Ashley St. Clair, a 26-year-old children’s book author and conservative influencer, has sparked headlines with her candid revelations about financial struggles following a high-profile dispute with billionaire Elon Musk. In a now-deleted podcast episode posted on X on August 18, 2025, St. Clair shared that she’s facing eviction and joblessness, a fallout she links to her legal battle with Musk over their alleged child, Romulus. The saga, marked by accusations of financial retaliation and a rejected $15 million hush deal, has gripped the internet, raising questions about power, parenthood, and public personas.

In the 30-minute debut of her Bad Advice podcast, St. Clair painted a stark picture of her current reality. “After a year of tanking my career, making questionable choices, and leaving a gap in my LinkedIn that I can’t legally explain, I’m here doing this podcast,” she said with a mix of humor and resignation. She revealed being on the brink of eviction and accepting a $10,000 offer to read an ad to make ends meet. “It’s not like anyone asked me to do this, but statistically, it was either this or multi-level marketing,” she quipped, urging listeners to take her words as a cautionary tale rather than wisdom. Notably, she avoided mentioning Musk directly in the video, which she later removed, leaving fans and media speculating about her next move.

St. Clair’s troubles stem from her bombshell claim in February 2025 that she secretly gave birth to Musk’s child, Romulus (initials R.S.C.), in September 2024. The announcement ignited a firestorm, with St. Clair filing a lawsuit in New York to secure sole custody. In March, she accused Musk of slashing financial support for their son as retaliation for her public disclosures. Musk fired back on X, denying paternity doubts and claiming he provided $2.5 million initially and $500,000 annually in child support. St. Clair countered sharply, alleging Musk refused a paternity test and cut funds to “punish” her for defying him, adding, “You’re only punishing your son.”

The dispute escalated with St. Clair’s revelation to the Wall Street Journal in April that she rejected a $15 million offer from Musk to keep their child’s existence under wraps. Her decision to go public, coupled with selling her Tesla car to cover expenses, as shared with the Daily Mail, has painted her as both defiant and desperate. Neither St. Clair nor Musk’s teams have responded to recent media inquiries, leaving the feud to play out in the court of public opinion.

Born in 1999, St. Clair rose to prominence with her 2023 children’s book Elephants Are Not Birds, a work that stirred debate for its conservative stance on gender identity. With over a million X followers, she’s a vocal figure, often appearing on Fox News and podcasts to discuss declining birth rates in wealthy nations. Her public persona, blending sharp commentary with a glamorous image, has made her a polarizing yet magnetic presence. The Musk controversy has only amplified her visibility, though at a personal cost.

Musk, 54, is no stranger to complex personal ties. Beyond Romulus, he has 13 children with three other women: five with ex-wife Justine Wilson, three with singer Grimes, and four with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, including twins born shortly before Grimes’ second child with Musk. His sprawling family and high-stakes ventures—SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink—keep him in the headlines, but this dispute with St. Clair adds a deeply personal layer to his public narrative.

St. Clair’s story resonates as a tale of resilience amid adversity, with her financial woes and legal battle highlighting the challenges of confronting one of the world’s most powerful men. As she navigates eviction threats and career uncertainty, her podcast venture signals a defiant step forward. Whether this saga ends in vindication or further struggle, St. Clair’s openness has sparked a broader conversation about accountability and influence.