket that landed on the sun, it still wouldn’t impress my dad,’” a former Tesla executive shared.
The emotional toll of that realization, those close to Musk say, was enormous — but private. He never publicly lashed out or tried to “cancel” his father. Instead, he simply withdrew.
“Elon doesn’t like to show weakness,” another source said. “But with his dad… it broke something in him.”
A Father Who Didn’t Want to Be Reached
Errol Musk, now in his late 70s, lives a quiet life in South Africa. In rare interviews, he has been openly critical of his son, describing him as “a little too obsessed with success,” and claiming he’s “not as smart as people think.”
“He’s a billionaire, sure,” Errol once said, “but he’s not a happy man.”
The elder Musk has also expressed no interest in reconciliation, often dismissing Elon’s accomplishments as “overrated.” In one interview, he was asked whether he was proud of his son. He paused for a moment and said: “No. We’re a family, not a fan club.”
Those words, according to people close to Elon, cut deeper than any public attack from critics or competitors.
Trying to Fill the Void
Some psychologists argue that Elon Musk’s relentless drive — to innovate, to dominate, to push boundaries — may partially stem from his fractured relationship with his father.
“He’s constantly building, striving, creating,” one behavioral expert said. “But at the core, it could be an unconscious attempt to prove his worth — to someone who refused to see it.”
Friends say that while Elon rarely brings up his father, his silence speaks volumes. In moments of stress, he reportedly retreats inward, working obsessively — and often isolating himself from even those closest to him.
“He’s mastered detachment,” a friend noted. “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel the loss.”
Letting Go, Quietly
In recent years, Elon has stopped trying. No more calls, no more messages. No more explaining or extending olive branches. He has shifted his emotional energy to his own children — especially his oldest son, X Æ A-Xii, with whom he shares a surprisingly tender relationship.
“He wants to be the father he never had,” a close confidant said. “That’s how he heals.”
Elon has also grown closer to his mother, Maye Musk, a model and nutritionist who raised him with resilience and grace. The bond between them has become more public and affectionate, with Elon often praising her in interviews and social media posts.
“She’s the reason I made it out of childhood alive,” he once said.
The Price of Genius
For all his success, Elon Musk remains a deeply human figure, marked by longing, rejection, and the burden of emotional inheritance.
In boardrooms, he is fearless. In innovation, tireless. But when it comes to the man who raised him, Elon Musk is just a son — one who finally accepted that some doors don’t open, no matter how hard you knock.
“He can create colonies on Mars,” said a family friend, “but he couldn’t get his father to say, ‘I’m proud of you.’ And maybe that’s the most painful failure of all.”
A Final Goodbye — Without Words
There was no formal estrangement. No dramatic press release. No angry tweets or courtroom battles. Just silence — the kind that grows heavy over time.
As of today, Elon Musk and Errol Musk no longer speak. And according to those closest to the situation, they probably never will again.
It’s not the kind of story you expect from the world’s richest man — but it’s one that reminds us: Even giants carry childhood wounds.
And sometimes, the hardest battles are fought not in the boardroom or the stars — but in the heart.
