Elon Musk, the billionaire visionary behind Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, is a polarizing figure whose public persona oscillates between genius innovator and controversial provocateur. With a net worth hovering around $300 billion, Musk’s professional achievements are well-documented, but his personal life—particularly his role as a father to at least 14 children—has recently drawn intense scrutiny. Musk’s expressed love for his children, often framed as a duty to ensure humanity’s future, is complicated by reports of estrangement, non-disclosure agreements, and a parenting style that prioritizes his mission over traditional family bonds. This article explores Musk’s relationship with his children, drawing on recent reports and public statements to paint a nuanced picture of a man whose love is as ambitious as it is unconventional.

A Growing Family and a Grand Vision

Elon Musk has fathered at least 14 children with four women: his ex-wife Justine Wilson, musician Grimes, Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, and conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair. His children, ranging in age from 6 months to 20 years, include a son who tragically died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome at 10 weeks, twins, triplets, and several born via in vitro fertilization or surrogacy. Their names—such as X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl, and Seldon Lycurgus—reflect Musk’s penchant for the unconventional, often drawing from science fiction and mythology.

Musk’s motivation for having a large family stems from his belief in a looming population crisis. He has repeatedly stated that declining birth rates threaten civilization, a view echoed by his friend Martin Varsavsky, who told Esquire, “Elon believes that a country is not the geography, a country is the people.” Musk sees his children as part of a “legion” to bolster humanity’s future, a term he reportedly uses to describe them, evoking Roman military units. This vision is not just personal but cosmic, tied to his goal of making humanity multiplanetary through SpaceX. In a 2023 X post, Musk wrote, “Two of my kids are on the spectrum and they got it from me, not vaccines,” showing a personal stake in his children’s well-being, even as he ties their existence to a broader mission.

Public Displays of Affection

Musk’s love for his children is most visible in his interactions with his son X Æ A-Xii, whom he frequently brings to public events. The toddler, born to Grimes in 2020, has been photographed with Musk at the White House, UFC events, and Tesla factories. In February 2025, Musk was seen carrying X at a SpaceX launch, a moment that humanized the billionaire amid his high-profile role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). These appearances suggest a hands-on approach with at least some of his children, aligning with Musk’s X posts, such as one from April 2024: “I played a lot of video games with my kids. It’s what got them and me into programming.”

Other glimpses of Musk’s fatherly affection come from family members and associates. His mother, Maye Musk, tweeted a Father’s Day photo in June 2020 of Elon with his twins, Griffin and Vivian, captioning it with pride. Shivon Zilis, mother of four of Musk’s children, celebrated their daughter Arcadia’s first birthday on X in February 2025, writing, “Mommy loves you with all her heart,” and later announced the birth of their son Seldon Lycurgus, noting Musk’s agreement to share the news. These moments suggest Musk is involved in his children’s lives, at least selectively, and that he values their place in his public narrative.

Estrangement and Absence

However, Musk’s relationship with his children is not uniformly warm. His daughter Vivian Wilson, one of his twins with Justine, is estranged from him. Vivian, who is transgender, legally changed her surname to Wilson in 2022, citing a desire to distance herself from her father. Musk’s public comments about her, including a 2025 Pajiba report quoting him as saying Vivian was “killed by the woke mind virus,” have drawn criticism for their insensitivity. Vivian has countered, as noted in a July 2024 X post by @kattenbarge, that Musk was “mostly absent and cruel when he was around,” painting a starkly different picture of his fatherly love.

Reports also suggest Musk’s involvement varies across his children. Ashley St. Clair, who gave birth to Musk’s son Romulus in September 2024, told The Wall Street Journal that Musk has had little involvement with their child and refused to be listed on the birth certificate. St. Clair’s claims, backed by a paternity test, highlight a pattern of detachment, with Musk allegedly offering her $15 million and $100,000 monthly to keep silent about their son. Similarly, The Atlantic reported that Musk’s aide described Grimes as unlikely to “find true happiness” and Zilis as struggling with contentment, suggesting emotional distance in these relationships.

