Elon Musk has a lot of kids. Honestly, keeping track of the Tesla CEO’s growing family tree has become a full-time job for internet sleuths and celebrity biographers alike. As of early 2026, the official count stands at 14 known children, born to four different women. It’s a complex, often messy web of IVF, surrogacy, secret births, and high-stakes custody battles that makes most Hollywood dramas look boring.
You’ve probably seen the headlines. One day he’s at the White House with his son X, and the next, he’s in a New York courtroom fighting over a toddler named Romulus. The story of elon musk children and mothers isn't just about billionaire eccentricities; it's a window into Musk’s deeply held—and controversial—belief that a collapsing birth rate is the single greatest threat to human civilization. He isn’t just talking about the population crisis; he’s actively trying to solve it, one child at a time.
The Original Five: Justine Wilson and the IVF Era
Before the rockets and the social media takeovers, there was Justine Wilson. She was a Canadian author and Musk’s first wife. Their story started at Queen’s University in Ontario and ended in a 2008 divorce that Justine famously documented in a Marie Claire essay titled "I Was a Starter Wife."
Tragedy struck early. Their first son, Nevada Alexander Musk, was born in 2002 but died at just 10 weeks old from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It’s a grief most people can’t imagine.
They didn't stop, though. Musk and Justine turned to IVF to grow their family, eventually welcoming five more children:
- Griffin Musk and Vivian Jenna Wilson (born 2004): The twins who started it all. While Griffin keeps a low profile, Vivian has become one of the most public figures in the family—though not for reasons Elon likely enjoys.
- Kai, Saxon, and Damian Musk (born 2006): A set of triplet boys.
Vivian is the name you’ve likely heard recently. In 2022, she legally changed her name and gender, adopting her mother’s maiden name, Wilson. She didn't just change her ID; she filed a petition to sever all ties with her biological father. "I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form," she stated in court documents. This rift has clearly shaped Musk’s recent, highly vocal pivot toward anti-"woke" politics.
💡 You might also like: Gordon Ramsay Kids: What Most People Get Wrong About Raising Six Mini-Chefs
Enter Grimes: The Space Age Family
When Musk started dating the Canadian musician Grimes (Claire Boucher) in 2018, the world knew things were about to get weird. They debuted at the Met Gala and eventually had three children with names that require a manual to pronounce.
First came X Æ A-Xii (known simply as "X") in May 2020. You’ve seen him on Elon’s shoulders at rocket launches and political rallies. Then there was Exa Dark Sideræl Musk (nicknamed "Y"), born via surrogate in December 2021. The third child, Techno Mechanicus (affectionately called "Tau"), was a secret for a long time. His existence was only revealed in Walter Isaacson’s 2023 biography of Musk.
Things between Musk and Grimes are... complicated. They’ve been in a grueling custody battle for years. It’s a classic case of jurisdictional ping-pong, with filings in both California and Texas. Grimes has been vocal about her desire to keep her kids out of the public eye, a stark contrast to Musk’s tendency to bring "X" into the spotlight.
The Neuralink Connection: Shivon Zilis
While the world was focused on the drama with Grimes, Musk was quietly expanding his family with an executive from his own company, Neuralink. Shivon Zilis is the Director of Special Projects there, and her involvement in the Musk family tree came as a massive shock when it broke in 2022.
She and Musk have four children together:
📖 Related: Gladys Knight Weight Loss: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
- Strider and Azure (born 2021): Twins born just weeks before Grimes' daughter, Exa, arrived via surrogate.
- Arcadia (born 2024): A daughter whose birth Musk claimed wasn't "secret," just not publicized via press release.
- Seldon Lycurgus (born late 2024/early 2025): The most recent addition to the Zilis-Musk branch. Zilis announced his name on X in February 2025, describing him as "built like a juggernaut."
Unlike Justine or Grimes, Zilis seems to be very much on the same page as Musk regarding his "pro-natalist" philosophy. They appear to be co-parenting in a way that aligns with Musk’s vision of a high-tech, high-IQ future generation.
The 2026 Update: Ashley St. Clair and the Romulus Saga
The most recent and perhaps most explosive chapter in the saga of elon musk children and mothers involves conservative influencer and author Ashley St. Clair.
In early 2025, St. Clair revealed she had given birth to a son named Romulus in late 2024, fathered by Musk. Initially, there were denials and whispers, but paternity was eventually confirmed. However, the "honeymoon" period—if there ever was one—ended abruptly in January 2026.
Musk publicly announced he would be filing for full custody of Romulus. Why? Because St. Clair made comments on X expressing a change of heart regarding the transgender community, even apologizing to Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian. Musk reacted with characteristic intensity, accusing St. Clair of supporting "trans grooming" and claiming he needed to protect his son from her influence.
To make matters even more surreal, St. Clair filed a lawsuit against Musk’s AI company, xAI, in mid-January 2026. She alleges that the Grok AI tool generated explicit, non-consensual deepfake images of her—some even depicting her as a minor. It’s a mess of legal filings and public barbs that has dominated the 2026 news cycle.
👉 See also: George W Bush Jr Net Worth: Why He’s Not as Rich as You Think
Why This Matters Beyond the Gossip
It's easy to look at this as just another billionaire with a messy personal life. But with Elon, there’s always a "master plan." He genuinely believes that if the "right" people (by which he often means high-achieving, high-intelligence individuals) don't have more children, Western civilization will collapse.
- The Pro-Natalist Movement: Musk is the unofficial poster boy for pro-natalism. He views children as a hedge against the "underpopulation crisis."
- The Genetic Legacy: By having 14 children with highly intelligent, successful women (an author, a musician, a tech executive, and a political commentator), he’s essentially running a private experiment in hereditary success.
- The Custody Precedents: The legal battles with Grimes and St. Clair are setting new precedents for how high-net-worth, multi-state custody cases are handled in the age of remote work and private jets.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re trying to keep up with the ever-changing world of the Musk family, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch the Court Filings: Most "secrets" in the Musk world come out through court documents in Texas (Travis County) or California. If you see a rumor, check for a legal filing first.
- Understand the Philosophy: Read Musk's posts on X about the "birth rate crisis." It explains why he does this. To him, 14 kids isn't a crowd; it's a starting point.
- Follow the Mothers: The stories are often told through the lens of the women. Justine’s essays, Grimes’ music/interviews, and Shivon Zilis’ social media provide the context that Elon’s data-driven posts lack.
The story of elon musk children and mothers is far from over. Given his track record, it wouldn't be surprising if the count hits 15 or 16 before the year is out. For now, it remains a fascinating, albeit chaotic, example of how one man’s personal life and global ambitions are inextricably linked.
Next Steps for Deep Research:
- Review the January 2026 New York Supreme Court filings regarding the St. Clair v. xAI lawsuit for details on AI-generated content and custody disputes.
- Consult the 2023 Walter Isaacson biography Elon Musk for the definitive account of his early relationship with Shivon Zilis and the birth of Techno Mechanicus.
- Analyze the 2022 name change petition of Vivian Jenna Wilson in the Los Angeles County Superior Court to understand the legal basis of her estrangement.