Elon Musk Clarifies His True Ethnic Background: It's British, Not Afrikaner—And There's A Literary Connection

For years, the narrative around Elon Musk’s South African roots has been muddled. But the tech billionaire recently set the record straight on social media, revealing a nuance many had overlooked about his actual ancestry.

The Direct Correction

In a tweet posted on January 3, 2024, Musk responded to widespread assumptions about his ethnic heritage. Rather than being from an Afrikaner background as commonly assumed, he emphasized his British and English lineage. The clarification was brief but pointed: “Small correction: I am from a British/English background, not an Afrikaner background (similar to JRR Tolkien, who was also born in South Africa).”

This wasn’t just a casual comment—it revealed something deeper about how misunderstandings about Musk’s background can shape public perception of who he is.

Why The Distinction Matters

The conflation isn’t trivial. “Afrikaner” describes a specific cultural and ethnic group—descendants of 17th-century Dutch, German, and French settlers in South Africa who primarily speak Afrikaans and developed a distinct cultural identity shaped by colonial and apartheid history. English South Africans, by contrast, trace their ancestry to 19th-century British settlers and maintain stronger cultural and linguistic ties to Britain.

Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital, on June 28, 1971. His family background aligns with the English South African experience rather than the Afrikaner one.

The Tolkien Parallel

The comparison Musk drew to J.R.R. Tolkien adds interesting depth. The legendary “Lord of the Rings” author was also born in South Africa—specifically in Bloemfontein in 1892—and similarly came from English parents. Like Musk, Tolkien spent his formative years in South Africa before relocating to England as a young person.

The parallel extends beyond mere biographical coincidence. Musk has long been an avowed Tolkien enthusiast, frequently referencing the author’s works on social media. Tolkien’s influence on Musk apparently ran deep enough to influence even his personal life, having played a role in his courtship with former partner Grimes.

A Challenging South African Upbringing

While clarifying his ethnic heritage, Musk’s history in South Africa itself remained complex. According to accounts from his biographer, his childhood included notable hardships. At age 12, Musk attended a wilderness survival camp that he characterized as a “paramilitary ‘Lord of the Flies’”—a harsh experience that shaped his formative years.

Additionally, persistent rumors have circulated about his father Errol Musk’s involvement in a South African emerald mine. The tech billionaire has repeatedly dismissed these claims throughout the years, expressing frustration over the “fake emerald mine thing” and questioning whether such involvement ever actually occurred.

Why This Clarity Matters Now

The prompt for Musk’s recent clarification came from a social media snippet originating from blogger Casey Handmer’s post. Handmer had previously described Musk as having grown up in an Afrikaner family context and noted how such mischaracterizations can obscure critical context needed to properly understand Musk’s trajectory and worldview.

By drawing attention to his actual ethnic background, Musk was essentially noting that public misunderstandings about his origins could lead to misinterpretations of his values and motivations—a subtle but important distinction for someone whose biography is frequently scrutinized and debated.