Report: Elon Musk exposed himself to SpaceX flight attendant, according to documents

Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk allegedly paid off a former employee through his aerospace company SpaceX after sexually propositioning her during a 2016 encounter aboard his private jet, according to a Business Insider report published Thursday evening.

The publication's report, written by Rich McHugh, cites documents obtained from a friend of the flight attendant, who was allegedly paid $250,000 by SpaceX in 2018 to settle a sexual misconduct claim brought against Musk by the employee. The documents state the employee accused Musk of "exposing his erect penis to her, rubbing her leg without consent, and offering to buy her a horse in exchange for an erotic massage."

The documents include a declaration signed by the attendant's friend, as well as email correspondence and other materials obtained by Business Insider. They alleged that the incident in question occurred during a private massage on Musk's Gulfstream jet. The publication reached out to Musk for comment Wednesday. He offered an initial response before ultimately severing communication.

"If I were inclined to engage in sexual harassment, this is unlikely to be the first time in my entire 30-year career that it comes to light," Musk told Business Insider. He also characterized the inquiry as a "politically motivated hit piece," according to the publication.

SpaceX Vice President of Legal Christopher Cardaci refused to comment on "any settlement agreements" when reached by phone, according to Business Insider.

The declaration describes the 2016 encounter which led to the later settlement as occurring late in the year. It states Musk beckoned the attendant to his room during a flight and was found "completely naked except for a sheet covering the lower half of his body." It states Musk exposed his erect penis to the SpaceX employee and "touched her and offered to buy her a horse if she would 'do more.'"

The attendant, an equestrian, declined Musk's offer, according to the friend's declaration obtained by Business Insider.

"He whipped out his penis, it was erect," the friend said in the declaration statement. "And he started propositioning her, like he touched her thigh and told her he would buy her a horse. And he basically tried to bribe her to perform some sort of sexual act."

The attendant's $250,000 severance package included non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses that barred the attendant from mentioning the incidents or payment, or disclosing information regarding SpaceX or Musk's businesses.

As of this writing, Musk has yet to respond publicly to the story.