this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2024
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Elon Musk's alleged drug use puts 13,000 jobs at risk, report suggests::Elon Musk's possible use of illegal drugs is causing concern for bosses within his companies, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

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[–] gregorum@lemm.ee 94 points 10 months ago

It looks like the boards at a few of his companies might be looking for a way to fire his ass. 

[–] neptune@dmv.social 59 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Let's just nationalize SpaceX and Starlink. Then maybe he can focus in tesla, X and his spliff rolling.

[–] Assman@sh.itjust.works 37 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Don't blame reefer on.. whatever the fuck he has going on

[–] DaMonsterKnees@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The Assman's right about Howard Johnson being right! ;p

[–] Anyolduser@lemmynsfw.com 2 points 10 months ago

And furthermore it was said in true frontier gibberish!

[–] scarabic@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Nationalizing SpaceX would be a pretty weird move, since in addition to being Elon’s flaming phallic object project, NASA has also made huge investments of time, knowledge, and resources in SpaceX specifically because they believe that the private sector can start offering a lot to advance our exploration of space.

Basically, our national space agency would disagree with the notion of nationalizing SpaceX. NASA have helped them every step of the way, very deliberately, and they want to see them continue and succeed.

[–] felbane@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Plus, SpaceX is Shotwell's child at this point, and she's a pretty damn good mom.

Musk is little more than a mouthpiece (and more or less always has been). There's no need to nationalize it, just remove Musk's capacity as a spokesperson for the company and you've solved 99% of the problem.

[–] scarabic@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

Whaddaya mean he’s like the chief engineer! /s

[–] Chocrates@lemmy.world 31 points 10 months ago (3 children)

How are the jobs at risk? They didn't really explain it.

Look if Musk wants to use drugs then good for him. As long as he isn't hurting anyone then he should get to do what he wants. If he has an addiction he deserves our compassion (even though he may not share that sentiment for others).
If he is making bad business decisions when high that is between him and the board and the free market.

Why do we care about any of this? I can't wait until he isn't in the news every day.

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 91 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

that is between him and the board and the free market.

Because he has something called "Security Clearance" which is granted to him by the US government, with explicit rules that mean illegal/illicit drug use is one of the top ways to lose your security clearance or never get it to begin with.

It's rather that this is a National Security issue since we're dealing with a foreign-born billionaire who seems to not exactly have a bunch of allegiance to the US.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musk-pledges-that-tesla-will-uphold-core-socialist-values-in-china

So here is Musk making big deals with a country many consider to be an "enemy" of the US (I don't, personally), and claiming to uphold values that many Americans would define as "not American values."

The point is this is deeply a national security issue, and people who have lost their security clearance for less are pretty up-in-arms about how a billionaire gets different rules because his companies are important to the government.

Why do all these people always defend him under the guise of "Free Market?" Tesla and SpaceX are the recipients of some of the biggest US government subsidies. SpaceX basically wouldn't exist without the investment of the US government. But MuH fReE mArKeTs!

Finally, the jobs are at risk because if they have to remove his clearance, but are unable to oust him from the companies, they may just stop doing business with Musk companies at all, and without those government contracts: 13,000 jobs would be lost at SpaceX. If you look up how many employees SpaceX has, it has about 13,000. In other words, SpaceX would go out of business without the government propping it up.

[–] 9point6@lemmy.world 51 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

Why do all these people always defend him under the guise of "Free Market?" Tesla and SpaceX are the recipients of some of the biggest US government subsidies. SpaceX basically wouldn't exist without the investment of the US government. But MuH fReE mArKeTs!

I mean this is the big thing that baffles me: Elon has ended up privately owning some of the most important public investments in the US. All of the tech originated in academia and it's mostly paid for by the tax payer. Americans are fucking wild for letting that happen and clapping about it.

[–] kuro24811@lemmy.world 11 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

There are other companies like ULA, Firefly, Rocket Lab, Blue Origin, and etc but they are all behind what SpaceX is doing capabilities wise, who is doing it cheaper with good reliability. SpaceX did 98 successful launches in 2023. We are currently in a state of transition in the rocket industry caused by SpaceX and the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (Western Countries lost the use of Soyuz and Russian rocket engines which Atlas 5 and Antares uses). Up until yesterday with ULA’s successful launch of Vulcan, they were the only rocket that currently exist and aren’t Russian and Chinese that can launch at medium to heavy lift capability. Currently everybody else and including the European companies aren’t ready either with their medium to heavy lift rockets. That is the issue right now is that SpaceX currently has an effective monopoly so they have too much sway right now but I’m so glad Vulcan was successful so that can finally end. Even Europe had to reluctantly use SpaceX since Ariane 6 and Vega aren’t ready yet.

