Inside Elon Musk’s priviledged South African childhood
Rolls Royces, private jets and sprawling mansions: Here’s how Elon Musk really grew up in South Africa, says his dad, Errol.
Errol Musk, the father of the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has disputed the latter’s claims that he grew up in a “middle-income” household.
Speaking in a recent interview on the Wide Awake Podcast, the 79-year-old detailed how his firstborn Elon was born into a lap of luxury.
INSIDE ELON MUSK’S PRIVILEGED CHILDHOOD
Speaking to Joshua Rubin on the Wide Awake Podcast this week, Errol Musk revealed that his son Elon Musk had a privileged life in South Africa.
Errol explained that due to his own success as an engineer and property developer, his three children were accustomed to a wealthy lifestyle.
After Errol and his ex-wife, Maye, divorced in 1980, Elon and his younger brother Kimbal went to live with their dad in his luxury Waterkloof mansion in Pretoria.
The property, which was previously the headquarters of the United Nations in South Africa, is now home to the European Union ambassador.
Errol said, “We had our own chef and several servants. It had eight bedrooms. It was designed by Herbert Baker, and it was very beautiful.
“We had air rights over the city so that nobody could build anything in front of us. I never even went into our garden; it was so big”.
Errol claims their house was “enormous” was fitted with a gymnasium, jacuzzi, tennis court and a snooker room.
Errol also mentioned that Elon and Kimbal were transported to schools in Rolls Royces, travelled to overseas holidays on a private jet, and had their own yacht and motorbikes.
The brothers also had the privilege of access to Errol’s sprawling horse farm in Sandton. The boys also enjoyed regular visits to a popular steakhouse.
He added: “They’ve always had these things…we’ve always been in this position”.
In a previous interview with MacG on Podcast & Chill, Errol also claimed that his sons had access to his safe, which stores wads of cash from his illicit sale of emeralds.
SELF-MADE MAN?
Despite his obviously privileged upbringing, Elon Musk claims that his success was self-made.
The Pretoria-born man left South Africa in 1988 at the age of 17 “with just a backpack and suitcase of books.”
He moved to Canada to pursue his studies, taking out over $100 000 (R1,8 million) in student loans. Elon later settled in the US, where he set up successful businesses such as Tesla, SpaceX, and PayPal.
He tweeted in 2023: “I grew up in a lower, transitioning to upper, middle-income situation, but did not have a happy childhood. Haven’t inherited anything ever from anyone, nor has anyone given me a large financial gift.”
Elon also disputed claims his father had access to emerald mines, a claim Errol says his son “lied about.”
DO YOU BELIEVE ELON MUSK GREW UP WEALTHY IN SA?
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