Justine Musk, Elon Musk's first wife, has claimed that the tech mogul gaslit and belittled her during their marriage, according to statements made in the new documentary "Musk." The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, features Justine Musk describing how her ex-husband made her feel "insignificant" and "constantly remarking on the ways he found me lacking."
She stated in the documentary that she "learned the term ‘gaslighting’ through” their relationship. Justine Musk compared his remarks to how a boss might address an employee, recalling an instance at their January 2000 wedding where Elon Musk allegedly declared he was the "alpha in [the] relationship." She previously shared this anecdote in a 2010 Marie Claire essay, writing that she had "shrugged it off" as she did signing a postnuptial agreement, noting that "Elon’s judgment overruled mine."
The couple had six children together before their divorce in 2008: twins Griffin and Vivian, 22; triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian, 20; and their firstborn son, Nevada, who died in 2002 at 10 weeks old. Justine Musk also disputed Elon Musk's past claim that he held Nevada during their son's death, asserting that she was the one present.
The documentary also touches upon Elon Musk's estrangement from their transgender daughter, Vivian. Justine Musk stated that her ex-husband "never tried to repair things" with Vivian, whom Elon Musk previously described as having been "killed by the woke-mind virus." However, she claimed Elon Musk did ask Justine to relay to Vivian that "I’ll always love her."
Additionally, Justine Musk alleged that Elon Musk cut off their daughter's health insurance. She also shared insights into his insecurities, quoting him as saying, "I can’t look cool or hip, because I need to look like an engineer."
Sources indicate that Elon Musk referred to the mothers of his children as "breeders," a claim also reportedly made by Justine Musk. Ashley St. Clair, 28, a political commentator and one of Musk's other children's mothers, stated she participated in the documentary after declining a $40 million non-disclosure agreement. She shared an alleged text message from Elon Musk expressing a desire to have a "legion of children before the civil war."
Elon Musk did not participate in the documentary, which he previously called a "hit piece" on social media. The film is scheduled for release in theaters on October 16. The documentary's promotional material described it as an "unflinching look at Earth’s most unchecked man."