No time for shenanigans, Musk says of affair claims
‘Character assassination attacks have reached a new level this year ... the articles are all nothing-burgers’
ELON MUSK has denied having an affair with the wife of Sergey Brin, the Google co-founder, saying his “crazy” work schedule does not leave him much time for “shenanigans”.
The billionaire Tesla chief rubbished reports that his alleged liaison with Nicole Shanahan, the partner of Mr Musk’s long-time friend Mr Brin, was behind the couple’s divorce.
“Total bs,” Mr Musk said on Twitter. “Sergey and I are friends and were at a party together last night!”
He sent a picture of himself with Mr Brin to the New York Post, denying the two had fallen out. “Took this pic only two hours ago,” he said.
He added on Twitter: “I’ve only seen Nicole twice in three years, both times with many other people around. Nothing romantic.
“Yeah, the character assassination attacks have reached a new level this year, but the articles are all nothingburgers. I work crazy hours, so there just isn’t much time for shenanigans.”
It came after The Wall Street Journal reported the alleged affair had caused a rift between Mr Musk, 51, and Mr Brin, 48. Mr Brin would often let Mr Musk stay at his Silicon Valley home and once lent him $500,000to prop up Tesla as the electric car company struggled to increase production in 2008. In return, he received one of Tesla’s first all-electric sport utility vehicles in 2015.
According to the Journal, Mr Musk dropped to one knee before Mr Brin at a party earlier this year to apologise for the affair and beg for his forgiveness.
Citing sources with knowledge of the incident, the newspaper said Mr Brin had acknowledged the apology but was no longer in regular contact with Mr Musk. Mr Musk, the world’s richest person, Mr Brin, the world’s eighth richest, and Ms Shanahan did not respond to requests for comment before the article’s publication.
However, Mr Musk tweeted: “Haven’t even had sex in ages (sigh).”
The reports claimed Mr Musk had a brief affair with Ms Shanahan during Miami’s Art Basel event last December.
Mr Brin and Ms Shanahan were separated at the time but still living together, the Journal reported. Friends said Mr Brin filed for divorce in January.