Justine Musk has opened up about her marriage to Elon Musk in a new documentary, recalling a relationship in which she says she felt diminished and learned about the concept of gaslighting.
Justine, a Canadian author, appears in Musk, a documentary by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney that examines the life, relationships and influence of the billionaire entrepreneur. The nearly four-hour film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Tuesday, 8 September and is scheduled for a cinema release on 16 October.
Learning the Term 'Gaslighting'
According to PEOPLE, Justine says in the documentary, 'I learned the term "gaslighting" through my relationship with Elon.' She also recalls feeling that Musk was 'constantly remarking on the ways he found me lacking'.
Her comments provide a rare extended account of the couple's relationship. Justine and Elon Musk married in 2000 and divorced in 2008 after having six children together. Their first child, Nevada Alexander Musk, died from sudden infant death syndrome at 10 weeks old in 2002.
Justine also recalls an uncomfortable moment from their wedding celebrations. According to her account in the documentary, Musk told her during their first dance, 'I am the alpha in this relationship.'
The recollections form part of Gibney's wider examination of Musk's personal and professional life. The documentary includes interviews with people connected to the billionaire, including Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard and Musk's father, Errol Musk.
Musk himself did not participate in the film.
The Death of Nevada
One of the documentary's most sensitive sections concerns the death of Nevada. Elon Musk has previously described the devastating experience publicly, writing in 2022 that he had held his son in his arms when the baby died. Justine disputes that account in the documentary, saying that she was holding Nevada at the time.
The conflicting recollections have renewed attention on how the former couple experienced and remembered the tragedy differently. Justine previously discussed Nevada's death in detail in a 2010 essay for Marie Claire.
The documentary also examines Musk's relationship with his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. Justine makes several claims about their estrangement, including an allegation that Musk stopped providing Vivian with health insurance after she came out as transgender.
That allegation should be understood as Justine's account presented in the documentary, rather than an independently established fact. She also says Musk asked her to tell Vivian that he would 'always love her'.
Musk has spoken publicly about his estrangement from Vivian. In 2022, he referred to having 'lost' his child, who had transitioned and changed her name from Xavier to Vivian. Vivian has separately criticised her father publicly.
A 'Hit Piece'
Musk has not endorsed Gibney's portrayal of him. He has previously dismissed the project as a 'hit piece' and criticised the filmmaker. Gibney, meanwhile, has defended his reporting and the documentary.
Justine's appearance represents one of the most extensive public discussions of her marriage to Musk in years. Her testimony gives the documentary a deeply personal perspective on a relationship that began before Musk became one of the world's most prominent technology entrepreneurs.
While the film presents Justine Musk's allegations and recollections, the documentary does not establish every disputed claim as independently verified. Her comments add a significant personal dimension to the ongoing public examination of Musk's family life and relationships.
