The short answer is yes. Elon Musk has a transgender daughter named Vivian Jenna Wilson.
But if you’re looking for a simple "celebrity fact," you’re going to miss the actual story. This isn't just about a name change or a billionaire's family tree. It's a full-blown ideological war that has played out in courtrooms, on the cover of Teen Vogue, and in the very digital town square Musk bought for $44 billion.
Honestly, the relationship is beyond "strained." It’s basically nonexistent.
The Break That Changed Everything
In June 2022, the world found out that one of Musk's children had filed a petition in a California court. This wasn't just a standard "I'm 18 now" legal filing. It was a scorching rejection.
Vivian Jenna Wilson—formerly known as Xavier—requested a legal name change and a new birth certificate. Her reason? She stated in the documents that she "no longer lives with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form."
Ouch.
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She took her mother’s maiden name, Wilson. Since then, she hasn't just distanced herself; she’s become one of her father's most vocal public critics.
"Dead" vs. "Alive": The War of Words
If you've spent any time on X (formerly Twitter) lately, you've probably seen Musk talk about the "woke mind virus." He doesn't just use that phrase for politics. He uses it to describe what he thinks happened to his daughter.
In a 2024 interview with Dr. Jordan Peterson, Musk went a step further. He said his daughter was "dead" and that he was "tricked" into signing medical documents for her gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He claimed he was told she might commit suicide if he didn't.
Vivian didn't take that lying down.
She hopped on Threads (the Meta rival to X) and did a line-by-line takedown. She called him "cold," "quick to anger," and "uncaring." She basically said he wasn't around enough to be "tricked" into anything because he simply wasn't there.
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Modelling, Money, and Independence
You might think being the kid of the richest man on earth means living in a gold-plated mansion. Not for Vivian.
She’s been financially independent from Musk since she turned 18. Reports from 2025 and early 2026 show she lives in a relatively modest apartment in Los Angeles with roommates. She’s even made her own way in the fashion world, making her New York Fashion Week debut as a runway model in September 2025.
She’s also been a bit of a social media star on her own terms. She’s got over a million followers on Instagram and TikTok, where she often mocks her father’s public persona. When Musk did a controversial "salute" at a political event in 2025, she was one of the first to call it out online.
The Latest Custody Drama (2026)
As of January 2026, the drama has shifted to Musk's younger children, but Vivian is still the ghost in the machine.
Musk is currently in a heated custody battle with influencer Ashley St. Clair over their one-year-old son, Romulus. Why does this matter for the trans conversation? Because Musk cited St. Clair’s recent "pro-trans" social media posts as a reason to seek full custody.
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St. Clair had apologized for past transphobic remarks, mentioning she felt "immense guilt" that her words might have hurt her "son's sister"—a clear reference to Vivian. Musk responded by claiming he needed custody because her statements implied she might "transition a one-year-old."
It’s clear that his experience with Vivian has fundamentally shifted how he handles his other 12 children.
Real Insights into the Musk-Wilson Rift
- Name Change: Legally finalized in 2022 to Vivian Jenna Wilson.
- The "Woke" Pivot: Walter Isaacson’s biography notes that Musk’s shift to the right was largely triggered by this family rift.
- Financial Status: She reportedly rejects his wealth entirely.
- Future Plans: Following the 2024 U.S. Election, Vivian expressed interest in leaving the country, citing the political climate toward trans rights.
What This Means for the Rest of Us
This story isn't just celebrity gossip; it’s a case study in the modern "culture war." On one side, you have a billionaire who views gender identity as a systemic "virus." On the other, you have a young woman trying to build an identity completely separate from a famous last name.
If you're following this, look for her on Threads or Instagram under the handle vivllainous. That’s where the most authentic updates usually come from, far away from her father’s platform.
To stay informed on how this impacts tech and policy, keep a close eye on the ongoing custody filings in California and New York, as these legal battles are where Musk's personal views are becoming official legal precedents for his family.