Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX, and X Corp, is no stranger to headlines. From his ambitious plans to colonize Mars to his controversial social media presence, Musk’s life is a constant source of fascination. But beyond his business ventures and public persona lies a deeply personal story: his sprawling family. Recent reports, including discussions on X, confirm that Musk has fathered 14 children with four women, a number that has sparked curiosity and debate. This article delves into the details of Musk’s children, their mothers, and the complexities of his blended family, drawing on public statements, media reports, and social media insights.
A Prolific Father with a Vision
Musk’s views on population growth are well-documented. He has repeatedly expressed concerns about declining birth rates, arguing that humanity’s survival depends on procreation. In a 2022 tweet, Musk stated, “Population collapse is a much bigger problem than people realize.” His personal life appears to align with this philosophy, as he has welcomed 14 children over the past two decades, some through natural conception and others via in vitro fertilization (IVF). Posts on X, including one from @grok on April 19, 2025, confirm the current count of 14 children, though some sources suggest the true number may be higher due to Musk’s private nature.
Musk’s children are spread across four relationships, each with its own unique dynamic. The mothers—Justine Wilson, Grimes, Shivon Zilis, and Ashley St. Clair—come from diverse backgrounds, ranging from literature and music to technology and authorship. Below, we explore each relationship and the children born from them, piecing together the puzzle of Musk’s family.
Justine Wilson: The First Chapter
Musk’s first wife, Justine Wilson, a Canadian author known for her fantasy novel BloodAngel, was married to Musk from 2000 to 2008. Their relationship began in the early days of Musk’s entrepreneurial journey, when he was building companies like Zip2 and PayPal. Together, they had six children, though tragedy struck early in their family life.
Their first son, Nevada Alexander Musk, was born in 2002 but tragically passed away at 10 weeks old due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The loss was a profound blow, with Wilson later writing about the grief in a 2010 Marie Claire article. The couple went on to have five more children through IVF: twins Vivian Jenna and Griffin Peter, born in 2004, and triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian, born in 2006.
Vivian, now 21, has publicly distanced herself from her father, legally changing her name in 2022 to reflect her gender identity and citing a desire to sever ties with Musk. Posts on X, such as one from @Mission_OG_ on April 25, 2025, note that “Vivian couldn’t care less about Musk,” highlighting the strained relationship. The other four sons—Griffin, Kai, Saxon, and Damian—are less visible in the public eye, with Musk and Wilson maintaining privacy about their lives. Wilson has spoken candidly about co-parenting with Musk, describing it as challenging but manageable, given their shared commitment to their children.
Grimes: The Artistic Muse
Musk’s relationship with Claire Boucher, known professionally as Grimes, brought a new dimension to his personal life. The Canadian musician and artist, famous for her avant-garde pop music, began dating Musk in 2018. Their relationship, marked by public appearances and cryptic social media exchanges, produced three children, each with unconventional names that sparked widespread discussion.
Their first child, X Æ A-Xii (pronounced “Ex Ash A Twelve”), was born in May 2020. The name, initially X Æ A-12, was modified to comply with California law, which prohibits numerical characters in names. Grimes explained the name’s components on social media: “X” for the unknown variable, “Æ” as an elven spelling of AI, and “A-12” referencing a CIA reconnaissance plane. The couple’s second child, a daughter named Exa Dark Sideræl (nicknamed “Y”), arrived via surrogate in December 2021. Their third child, a son named Techno Mechanicus (nicknamed “Tau”), was born in 2022, though details about his birth remained private until later reports.
Musk and Grimes’ relationship ended in 2022, but they continue to co-parent. Grimes has spoken positively about Musk’s dedication as a father, though she has also acknowledged the challenges of their high-profile lives. In a 2023 interview, she described their co-parenting as “a work in progress,” emphasizing their shared love for their children. On X, users have noted Musk’s limited regular contact with these children, with @I_amMukhtar stating in February 2025 that Musk “only sees three of his children regularly.”
Shivon Zilis: The Neuralink Connection
Shivon Zilis, a Canadian executive at Neuralink, Musk’s brain-computer interface company, represents a less publicized chapter of his family life. Zilis, who joined Neuralink in 2016, gave birth to twins Strider and Azure in November 2021, with Musk listed as the father. In 2024, reports confirmed that Zilis welcomed two more children with Musk, bringing her total to four. The names and birth dates of these additional children remain undisclosed, reflecting the private nature of their relationship.
Unlike Musk’s other partners, Zilis has maintained a low profile, focusing on her work at Neuralink. Her relationship with Musk appears to be professional as well as personal, with no public confirmation of a romantic partnership. Some speculate that their arrangement prioritizes co-parenting and shared goals, such as advancing technology. The lack of public details has fueled speculation on X, with users like @OneMargaux noting in April 2025 that “the true number of Musk’s children is much higher than publicly known.”
Ashley St. Clair: The Recent Revelation
The most recent addition to Musk’s family narrative is Ashley St. Clair, an author and conservative commentator. In February 2025, a People magazine article revealed that St. Clair gave birth to a son named Romulus, with Musk as the father. This revelation, confirmed by multiple sources, brought Musk’s child count to 14.
St. Clair, known for her book Elephants Are Not Birds and her vocal presence on X, has not publicly commented on her relationship with Musk. A paternity case mentioned in posts on X adds slight uncertainty, but most sources affirm Musk’s fatherhood. The announcement of Romulus has sparked varied reactions, with some X users, like @AnimeAlchemy24, framing Musk’s family as a “complex” blend of joy and challenges.
The Dynamics of a Blended Family
Musk’s 14 children—ranging in age from infants to young adults—form a uniquely complex family structure. His approach to fatherhood, shaped by his demanding career and public persona, has drawn both admiration and criticism. Supporters on X, such as @grok, highlight Musk’s alignment with his pro-natalist views, noting that his large family “aligns with his public stance” on population growth. Critics, however, point to his limited involvement with some children, with @I_amMukhtar claiming Musk has “disowned” one child, likely referring to Vivian.
Musk’s use of IVF, noted in posts like @graeme_from_IT’s on April 24, 2025, underscores his reliance on technology to expand his family. At least 10 of his children were conceived via IVF, a choice that aligns with his futuristic outlook but has sparked ethical debates. Some question the implications of such a large family for a man with global responsibilities, while others see it as a personal commitment to his beliefs.
The mothers, too, navigate their own challenges. Wilson has written about the emotional toll of her marriage to Musk, while Grimes embraces her role as a creative co-parent. Zilis remains a private figure, and St. Clair’s recent entry into the narrative adds new layers of intrigue. Each woman brings a distinct perspective, yet they share the common thread of raising Musk’s children in the public eye.
Public Perception and Future Questions
Musk’s family has become a cultural touchstone, reflecting broader debates about wealth, reproduction, and responsibility. On X, discussions range from fascination to skepticism, with users like @nypost chronicling Musk’s “big brood” as early as June 2024. The revelation of 14 children has amplified these conversations, with some praising Musk’s commitment to family and others questioning his ability to be present for so many.
As Musk continues to shape industries and influence global discourse, his family remains a point of intrigue. Will more children emerge, as some X users speculate? How will his relationships with his children evolve, particularly with those like Vivian who have distanced themselves? And what does his approach to fatherhood reveal about the man behind the headlines?
For now, Musk’s 14 children and their mothers represent a microcosm of his larger-than-life existence—a blend of ambition, controversy, and humanity. As the world watches, the story of the Musk family continues to unfold, one tweet, one headline, and one child at a time.