Elon Musk has admitted that he suffers from Asperger's syndrome, telling viewers on Saturday Night Live yesterday in what is believed to be the first time he has publicly discussed the condition.

Musk, 49, said he was 'making history' as the first person with Asperger's syndrome to host the show in his opening monologue.

"It's an honor to be hosting Saturday Night Live - I mean that," the Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder began. I still have to say "I mean that" after I say something so that people know I'm serious.

"That's because I don't often talk with a lot of intonational variety, which I've been told makes for good comedy."

"Tonight, I'm making history as the first person with Asperger's syndrome to host Saturday Night Live."

"Or at least the first person to admit it," Musk added with a smile as the crowd applauded.

He went on to say that while this meant he wouldn't be able to make a lot of eye contact with the cast, he was fine 'running human in emulation mode.'

"I believe that mankind must become a multi-planetary, space-bearing society," Musk said later in his monologue about his vision for a "renewable energy future." "Don't those sound like exciting goals?"

He went on to make some quips about his odd Twitter presence, which can get a little strange at times, as the crowd erupted in applause.

"Now, I think I'd be fine if I just tweeted that," he added.

"However, I still write stuff like '69 days after 4/20 haha'.

"I don't know, I thought it was funny, which is why I ended it with a 'haha'."

"Look, I know I say and post weird stuff from time to time, but that's just how my brain functions." I just want to apologize to everyone I've offended by saying that I reinvented electric cars and am taking people to Mars in a rocket ship. "Did you think I'd just be a laid-back, normal guy?"

"A lot of times, people are reduced to the dumbest thing they've ever done," he said. On Joe Rogan's podcast, for example, I once smoked marijuana. And now all I hear is, "Elon Musk, all he ever does is smoke pot on podcasts," as if I were going from podcast to podcast smoking joints.

"It happened once," says the narrator. It's the equivalent of lowering O.J. Simpson to the status of 'murderer.' It did happen once! In 1979, O.J. was also the host of this program. In 1996, it happened again. Both times I was killed."