There are few people on Earth who know Elon Musk’s life inside and out, but Jared Birchall might top that list. He isn’t a household name, doesn’t tweet provocative takes, and certainly doesn’t bask in the spotlight. Yet behind closed doors, he’s the man fielding calls about secret children, vetting billion-dollar investments, and even hiring detectives. Birchall, a former banker and devoted family man, might just be one of the most powerful but 'quiet' figures in Silicon Valley.
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So who is Jared Birchall, and how did he end up here?
Jared Birchall: Musk's fixer, wealth manager and everything in-between
Jared Birchall wears many hats—and they’re all for Elon Musk—who had a complicated childhood. He’s officially the director of Excession LLC, Musk’s family office that oversees his multibillion-dollar fortune. But his job goes far beyond managing bank accounts.
As reported by the New York Post, Birchall is responsible for coordinating Musk’s complex personal and professional calendar, securing private travel, and even hiring nannies for Musk’s many children and there are many! He’s also taken on the role of lead negotiator, dealing with investors during high-stake deals, such as the $44 billion Twitter takeover.
He’s often the one other moguls and institutions, like Binance and Oracle’s Larry Ellison, speak with when they want to connect with Musk. According to Daily Mail, he operates from a modest office in Austin, Texas, where he leads a surprisingly lean team.
Despite his power, Birchall’s own history is not without controversy. He was fired from Merrill Lynch in 2010 for 'sending correspondence to a client without management approval' — a detail documented by Daily Mail and Deseret News. His dismissal reportedly resulted from 'conduct resulting in management’s loss of confidence.' Still, Birchall rebounded swiftly, landing a role at Morgan Stanley a senior vice president and client adviser before joining Musk in 2016.
For his discretion and loyalty, Birchall reportedly earns between $1 million and $3 million annually, according to New York Post. His trustworthiness is such that Musk once had him dig up dirt on British cave diver Vernon Unsworth, whom Musk infamously called a 'pedo guy' online.
A mormon upbringing and life out of the spotlight
Though his current role keeps him close to the world's richest man, Jared Birchall’s background is firmly rooted in traditional family values. A practising Mormon and Brigham Young University graduate, Birchall grew up in a family of 11 children, touring California in a performance group called the Birchall Family Singers.
As detailed by Deseret News, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and remains a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is married to Laura Birchall and the couple have five children. Their eldest son, Benjamin, is 23. The family resides in a £4 million mansion in Destiny Hills, an affluent Austin suburb, complete with a 12-car garage and even a treehouse.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from BYU in 1999, Birchall began his finance career at Goldman Sachs. He later joined Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, steadily climbing the ranks.
It was during his time at Morgan Stanley that he first crossed paths with Musk, helping the tech mogul secure large loans. According to Deseret News, this was the moment that catalysed their partnership.
He’s been a constant figure in Musk’s life ever since. When Musk moved his base of operations from California to Texas, Birchall followed suit.
Gatekeeper to Musk’s private life
Jared Birchall is also the man women must go through to reach Elon Musk. One of the most public examples of his gatekeeping role involves conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair, who recently revealed she had a child with Musk.
In an explosive report by The Wall Street Journal, it was revealed that Birchall acted as the primary contact, coordinating legal agreements and financial arrangements. During a phone call, Birchall warned St. Clair that going the legal route 'always, always leads to a worse outcome for that woman than what it would have been otherwise.'
He offered her a $15 million package and $100,000 monthly payments until the child turned 21 in exchange for signing NDAs and complying with Musk's conditions. These included secrecy, not listing Musk on the birth certificate, and agreeing to certain birth methods. St. Clair refused to sign due to lack of emergency support and concerns over her son’s legitimacy.
His role also extended to more controversial territory. During the 2018 defamation lawsuit involving British cave diver Vernon Unsworth, it was Birchall who, under the alias 'James Brickhouse,' hired a private investigator to dig into Unsworth's background.
He later testified that he did it out of an 'instinct to protect Musk,' as reported by the New York Post.
Whether it’s coordinating secret legal settlements or handling Musk’s critics, Birchall appears to operate with immense trust and autonomy. As Daily Mail reported, he’s not just a manager of money—he’s a handler of problems, a fixer of dramas, and the shield between Musk and the world.
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Sources used:
New York Post: Elon Musk has a 'fixer' who is point man for Twitter takeover: report
Deseret News: Who is Jared Birchall? BYU grad, Latter-day Saint is top adviser to Elon Musk
Daily Mail: Jared Birchall, aged 47 or 48, is head of Elon Musk's 'family office'
Oh! My Mag: Elon Musk's demands for his babies and their mothers revealed in exclusive report