The Role of Non-Disclosure Agreements

Musk’s approach to fatherhood is further complicated by his use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and financial arrangements to manage his children’s mothers. According to The Wall Street Journal, Musk’s fixer, Jared Birchall, orchestrates deals that include substantial payments—such as the $15 million offered to St. Clair—in exchange for silence about Musk’s paternity. The Atlantic noted that these NDAs are legally binding, with Musk’s litigious nature ensuring compliance. Podcast host Alisyn Camerota, in a 2025 Daily Mail article, claimed, “He’s very lawyered up and he does sue them if they speak,” explaining the secrecy surrounding Musk’s family.

These arrangements raise questions about the nature of Musk’s love for his children. The Atlantic argued that Musk’s relationships lack “bonds of genuine duty and responsibility,” with his focus on producing a “legion” of intelligent offspring overshadowing traditional familial care. The reported $35 million Austin compound, intended to house his children and their mothers, underscores this utilitarian approach, prioritizing proximity for his vision over emotional closeness. St. Clair’s texts with Musk, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, reveal discussions about using surrogates to “reach legion-level before the apocalypse,” further emphasizing his strategic mindset.

Musk’s Philosophy: Duty Over Sentiment

Musk’s own words provide insight into his parenting philosophy. In April 2025, X posts by @muskonomy and @teslaownersSV quoted him saying, “My children didn’t choose to be born, I chose to have children. They owe me nothing, I owe them everything.” This sentiment reflects a sense of obligation rather than emotional attachment, aligning with his view that fathering children is a duty to humanity. His friend Varsavsky told Esquire that Musk sees procreation as a solution to a “problem of not having people on the planet,” a perspective that frames his children as assets in a grand experiment.

This philosophy has drawn both admiration and criticism. A 2025 X post by @MZHemingway praised an article arguing that “Elon Musk’s Children Need Him—Not Just His Money and His DNA,” suggesting that Musk’s financial support, while generous, may not fulfill his children’s emotional needs. Conversely, Musk’s supporters on X, like @MuskElon3312, celebrate his commitment to population growth, echoing his February 2024 post: “I’m doing my best to encourage more people to become parents and ideally have three or more kids, so humanity can grow.”

Public Perception and Controversy

Musk’s approach to fatherhood has sparked polarized reactions. Critics, including The Guardian’s Arwa Mahdawi, argue that his behavior—such as reportedly soliciting women on X to bear his children—would face harsher scrutiny if he were female. Vanity Fair described his “breeding spree” as “wilder than you thought,” citing his payments to silence mothers as evidence of a controlling nature. These reports, coupled with Tesla’s 71% profit drop in Q1 2025, partly attributed to backlash over Musk’s personal and political actions, have fueled public skepticism about his priorities.

Yet, Musk retains defenders who see his large family as a bold statement against population decline. His public appearances with X Æ A-Xii and his candid X posts about his children’s autism resonate with some, humanizing a man often seen as detached. The Daily Mail reported on April 27, 2025, that Musk’s determination to father children stems from a belief in “saving humanity,” a narrative that appeals to his base even as it alienates others.

A Father in the Spotlight

As Musk steps back from DOGE to refocus on Tesla and SpaceX, his role as a father remains a lightning rod for debate. His love for his children, expressed through public affection, financial support, and a grandiose vision for humanity’s future, is undeniable but unconventional. The estrangement from Vivian, the NDAs, and the reported detachment from some children complicate this love, suggesting a man whose devotion is filtered through his relentless ambition.

Musk’s story is one of contradictions: a father who owes his children “everything” yet manages relationships through contracts; a visionary who cherishes his son X publicly but is absent from others’ lives. As he continues to shape industries and ideologies, his children—his “legion”—will grow up in the shadow of his legacy, their father’s love a complex blend of duty, distance, and determination.