Overview

• Former FBI agent Jonathan Buma alleges that Russian intelligence targeted Elon Musk and Peter Thiel for blackmail using personal vulnerabilities, including Musk's susceptibility to drugs and promiscuous women.
• Buma claims the operation was approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin and aimed to exploit Musk's and Thiel's influence as prominent tech leaders during the Ukraine war.
• The allegations were made in a documentary by German broadcaster ZDF, where Buma detailed how Musk's interests, such as Burning Man and gambling, were identified as potential entry points for espionage.
• Buma, who served 16 years in the FBI, was arrested in March 2025 for leaking classified information and is currently awaiting legal proceedings in the United States.
• Musk's direct communications with Putin since 2022 and his complex role in U.S.-Ukraine relations have raised concerns about the intersection of tech leadership and national security.