Over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported that Musk, a longtime friend of Brin’s, had a brief relationship with Shanahan in December 2021 while she and Brin were separated but still living together. The publication cited unnamed people close to the matter. “I work crazy hours, so not much time for shenanigans,” the Tesla ( TSLA ) boss said in a tweet Monday.
“None of the key people involved in these alleged crimes were even interviewed!” he added.
In an earlier tweet, Musk, the world’s richest man, described the report as “total BS” and said he and Brin were still friends and had attended a party together the night before.
“I’ve only seen Nicole twice in three years, both times with lots of other people around. Nothing romantic,” he added.
Brin filed for divorce from Shanahan in January due to irreconcilable differences, according to court documents filed in California seen by The Journal. He did so several weeks after discovering the affair, the publication said.
The two billionaires have been friends for many years, and Brin provided about $500,000 in financing for Tesla in 2008 when the company was struggling financially, the Journal said.
Musk reportedly knelt in front of Brin at a party earlier this year to apologize for the affair, he added.
Musk, Brin and Shanahan did not immediately respond to CNN Business when reached for comment. Shanahan’s divorce attorney also did not respond when contacted.
Brin stepped down as chairman of Alphabet (GOOGL), Google’s parent company, in 2019. He founded the search engine in 1998 with Larry Page. Both Brin and Page continue to serve on Alphabet’s board.
Musk’s problems in the spotlight
Musk’s relationships, family matters and legal troubles have become an increasing part of the public conversation of late.
The head of Tesla and SpaceX is currently embroiled in a bitter legal battle with Twitter ( TWTR ) over its $44 billion acquisition deal. Musk had tried to buy the company but backed out earlier this month, accusing the social media company of failing to hand over vital information related to the number of bots on its platform, a claim Twitter denies. In May, Musk denied allegations that he sexually harassed a SpaceX flight attendant in 2016. In June, one of Musk’s children asked a California court to recognize his new name and gender, saying he no longer wished being related to his famous and rich father. “in any way, shape or form.” And last month, Insider reported that Musk welcomed twins last year with an executive at one of his companies, Neuralink.
Musk said in a tweet on Monday that “character assassination attacks have reached a new level this year.”
— Clare Duffy contributed to the report.