Errol Musk, the father of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has expressed his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with BBC Russia. The 79-year-old South African businessman and former politician said it would be “foolish not to admire Putin,” calling the Russian leader “a strong man” and claiming the Musk family shares a similar view.
In the interview, Errol said he listens to Putin’s speeches and finds them “logical,” adding, “If you view him simply as a man, not in the context of international politics, it’s hard not to have respect for Mr Putin.” He also questioned the established narrative around the invasion of Ukraine, saying “only in time will it be possible to understand who really started” the war — despite overwhelming evidence that Russia launched the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Errol Musk also commented on Elon Musk’s involvement in the war and stated that providing Starlink satellite internet to Ukraine in the early days of the invasion “was the right thing to do.” However, he expressed fatigue over the conflict, saying, “The war has dragged on and goes on and on.”
When asked whether Elon shares his admiration for Putin, Errol replied, “We all think so. We’re all the same.” It suggests that Elon and other family members hold similar sentiments. He rejected the idea that Elon’s political posturing is driven by financial gains. He said, “God heavens, we have everything. We don’t need money or one more successful business.”
Elon Musk is the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and oversees several multi-billion dollar contracts with the U.S. government, including a $1.8 billion intelligence deal to build a spy satellite network. SpaceX’s Starlink system, now with nearly 7,000 satellites, plays a central role in military communications, including support for Ukraine’s armed forces.
In a separate report by The Wall Street Journal, Musk was said to have communicated frequently with Putin since 2022, allegedly discussing personal and geopolitical matters, as well as potential favours benefiting China and its leader Xi Jinping via the Starlink platform.
Errol Musk’s comments come amid longstanding reports of familial tension. Elon’s younger brother, Kimbal Musk, has said that their father would scream at them for hours, calling them “worthless and pathetic.” Their mother, Maye Musk, has previously accused Errol of physical abuse — allegations he has dismissed as “rubbish.”
Errol also dismissed claims that Elon has made Nazi salutes, saying such gestures have been misinterpreted and noting that even prominent Democrats like former President Barack Obama have made similar motions in public appearances.
Elon Musk’s brief political stint as head of the informal “Department of Government Efficiency” under Donald Trump — colloquially referred to as “DOGE” — may end in May due to constitutional requirements.
“Elon always talks really fast so he can get it over with,” Errol quipped during the interview.
Despite the deeply divided views about Putin globally — Errol Musk insists that admiration for him, at least within the Musk household, remains strong.
