The question of whether an Elon Musk child is trans isn't just a bit of celebrity gossip anymore. It’s actually become a central pillar of the billionaire’s public identity and his political shift. If you've been following the headlines, you know things have gotten incredibly messy between the Tesla CEO and his eldest daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson.
Vivian is legally and publicly a transgender woman. She didn't just quietly transition; she effectively disowned one of the richest men on Earth to do it. Honestly, it’s a story about a family breaking apart in the most public way possible, and the details are a lot more intense than a simple "yes" or "no" answer.
The Legal Break: From Xavier to Vivian
Back in 2022, shortly after she turned 18, Vivian filed a petition in a California court. Most people change their names for marriage or professional reasons, but her filing was different. She explicitly stated she wanted to change her name and gender because she "no longer lives with or wishes to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form."
That’s a heavy statement for a teenager to put in a legal document.
She dropped the Musk surname entirely, choosing to take her mother’s maiden name, Wilson. Since then, she’s been living her life as Vivian Jenna Wilson. She’s currently 21 years old and has become a vocal critic of her father’s views, especially as he leans further into "anti-woke" rhetoric.
👉 See also: Martha Stewart Young Modeling: What Most People Get Wrong
What Musk Says: The "Woke Mind Virus" Narrative
Elon Musk hasn't exactly taken this sitting down. In a now-infamous 2024 interview with Jordan Peterson, Musk claimed he was "tricked" into signing medical documents for Vivian’s gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He used the term "deadnaming"—referring to her by her birth name—and said, "My son is dead, killed by the woke mind virus."
Musk basically blames the school she attended and the general cultural climate for her transition. He’s gone so far as to say that this specific family experience is what "vowed" him to destroy the "woke mind virus." To him, Vivian’s transition wasn't a personal journey but a political casualty.
Vivian’s Side of the Story
Vivian doesn't buy any of that.
After that interview aired, she took to Threads (a direct competitor to her father’s X) to set the record straight from her perspective. She called him "cold," "quick to anger," and "uncaring." She recounted stories of him allegedly yelling at her for having a high-pitched voice when she was just a kid in the fourth grade.
✨ Don't miss: Ethan Slater and Frankie Grande: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
"He doesn't know what I was like as a child because he quite simply wasn't there," she wrote.
She’s basically called his "family man" image a total sham, labeling him a "serial adulterer" and pointing out that he was rarely present during her upbringing. It’s a classic case of two people living in completely different versions of the same history.
The 2025 and 2026 Fallout
By early 2026, the rift has only widened. Vivian has moved toward total financial independence, despite being the daughter of a man with a net worth that fluctuates by billions daily. She’s made a name for herself in the fashion world, even making her New York Fashion Week debut in late 2025.
While she’s building a life in the spotlight as a model and streamer, Musk is embroiled in new custody battles. Just this month, in January 2026, reports surfaced that Musk is seeking full custody of one of his younger children with influencer Ashley St. Clair. Why? Apparently, he’s worried about the child being influenced by "transgender ideology" after St. Clair made public apologies for past transphobic comments.
🔗 Read more: Leonardo DiCaprio Met Gala: What Really Happened with His Secret Debut
It seems Musk is using his experience with Vivian as a "cautionary tale" for how he plans to raise his other 13 children.
A Family Divided by Ideology
The situation is kinda tragic when you look at it. You have a father who feels he "lost" a child to a movement he hates, and a daughter who feels she finally "found" herself only to be publicly attacked by her own parent.
Here are the hard facts you need to know about the current state of things:
- Legal Status: Vivian Jenna Wilson is her legal name. Her birth certificate was updated in 2022 to reflect her female gender.
- Relationship: There is zero contact. Vivian has publicly called Musk "pathetic" and "narcissistic."
- Mother’s Support: Unlike Elon, Vivian’s mother, Justine Wilson, has been openly supportive of her daughter's transition.
- Siblings: Vivian is a twin. Her brother Griffin has stayed mostly out of the public eye, though Vivian has mentioned she doesn't even know some of her younger half-siblings due to the family's fragmentation.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Vivian?
Vivian isn't just "Elon Musk’s trans child" anymore; she’s becoming a political figure in her own right. She’s expressed a desire to move out of the United States, citing the political climate as "terrifying" for trans people. She’s also focused on her career as a digital creator and model, seemingly determined to forge a path that has nothing to do with the Tesla or SpaceX billions.
If you’re trying to keep up with this, the best thing to do is look at the primary sources. Avoid the biased summaries and read Vivian’s actual posts on Threads or her 2025 Teen Vogue cover story. It gives a much clearer picture of her reality versus the narrative her father pushes in his interviews.
Next Steps for Readers:
Check the legal filings from the Los Angeles County Superior Court (2022) if you want to see the official name change documents. Alternatively, follow the ongoing custody developments involving Musk's younger children to see how his views on Vivian are continuing to shape his legal strategies in 2026.