In a world obsessed with climate change, AI dominance, and space exploration, one of the planet’s most influential figures is sounding the alarm on a crisis that could eclipse them all: the impending collapse of human population. Elon Musk, the visionary CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, isn’t just talking about electric cars or Mars colonies anymore. He’s urging every capable adult to have at least three children – and fast – to stave off what he sees as an existential threat to civilization. But why is the world’s richest man, with a net worth hovering around $250 billion as of 2025, so fixated on baby-making? And could his bold prescription really save us from demographic doom?

Musk’s crusade against population decline isn’t new, but it’s gaining urgency in an era where birth rates are plummeting globally. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971, Musk has always been a big-picture thinker. From co-founding PayPal to revolutionizing the auto industry with Tesla’s electric vehicles, his life story reads like a sci-fi novel. Yet, beneath the headlines of rocket launches and neural implants via Neuralink, Musk harbors a deep concern for humanity’s future fertility. He argues that without a dramatic uptick in births, societies will age rapidly, economies will stall, and innovation will grind to a halt. “The biggest problem the world will face in 20 years is population collapse,” Musk has repeatedly stated on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), which he acquired in 2022 for $44 billion.

To understand Musk’s stance, let’s dive into the demographics. In many developed nations, fertility rates have dipped below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. The United States, for instance, hit a record low of 1.62 in 2023, while countries like Japan and South Korea are staring at rates under 1.0. Musk points to these trends as harbingers of disaster. An aging population means fewer workers to support retirees, straining social security systems and healthcare. Innovation suffers too, as fewer young minds enter the workforce. Musk envisions a future where schools close for lack of students, factories shutter due to labor shortages, and entire cities turn into ghost towns. “Collapse isn’t about too many people; it’s about too few,” he emphasizes, flipping the script on overpopulation fears that dominated the 20th century.

But Musk isn’t just preaching from afar – he’s living his message. The father of at least 11 children (as publicly known by 2025), Musk’s family life is as unconventional as his businesses. His children come from multiple relationships, including with his first wife, Justine Wilson, a Canadian author whom he married in 2000 and divorced in 2008. Together, they had six kids, though tragically, their firstborn son, Nevada, passed away at 10 weeks old from sudden infant death syndrome. Musk has spoken candidly about this loss, which deepened his resolve to build large families. Later, with singer Grimes (real name Claire Boucher), he welcomed three more: X Æ A-Xii in 2020, Exa Dark Sideræl in 2021 via surrogate, and Techno Mechanicus in 2022. Additionally, twins Strider and Azure were born in 2021 with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, also via surrogate. Musk’s approach defies traditional norms, blending cutting-edge reproductive tech with his polyamorous lifestyle. He once quipped that he’s “doing his part” to combat underpopulation, and his actions back it up.

Critics, however, question whether Musk’s call for three kids per person is realistic or even ethical. For starters, not everyone can afford to raise a large family. In the U.S., the cost of raising a child to age 18 averages over $300,000, factoring in housing, education, and healthcare. Musk, with his immense wealth, can outsource childcare and education, but the average person juggles skyrocketing living expenses amid inflation and wage stagnation. Women, in particular, bear the brunt of parenthood’s physical and career tolls. Musk’s ex-partner Grimes has publicly discussed the challenges of motherhood alongside her music career, highlighting the gender imbalances in family planning. Feminists argue that pushing for more births ignores systemic issues like inadequate parental leave, affordable childcare, and workplace discrimination.

Moreover, environmentalists clash with Musk’s views. While he champions sustainable energy through Tesla’s solar panels and batteries, critics like those from the Sierra Club point out that more people mean more resource consumption. Earth’s population stands at about 8.1 billion in 2025, and adding billions more could exacerbate climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. Musk counters this by advocating for space colonization – his Starship rockets aim to make humanity multi-planetary, reducing Earth’s burden. “We need to expand consciousness beyond this planet,” he says, tying population growth to interstellar ambitions. Yet, skeptics wonder if this is just billionaire escapism, leaving the masses to deal with earthly woes.

On the economic front, Musk’s warnings align with experts like those at the United Nations, who predict that by 2050, over 60 countries will see population declines. China, once the poster child for population control via its one-child policy (ended in 2016), now faces a shrinking workforce and encourages families to have three kids – echoing Musk’s advice. In Europe, nations like Italy and Germany offer incentives such as child bonuses and tax breaks to boost births, but results are mixed. Musk proposes radical solutions: governments should subsidize fertility treatments, make housing affordable for families, and even use AI to optimize parenting. His xAI company, founded in 2023, explores how artificial intelligence could assist in everything from education to elder care, freeing up time for procreation.

Musk’s influence extends beyond policy; it’s cultural. On X, where he boasts over 200 million followers, his tweets about population spark viral debates. One post from 2024, “Have kids or die trying – civilization depends on it,” garnered millions of likes and retweets. Celebrities and influencers have jumped on board, with some like podcaster Joe Rogan echoing Musk’s concerns on his show. Yet, backlash is fierce. Accusations of pronatalism – the ideology promoting high birth rates – label Musk as out of touch, especially given his South African roots in a continent where overpopulation strains resources. Africa, projected to house 2.5 billion people by 2050, faces food insecurity and urbanization challenges that Musk’s three-kid mantra might worsen.

Despite the controversy, Musk remains undeterred. At a 2025 TED Talk in Vancouver, he elaborated: “If we don’t increase birth rates, we’ll have a society of octogenarians with no one to care for them. Three kids isn’t a suggestion; it’s the minimum for survival.” He draws parallels to his companies’ missions: Just as Tesla combats climate apocalypse with EVs, and SpaceX guards against planetary extinction via Mars settlements, his population push is about long-term human flourishing. Musk even envisions “family-friendly” innovations, like Neuralink brain chips that could enhance learning for kids or autonomous robots from Tesla’s Optimus project to handle household chores.

In the end, whether you see Musk as a prophetic genius or a eccentric tycoon, his call to action forces us to confront uncomfortable truths. Birth rates aren’t just statistics; they’re the pulse of humanity’s future. As automation rises and lifespans extend, do we risk a world too old to innovate? Or can we balance growth with sustainability? Musk’s answer is clear: Start with three kids. It might sound simplistic, but in his view, it’s the rocket fuel we need to propel civilization forward. The clock is ticking – will you heed the call before the population cliff arrives?