Tesla CEO Elon Musk opened up about his use of medication and its potential impact on his companies, which include an impressive portfolio of Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), and more. In a recent interview with journalist Don Lemon, Musk, known for his eccentric style of addressing queries, spoke about concerns surrounding his alleged drug use, shedding light on his habits and their relation to his social media activity.
During the conversation, Musk admitted to using ketamine, a medication primarily utilised as an anaesthetic in hospitals, to combat depressive episodes. He emphasised that he holds a legitimate prescription for the drug and consumes it sparingly, approximately “a small amount once every other week or something like that.”
“There are times when I have sort of a negative chemical state in my brain, like depression I guess, or depression that’s not linked to any negative news, and ketamine is helpful for getting one out of the negative frame of mind,” Musk said during the interview.
'Almost Always' Sober
Despite acknowledging his use of ketamine, Musk maintained that he remains “almost always” sober during his late-night or early-morning social media posts on X.
While Musk clarified his stance on ketamine, he refrained from specifying whether his sobriety claim applied solely to ketamine or encompassed other substances. This admission comes in the wake of ongoing scrutiny regarding Musk's behaviour and its potential ramifications for his companies.
'I Have A Lot Of Work'
Addressing concerns about the impact of his medication use on his work, Musk emphasised his rigorous work ethic, often clocking in 16-hour days. “If you use too much ketamine, you can’t really get work done. I have a lot of work, I’m typically putting in 16-hour days, so I don’t really have a situation where I can be not mentally acute for an extended period of time.”
He stressed the importance of mental acuity for productivity, asserting that excessive ketamine consumption would hinder his ability to perform effectively.
Moreover, Musk attributed his depression to genetic factors and expressed confidence that his medication regimen would not impede his company's performance or government contracts.
'If There Is Something I’m Taking, I Should Keep Taking It'
He underscored the significance of execution in the eyes of investors, citing Tesla's substantial market value as evidence of his company's success. “Are you building value for investors? Tesla is worth about as much as the rest of the car industry combined. So from an investor standpoint, if there is something I’m taking, I should keep taking it.”
The interview, spanning 90 minutes, delved into various topics beyond Musk's drug use, including his critiques of diversity programs and Tesla's Cybertruck demand. Additionally, Musk addressed concerns about the state of advertising on X, acknowledging challenges stemming from contentious content.
The interview stirred controversy, resulting in a fallout between Musk and Lemon and the termination of a proposed deal for Lemon's streaming show on X.
Musk's blunt remarks regarding advertisers who departed X due to concerns over offensive content further fueled the debate surrounding his leadership style and its implications for the platform's future, reported CNN.