Errol Musk isn’t just a father to one of the richest men on Earth—he’s a figure surrounded by luxury, brilliance, estrangement, and controversy. While Elon Musk has redefined space, tech, and transport, Errol Musk’s story is filled with emotional scars, strange decisions, engineering talent, and a family saga that has captured global attention.
This article explores every major detail about Errol Musk’s life—his personal background, career, children, controversial relationships, quotes, and how he shaped—and broke away from—his famous son.
🧠 Who Is Errol Musk? Quick Facts
| Full Name | Errol Graham Musk |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1946 |
| Birthplace | Pretoria, South Africa |
| Profession | Electromechanical Engineer, Pilot, Sailor, Property Developer |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Dutch and British descent |
| Known For | Father of Elon Musk, controversial family life |
| Estimated Net Worth | $2 – $5 million (approx.) |
🧒 Errol Musk’s Early Life and Education
Errol Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1946. Raised in a wealthy and conservative white South African family, he grew up during the height of apartheid. From a young age, Errol was known for being extremely intelligent—particularly gifted in engineering and mathematics.
He went on to study electromechanical engineering, which laid the foundation for his future business ventures. Known for being both strict and charismatic, Errol quickly climbed South Africa’s professional ladder.
Errol Musk’s Stepdaughter
Errol Musk, the father of tech billionaire Elon Musk, made headlines for his relationship with Jana Bezuidenhout, who is his stepdaughter.
- Jana is the daughter of Heide Bezuidenhout, Errol’s second wife.
- Errol raised Jana for several years after marrying her mother.
- Despite the father-like role, he later entered into a romantic relationship with Jana.
💼 Errol Musk’s Career: From Engineering to Wealth
🛠️ Engineering & Property Development
Errol built a lucrative career in South Africa’s booming infrastructure era. He was involved in:
- Building commercial and residential properties
- Operating heavy machinery and mining equipment
- Running multiple construction and energy-related ventures
By the late 1970s, Errol was reportedly financially well-off, owning multiple homes, a private plane, luxury cars, and a yacht.
🧭 Pilot and Adventurer
Errol also holds licenses as a professional pilot and sailor. He was known for spontaneous trips, sea explorations, and long solo flights. His adventurous, risk-taking nature mirrored that of his future billionaire son, Elon.
👨👩👧👦 Errol Musk’s Marriages and Children: Complex Family Tree
Errol’s personal life is highly complicated, filled with multiple relationships, estranged children, and scandalous revelations.
💍 Marriage to Maye Musk (1970–1979)
Errol married Maye Haldeman Musk, a model and dietitian, in 1970. They had three children:
- Elon Musk (b. 1971) – CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter)
- Kimbal Musk (b. 1972) – Entrepreneur and restaurateur
- Tosca Musk (b. 1974) – Filmmaker and founder of Passionflix
The marriage ended in divorce in 1979. Despite a bitter split, Elon and Kimbal initially chose to live with Errol, a decision Elon would later describe as one of the worst mistakes of his life.
💔 Relationship with Heide Bezuidenhout
After his divorce, Errol entered a long-term relationship with Heide Bezuidenhout, a widow with three children from a previous marriage.
Together, Errol and Heide had two biological children, and Errol also raised her daughter Jana Bezuidenhout from the age of 4.
😱 Errol Musk and Stepdaughter Controversy: The Jana Bezuidenhout Scandal
One of the most shocking revelations came in 2018 when it was revealed that Errol Musk had fathered a child with his stepdaughter, Jana Bezuidenhout.
- Jana was 42 years younger than Errol.
- She had been raised by Errol since she was a toddler.
- Their first child, Elliot Rush Musk, was born in 2017.
- In 2022, a second child with Jana was confirmed.
This scandal triggered public outrage, created a massive rift in the family, and led to Elon cutting off all communication with his father.
“We were lonely, lost people,” Errol said in defense of the relationship.
🧬 How Many Children Does Errol Musk Have?
Errol Musk has at least 7 known biological children:
- Elon Musk – with Maye Musk
- Kimbal Musk – with Maye Musk
- Tosca Musk – with Maye Musk
- Two unnamed children – with Heide Bezuidenhout
- Elliot Rush Musk – with Jana Bezuidenhout
- Second unnamed child – with Jana Bezuidenhout
There may be more unconfirmed children, based on Errol’s own claims of having many relationships.
😔 Errol Musk and Elon Musk’s Relationship: Estranged and Complex
The father-son dynamic between Errol and Elon Musk is deeply broken.
Elon’s View on His Father
Elon has described his father in scathing terms:
“He was such a terrible human being. You have no idea.”
“Almost every evil thing you can think of, he has done.”
“It would take a lot to fix that relationship.”
Elon has confirmed years of emotional and psychological trauma from living with Errol after his parents’ divorce.
Errol’s View on Elon Musk
Errol, on the other hand, often diminishes Elon’s success:
“He’s behind schedule. I’m not proud. He should be doing more.”
He also takes credit for supporting Elon’s early career, saying he funded his son’s education and early ventures—though Elon disputes many of these claims.
🔫 The 1998 Home Invasion Shooting
In 1998, three armed intruders broke into Errol’s Johannesburg home. He fatally shot them in self-defense using a .357 Magnum revolver.
Though legally cleared, the event added to his image as a man living in paranoia, isolation, and violence.
💰 Did Errol Musk Own Emerald Mines?
One of the most persistent rumors is that Errol owned emerald mines in Zambia, and that Elon’s fortune was started with that wealth.
- Errol once claimed he owned half of an emerald mine.
- Elon fiercely denied this, calling it a “BS myth.”
This conflicting story remains unverified but plays a key role in public debates about Elon’s true origins.
🗓️ Errol Musk’s Life Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1946 | Born in Pretoria, South Africa |
| 1970 | Marries Maye Musk |
| 1971–74 | Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca are born |
| 1979 | Divorces Maye Musk |
| 1980s | Begins relationship with Heide Bezuidenhout |
| 1998 | Shoots and kills 3 home invaders |
| 2017 | Has first child with stepdaughter Jana |
| 2022 | Confirms second child with Jana |
| Present | Estranged from Elon Musk, lives in South Africa |
📺 Errol Musk in the Media: Interviews and Public Statements
Errol occasionally appears on talk shows or radio, where he:
- Defends his controversial decisions
- Criticizes Elon publicly
- Claims credit for Elon’s success
These appearances often go viral and are met with ridicule, backlash, or disbelief.
📱 Does Errol Musk Have a Fan Following or Online Presence?
Errol does not maintain an active social media profile, but:
- His name frequently trends when Elon is in the news.
- Public discussion forums like Reddit, X (Twitter), and YouTube debate his actions and comments.
While he doesn’t have fans in the traditional sense, his controversies keep him in the spotlight.
🧩 Final Thoughts
Errol Musk is a paradox—a brilliant engineer and successful businessman who lost public favor due to morally complex choices and family breakdowns.
He gave the world Elon Musk, but at the cost of emotional damage, scandal, and estrangement. His story is a reminder that intellect and morality don’t always walk hand in hand, and not every genius creates peace within his own home.
