Elon Musk is known for his groundbreaking innovations in technology, space travel, and artificial intelligence. However, behind the headlines about Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), the billionaire has another significant role—he is a father to several children. Over the past two decades, Musk has welcomed children with three different women, from his first wife, Justine Wilson, to Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.
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Musk's parenting style, controversial views, and reported desire to have his children grow up together have been a topic of curiosity for the world. Besides being Trump’s new best friend, Musk’s relationship with his children has also frequently made headlines. Here’s everything we know about Elon Musk’s large and complex family.
Elon Musk’s children: Who they are and who their mothers are
Musk has made it no secret that he believes in large families—so much so that he sees population decline as one of the biggest threats to civilisation. And, true to his beliefs, he’s done his part in ensuring the world doesn’t run out of Musks anytime soon. With at least 12 children born over a span of more than 20 years, Musk’s family tree is as fascinating as it is expansive. Let’s take a closer look at the billionaire’s ever-growing brood:
Nevada Alexander Musk (born 2002)
Musk’s first child was with his ex-wife, Justine Wilson. Tragically, Nevada passed away at just 10 weeks old due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Twins Vivian Jenna Wilson and Griffin Musk (born 2004)
Musk and Wilson had twin sons conceived through IVF. In 2022, Vivian made headlines when she legally changed her name and gender, distancing herself completely from her father. Griffin, on the other hand, has kept a low profile.
Triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian Musk (born 2006)
Also born through IVF, these three brothers have largely remained out of the limelight. However, Damian is known for his passion for classical music and academic excellence in math and physics. At the age of eight, he became a vegetarian to reduce his carbon footprint, reports People magazine.
X Æ A-Xii Musk (born 2020)
The first of Musk’s children with singer Grimes, his name became an internet sensation. Musk has explained that ‘X’ is just ‘X,’ ‘Æ’ is pronounced ‘Ash,’ and ‘A-12’ is a reference to the Lockheed A-12 aircraft. Often called ‘X,’ he has been seen at multiple public events with his father, including a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Exa Dark Sideræl Musk (born 2021)
Also known as ‘Y,’ Exa was born via surrogate. Grimes revealed that her name combines references to computing power (ExaFLOPS), deep space-time (Sideræl), and a nod to Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings. She has described her daughter as ‘a little engineer’ fascinated by industrial shipping.
Strider and Azure Musk (born 2021)
Twins born to Musk and Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink, via IVF. The news that he became father to the twins was kept under wraps for several months.
Techno Mechanicus Musk (born 2022)
Nicknamed ‘Tau,’ Musk and Grimes secretly welcomed him, with details revealed in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk. Grimes has said that Tau has an intense, inquisitive nature and compared him to Spock from Star Trek in a rare X post.
Unnamed child with Zilis (born 2024)
Musk and Zilis welcomed their third child together in early 2024, though no name has been publicly shared.
In response to past reports, he has stated that he does not consider his children to be 'secret' but chooses not to publicly announce their births. Musk said:
All our friends and family know. Failure to issue a press release, which would be bizarre, does not mean ‘secret.’
Rumoured 13th child with Ashley St. Clair (born 2024)
In early 2025, author and MAGA influencer Ashley St. Clair claimed she had secretly given birth to Musk’s 13th child in September 2024. She later stated that she had initially withheld the news to protect the child’s privacy. So far, Musk has not commented explicitly on the news, and has neither denied or confirmed the claims.
Ashley St. Clair claims they have met to discuss their parenting roles in private, but she is waiting for him to publicly acknowledge their child. Her representative Brian Glicklich said:
We are waiting for Elon to publicly acknowledge his parental role with Ashley, to end unwarranted speculation
Despite Musk’s public enthusiasm for having many children, his relationships with them vary significantly. While he is often seen with his younger children, taking them on day trips to the White House, his relationship with his oldest child has soured.
Musk’s estrangement from daughter Vivian
Apart from his rift with his father, one of Musk’s most publicised familial feuds is with his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. In 2022, at the age of 18, she filed to legally change her name, stating in the court documents:
I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.
Musk has attributed their estrangement to what he calls the influence of ‘neo-Marxists’ in elite schools. In July 2024, he claimed he was ‘tricked’ into allowing Vivian to undergo gender-affirming medical treatments. However, Wilson refuted this in an interview with NBC News and claimed that he fully knew what he was signing for and is ‘blatantly’ lying now. She said:
I think he was under the assumption that I wasn’t going to say anything, and I would just let this go unchallenged.
Which I’m not going to do because if you’re going to lie about me, like, blatantly to an audience of millions, I’m not just gonna let that slide.
She also described Musk as an absent, cold, and narcissistic father:
He was cold. He’s very quick to anger. He is uncaring and narcissistic.
Adding:
He was there, I want to say, maybe 10% of the time. That’s generous. He had half custody, and he fully was not there.
He doesn’t know what I was like as a child because he quite simply wasn’t there. And in the little time that he was, I was relentlessly harassed for my femininity and queerness.
In August 2024, Vivian publicly called Musk ‘pathetic’ and a ‘serial adulterer’ on social media. Grimes, the mother of three of Musk’s children, supported Vivian in a post on X, writing:
I love and am forever endlessly proud of Vivian.
Over the years, Musk has been doubling down on his views. He also told psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson that Wilson’s gender transition has been the motivation for him to get into conservative politics. He said:
I vowed to destroy the woke mind virus after that, and we’re making some progress.
For now, Elon's relationship seems intact with the rest of his children and the tech mogul has started taking steps to insure that it stays that way.
Musk’s wish for all his children to live together
With such a large and growing family, rumors have circulated that Elon Musk has taken steps to ensure his children grow up in close proximity to each other. According to reports from Page Six and Unilad, Musk allegedly purchased a $35 million private compound in Texas intended to house multiple members of his family. The estate reportedly includes a 14,400-square-foot Tuscan-style mansion and an adjoining six-bedroom property near Austin, Texas—close to Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX.
It has also been speculated that Musk wanted at least two of his children’s mothers to live in adjoining properties to help him better ‘schedule time’ with his youngest children and encourage stronger sibling bonds. However, not all of the mothers are reportedly on board with the arrangement. Shivon Zilis, the mother of three of Musk’s children, has reportedly moved into the estate, while Grimes is said to have resisted the idea.
Additionally, in November 2024, reports surfaced that Musk and Grimes were house hunting in Bel Air, California. A source told People that they were looking for a home they could share with their three children, as well as accommodate Musk’s other children and their mothers.
So far, Musk has not publicly commented on any of these reports or rumors regarding his housing plans for his family.
This article has been created with the help of AI.
Read more:
'Elon Musk is the father': MAGA influencer claims she had his 13th child
Who is Elon Musk's father? About Errol Musk, his family, and controversial past
Sources used:
People Magazine: Elon Musk's 13 Children: All About the Tesla CEO's Sons and Daughters (and the 4 Women He Shares Them With)
NBC News: Elon Musk's transgender daughter, in first interview, says he berated her for being queer as a child
Page Six: Elon Musk buys $35M Texas compound for his 11 kids and 2 of their 3 mothers: report
Unilad: Elon Musk wanted his 11 children and their mothers to all live together on his '$35,000,000 private compound'
