Elon Musk had a sexual relationship with an employee and a former SpaceX intern, whom he later hired onto his executive team. The tech billionaire also approached another employee to have his babies, but she refused, The Wall Street Journal reported. She was then denied a raise and Musk himself had reportedly complained about her performance.
The women are among several other employees who have claimed that Musk showered them with extra attention or pursued them romantically.
The former SpaceX intern told the publication that she had met Musk when she was still in college. She had approached the him with ideas for improving SpaceX and the conversation had led to a date, "which led to a kiss, and eventually sex". A year after the internship, Musk, who is more than 20 years her senior, had flown the fresher out to a resort in Sicily, before they parted ways, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Musk had reportedly tried to restart their relationship but the former intern rejected his advance. They, however, remained close.
A woman employee who quit SpaceX in 2013 claimed in her exit interview that Musk had asked her to have his babies, the publication reported.
Another woman employee, who reported directly to the tech billionaire said she had a month-long sexual relationship him in 2014. The relationship, however, ended badly and she quit the company after signing an agreement that prohibited her from discussing her work for Musk.
One of the women who Musk allegedly had a sexual relationship also drew the ire of SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell, who accused the employee of having an affair with Shotwell’s husband. When the woman approached the HR, they reported this to Shotwell and she "told the HR department at SpaceX that she wanted the woman removed from the office of the chief executive,” The Wall Street Journal wrote.
The report cited text messages, emails, affidavits, and other documents collected from more than 48 people, including friends and family members of the women, and former employees of Musk's companies. The SpaceX boss is yet to respond to the article.
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