Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX, and X, is a figure synonymous with relentless ambition and innovation. Known for his grueling work schedule—often clocking 80 to 100 hours a week—Musk has built an empire that has reshaped industries, from electric vehicles to space travel. Yet, amidst this whirlwind of professional commitments, Musk has publicly stated that family remains his top priority. In a world where his work ethic is both admired and criticized, this claim raises questions about how Musk balances his role as a father of 14 children with his responsibilities as a global business leader. This article examines Musk’s statements about family, his actions as a parent, and whether his lifestyle truly aligns with the assertion that family comes first.

Musk’s Public Statements on Family

Elon Musk has often spoken about the importance of family in his life, despite his demanding career. In a 2015 interview with Forbes, Musk shared a glimpse into his parenting approach, revealing that he tries to be present for his children even while working. He admitted, “I don’t see my kids enough,” but explained that he can be with them while on email, stating, “They don’t need constant interaction, except when we’re talking directly.” This comment, while practical for a busy CEO, drew mixed reactions from audiences, with some noting the impersonal nature of multitasking during family time. Musk also encouraged others to have children, saying, “You guys should all have kids, kids are great,” reflecting a genuine affection for fatherhood.

More recently, sentiments on X echo Musk’s prioritization of family. In March 2025, a user posted that Musk, despite being “the busiest man on the planet,” takes his family to meetings to show that he values them as much as work. Other posts in May 2025 quote Musk saying, “Being a Mom is just as important as any career,” emphasizing the significance of family roles. These statements suggest Musk is intentional about projecting an image of a family-oriented man, even as he juggles multiple companies and a high-profile role as a senior advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk’s Family Life: A Closer Look

Musk is a father to 14 children with four different women, a dynamic that adds complexity to his family life. His first six children were with his ex-wife Justine Wilson, followed by three children with musician Grimes, four with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, and one with author Ashley St. Clair in 2024. Musk’s relationships with his children’s mothers have been tumultuous at times, with public disputes over custody and parenting rights. For instance, in October 2023, Grimes sued Musk over parental rights, and she has voiced concerns about Musk involving their son X Æ A-Xii in public events, stating in 2022 to Vanity Fair that “kids need to stay out of it.”

Despite these challenges, Musk has made efforts to integrate family into his life. A 2024 article from routines.club notes that Musk ensures his children get to school before heading to work, a small but telling routine that indicates some level of involvement in their daily lives. Musk has also been known to take his children on work trips, particularly international ones, and reportedly spends about four days a week with them. In a 2017 interview cited by Quartz, Musk claimed, “I’m a pretty good dad,” and highlighted annual camping trips with his sons as a cherished tradition. These actions suggest Musk does carve out time for his children, even if it often intersects with his professional commitments.

The Reality of Musk’s Work Schedule

While Musk’s statements and certain actions reflect a desire to prioritize family, his work schedule tells a different story. Musk is notorious for his intense work ethic, often working 80 to 100 hours a week across his various ventures. A 2018 article from The Guardian detailed Musk working 120-hour weeks during a critical period for Tesla’s Model 3 production, to the point where he missed his own birthday and relied on Ambien to sleep. Even after scaling back, Musk’s typical week still involves 80-90 hours, as noted in a 2024 Business Insider piece, with his days broken into five-minute increments to maximize productivity. This rigorous time-blocking method, while effective for managing his businesses, leaves little room for personal life.

Musk’s own admissions reveal the toll this schedule takes on his family time. In the 2015 Forbes interview, he acknowledged not seeing his children enough, and his method of being “with them” while on email suggests a diluted form of presence. A 2022 article from Undock noted that Musk often doesn’t eat during the day due to work distractions, consuming most of his calories at business dinners and winding down late at night with anime and reading. This lifestyle—where he typically goes to bed at 1 a.m. and wakes at 7 a.m.—means his younger children are likely asleep by the time he returns home, limiting opportunities for meaningful interaction.

Public Appearances with Children: Genuine or Strategic?

Musk’s recent habit of bringing his children to high-profile events has sparked debate about whether this reflects genuine family prioritization or a calculated PR move. A February 2025 article from The Guardian criticized Musk for bringing his young children, including four-year-old X Æ A-Xii, to political events like a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a press conference with Donald Trump. The article argued that Musk was using his children as “props for photo opportunities,” a sentiment echoed by Grimes, who has repeatedly said her son “should not be in public like this.” During the Oval Office press conference, X appeared disinterested, even reportedly telling Trump to “shush” and wiping his nose on the president’s desk—normal behavior for a child but out of place in such a setting.

While Musk may argue that bringing his children to work allows him to spend more time with them, the public nature of these appearances raises questions about his motives. The Guardian piece suggested that Musk’s actions contrast with leaders like Jacinda Ardern, who brought her baby to the UN General Assembly in 2018 to normalize parenting in leadership roles. Musk’s approach, however, feels more self-serving, especially given his ongoing custody disputes and the media attention these events generate. This behavior undermines the narrative that family is his top priority, as it prioritizes public image over his children’s privacy and comfort.

Critical Examination: Does Family Truly Come First?

Musk’s claim that family is his top priority must be weighed against his actions and the broader context of his life. On one hand, Musk does make efforts to be involved in his children’s lives—ensuring they get to school, taking them on trips, and spending weekends with them when possible. A 2023 article from thethings.com highlighted Musk’s close relationship with X Æ A-Xii, noting public appearances like the 2021 Time Person of the Year event as evidence of his involvement. Musk’s statements about the joy of fatherhood and the importance of family roles, as echoed in X posts, further support his expressed values.

However, Musk’s work schedule and lifestyle choices paint a different picture. Working 80-100 hours a week inherently limits the time available for family, and his method of multitasking—being on email while with his children—suggests a focus on work even during family moments. His decision to bring his children to high-profile events, despite objections from their mother, prioritizes his public image over their well-being, contradicting the idea of family as the top priority. Additionally, Musk’s history of strained relationships with his children’s mothers, including custody battles and allegations of withholding passports, indicates that his family dynamics are far from harmonious.

Musk’s role as a senior advisor to Donald Trump since 2025 adds another layer of complexity. His political involvement, which includes significant influence over federal policy through DOGE, likely further encroaches on his time. While Musk may genuinely value family, his actions suggest that work and public perception often take precedence, even if unintentionally. This tension is not unique to Musk—many high-profile leaders struggle to balance career and family—but his extreme work ethic and public persona amplify the disconnect between his stated priorities and reality.

Conclusion: A Complex Balance

Elon Musk’s assertion that family is his top priority reflects a genuine sentiment, but his lifestyle and actions reveal a more complicated reality. As a father of 14 children, Musk makes efforts to be present—whether through daily routines like school drop-offs or taking his kids on work trips. However, his 80-100-hour workweeks, reliance on multitasking during family time, and use of his children in public settings suggest that work and image often overshadow his family commitments. While Musk may aspire to put family first, the demands of his career and public life make this a challenging goal to fully achieve.

Musk’s story highlights a broader truth about the difficulty of balancing ambition with personal life, especially for those at the helm of global enterprises. For Musk, family may be a priority in his heart, but in practice, his work often takes the lead. As he continues to shape industries and influence global policy, the question remains whether Musk can find a sustainable way to truly place family first—or if his legacy will be defined more by his professional achievements than his role as a father.