Elon Musk says he’s had to take Ambien to go to sleep

Tesla CEO Elon
Musk.
Lucy Nicholson /
Reuters

• Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that an “excruciating” year
  has taken a toll on him.
• He sometimes has had to take Ambien, a prescription
  drug that helps induce sleep.
• Musk described an intense 120-hour work week as both
  chairman and chief executive of Tesla, a company that has been
  hit with challenging press coverage in recent weeks.
• Musk says he has not taken a break from work for more
  than a week since he contracted malaria in 2001.
• A person familiar with Tesla board of directors who was
  cited by The New York Times said some people on the board of
  directors suggested that Musk’s Ambien use may not be
  effective, and instead, played a role in his social media
  outbursts.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that an “excruciating” year has taken a
toll and that he sometimes has had to take Ambien, a prescription
drug that assists in inducing sleep.

“It is often a choice of no sleep or Ambien,” Musk said in a New
York Times report published Thursday
night.

Musk described an intense 120-hour work week as both chairman and
chief executive of Tesla, a company that has been hit with
challenging press
coverage in recent weeks. During his interview with The
Times, Musk reportedly grew emotional as he described his
turbulent year.

“This past year has been the most difficult and painful year of
my career,” Musk said. “It was excruciating.”

“There were times when I didn’t leave the factory for three or
four days — days when I didn’t go outside,” Musk added. “This has
really come at the expense of seeing my kids. And seeing
friends.”

In
addition to his dual roles with Tesla, Elon Musk is the CEO and
lead designer at SpaceX.
AP
Photo/Francois Mori)

In June, he said he spent the entire day — his 47th birthday — at
work. He flew to Catalonia for his brother’s wedding two days
later, flying from his factory and arriving just two hours before
the ceremony, according to The Times.

Additionally, Musk says he has not taken a break from work for
more than a week since he contracted malaria in 2001.

“All night — no friends, nothing,” Musk said to The Times.

“It’s not been great, actually,” Musk said. “I’ve had friends
come by who are really concerned.”

Musk has been criticized for his occasional outbursts on social
media — which include likening a British cave diver who took part
in rescue efforts to a pedophile — and some of Tesla’s board
members have reportedly taken notice.

According to two people familiar with the board, some members
were concerned about his Ambien intake, according to The Times.
Some of the members also suggested that the drug may not be
effective, and instead, played a part in his social media flares.

Musk later apologized for his comments
and said his “words were spoken in anger” after a dispute with
the cave diver.

“I thought the worst of it was over — I thought it was,” Musk
said. “The worst is over from a Tesla operational standpoint …
But from a personal pain standpoint, the worst is yet to come.”