[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 10 points 10 months ago

It goes farther than that.

spacex (and the other "private" space companies) actively poach talent from NASA, JPL, and so forth.

And while spacex is not the only company that were paid by the US government to steal resources and lessen capabilities: It is always worth remembering that musk "invested" because he was pissy that russia wouldn't sell him an ICBM.

[–] pennomi@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The US would forcefully nationalize SpaceX before letting it go out of business because it’s such a huge national security advantage.

[–] BakerBagel@midwest.social 8 points 10 months ago

I have my dounts about the current government nationalizing anything these days. They just let US Steel get sold to Nippon Steel, which is equally valuable ti national security.

[–] abhibeckert@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I still don't see how jobs are at risk. Worst case scenario, Musk is forced to resign. Why would it all the other contractors?

[–] Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

My guess is jobs are at risk because of horrible decisions he might make due to the drug use.

[–] LWD@lemm.ee 34 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)
[–] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 10 months ago

If he is making bad business decisions when high that is between him and the board and the free market.

But that's the point. Doing shitty business decisions is risking the jobs of people

[–] nick@midwest.social 30 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Maybe he’ll do the honorable thing and just OD

[–] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 11 points 10 months ago

Sounds like someone didn't bring enough for everyone to share.

[–] Cruxifux@lemmy.world 10 points 10 months ago (1 children)

After watching how hard he faked taking a puff on Joe Rogan I kind of doubt he’s on any drugs that aren’t prescribed.

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 16 points 10 months ago (1 children)

A rich man can get prescribed basically anything he wants.

[–] RagingRobot@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Isn't that how Michael Jackson was getting anesthesia medicine

[–] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago (2 children)

He had to hire and board a full-time "personal cardiologist" to get that sweet, sweet propofol.

[–] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Doc was pulling $200k/mo, but lost his license and served two (of four) years of a prison sentence.

Oof. Poor Jackson… “brought down” in the evening, “brought up” in the morning (depressants, stimulants), that’s a hard way to live.

[–] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

What evidence is there for stimulants? I remember reading he was trying to get something speedy but it seemed like he wasn't as "successful" as he was with obtaining the downers and anaesthetics

[–] Kalothar@lemmy.ca 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Same case as Prince right?

[–] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

I dunno but I think his was fentanyl OD, bit different if in form not function

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 months ago

I think Pepsi had a hand in that as well

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 7 points 10 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Elon Musk's possible use of illegal drugs is causing concern for bosses within his companies, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Allegations made against Elon Musk over possible drug use are worrying executives within his companies, a report in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has suggested.

Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla and SpaceX, has denied the claims, insisting no trace of drugs or alcohol has been found in his body during random tests over three years.

According to the report, Linda Johnson Rice, a former Tesla board member, decided against re-election because of her worries about Musk's drug use and unpredictable behaviour.

According to WSJ's report, Musk's alleged drug use poses a risk to approximately €900 billion ($1 trillion) in assets, 13,000 jobs, and the US space programme.

Some of Tesla's board members have even wondered if Musk might have been under the influence of drugs when he tweeted in 2018 about taking the company private.


The original article contains 321 words, the summary contains 157 words. Saved 51%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] YurkshireLad@lemmy.ca 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Translation “we need to fire a bunch of people for our investors, and we need a scape goat so we don’t look bad”.

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 10 months ago

13,000 is all of SpaceX.

[–] scarabic@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago

Let me preface by saying fuck this prick and yea he’s probably on drugs.

BUT honestly, especially as you start aging like he is, you don’t need to be on drugs to show up late, make unhinged remarks, and slur your words. I approach that state toward the end of most work days, dead fucking sober.

[–] dustyData@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Uh oh, someone pissed off other rich people who are now trying to get rid of him.

[–] steve_floof@lemm.ee 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

If I looked like him I would have to be high all the time too

[–] peopleproblems@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I mean if I was the wealthiest man in the world, you wouldn't hear me say shit unless it was to make me more money.

Also like he's a billionaire, who tried to pay his flight attendant for sex, which of course she wasn't fly with that. The dude has billions and doesn't employ a guy that can get him flight companions?

That leads me to believe he's incredibly stupid, incredibly lucky to come into such wealth, and incredibly high most of the time.