How many children does Elon Musk have? Surely it is more than the number of your fingers

Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, was joined by one of his sons during a Tuesday appearance at the White House, sparking renewed interest in Musk’s personal life and his 12 children.

The head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in President Donald Trump’s administration has had children with three different women, and his commitment to pro-natalism has become a part of his public persona.

What We Know About Elon Musk’s 12 Kids

Musk has repeatedly expressed his belief that having more children is crucial for humanity’s future, and he has stated that he is doing his part to combat what he sees as a global underpopulation crisis.

“Having children should be incentivized, not be a financial penalty like it is in most countries!” Musk wrote on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in 2023. “We must create the next generation of humans or spiral into oblivion.”

Elon Musk, joined by his son X Æ A-Xii, is seen during an event in the Oval Office at the White House, on February 11, 2025, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP Photo
Children With Ex-Wife Justine Wilson

Musk’s first wife, Justine Wilson, is a fantasy and sci-fi author with whom he had six children. Their first child, Nevada Alexander Musk, was born in 2002 but tragically died due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

The couple later had twins, Griffin and Vivian, in 2004, followed by triplets, Kai, Saxon and Damian, in 2006.

Vivian, who is transgender, publicly distanced herself from Musk in 2022, legally changing her last name to Wilson and stating that she no longer wanted to be associated with her father.

Musk met Justine Wilson when they were both studying at Queen’s University in Ontario. Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Global Green
“I love and am forever endlessly proud of Vivian,” Canadian singer Grimes, who parents three of Musk’s other kids, previously wrote on X.

Griffin, on the other hand, has remained largely out of the spotlight but has been seen accompanying Musk at some public events.

Wilson and Musk divorced in 2008.

Children With Musician Grimes

Musk and Grimes (born Claire Boucher) have three children together. Their first, X Æ A-Xii (pronounced “X Ash A Twelve”), was born in May 2020. In December 2021, they welcomed a daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, known as “Y,” via surrogate. Their third child, Techno Mechanicus, nicknamed “Tau,” was born in 2022.

The relationship between Musk and Grimes has been on and off, with public disputes over custody. In 2023, Grimes filed legal action seeking parental rights, per NBC News.

Grimes and Elon Musk attend an event at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018, in New York City. Taylor Hill//Getty Images

Children With Neuralink Executive Shivon Zilis

Musk also shares three children with Shivon Zilis, a high-ranking executive at Neuralink, who attended Trump’s inauguration with Musk in January.

Musk and Zitis have twins, Strider and Azure, who were born in 2021. The birth of their third child came in 2024, though the baby’s gender and name have not been publicly disclosed.

The couple has kept their children largely out of the public eye. Zilis, who has an extensive background in artificial intelligence, has continued her work with Musk while also taking on parental responsibilities.

Musk’s Vision for the Future of His Family

The tech billionaire’s children live in various locations, and according to The New York Times, Musk purchased a $35 million compound in Texas to bring several of them closer together. The estate reportedly includes multiple homes designed to accommodate his growing family and provide a stable environment for his younger children.

While Musk’s children’s lives remain private in many respects, his advocacy for large families and his belief in the importance of repopulation continues to draw attention, particularly as his influence is more prominent in Trump’s second presidency.