Honestly, trying to keep track of Elon Musk's family tree feels a bit like tracking a SpaceX flight path—lots of unexpected turns, a few secret launches, and a whole lot of public chatter. Most people still search for the "11 children," but here is the thing: that number is already outdated. As of early 2026, the real count has actually climbed to 14.
Yeah, 14.
If you're looking for a simple list of names, you've probably realized by now that "simple" isn't really Elon's brand. Between the Roman numerals, the video game references, and the secret births revealed in biographies, it's a lot to process. Whether you think he’s trying to repopulate the Earth single-handedly or you’re just curious about what on earth "Techno Mechanicus" means, here’s the actual breakdown of the Musk squad.
The Early Years: Justine Wilson and the First Six
Before the rockets and the X (formerly Twitter) drama, there was Justine Wilson. She was Elon’s first wife—a Canadian author he met back at Queen's University. Their journey into parenthood was marked by both deep tragedy and the early adoption of IVF technology.
- Nevada Alexander Musk (2002): Most people forget Nevada because he isn't in the current spotlight, but he was Elon’s firstborn. Tragically, he passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) at just 10 weeks old. It’s a heartbreak both Elon and Justine have occasionally touched on in the years since.
- Vivian Jenna Wilson and Griffin Musk (Born 2004): Following the loss of Nevada, the couple turned to IVF. Vivian and Griffin are twins. Vivian made major headlines in 2022 when she legally changed her name and gender, famously stating she no longer wanted to be related to her biological father "in any way, shape or form." She’s pretty much completely distanced herself from the Musk empire.
- Kai, Saxon, and Damian Musk (Born 2006): Just two years after the twins, Justine gave birth to triplets. Like their older brothers, they were conceived via IVF. While they’ve mostly stayed out of the paparazzi's lens, Walter Isaacson’s biography mentioned that Damian is a bit of a music prodigy who also crushes it at math and physics.
The Grimes Era: X, Y, and Tau
When Elon started dating the experimental pop star Grimes (Claire Boucher) in 2018, the world knew the names were about to get weird. And boy, did they. They have three kids together, and their names are basically a love letter to sci-fi and computing.
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X Æ A-Xii (Born 2020): Everyone just calls him "X." He’s the one you see perched on Elon’s shoulders at rocket launches or sitting in the Oval Office. His name was originally X Æ A-12, but California law doesn't play nice with numbers in names, so they swapped it for Roman numerals.
Exa Dark Sideræl Musk (Born 2021): Nicknamed "Y," she was born via surrogate. Her name is a mouthful: "Exa" refers to the computing term exaFLOPS, "Dark" represents the unknown (specifically dark matter), and "Sideræl" is a more "elven" spelling of sidereal, which is basically star-time.
Techno Mechanicus (Born 2022): The world didn't even know this kid existed until late 2023. His nickname is "Tau," and his birth was kept a total secret for over a year. He’s the third and currently final child between Musk and Grimes, though their relationship has been... well, "fluid" is an understatement.
The Neuralink Connection: Shivon Zilis
This is where the timeline gets really messy. While he was still technically with Grimes, Elon welcomed twins with Shivon Zilis, a top executive at his company, Neuralink. This wasn't a public romance; it was more of a "growing the population" mission using IVF.
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Strider Sekhar Sirius and Comet Azure (Born 2021): Wait, did the names change? Sorta. In early 2026, Elon finally shared the full names of the twins. Strider Sekhar is named after Aragorn from Lord of the Rings and the Indian physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. His sister, Comet Azure (formerly just Azure), is named after a powerful spell in the game Elden Ring.
Arcadia (Born 2024): Born in February 2024, Arcadia is his third child with Zilis. Her name is much more traditional compared to her siblings, though still carries that "ancient world" vibe he seems to love lately.
Seldon Lycurgus (Born 2025): The newest addition with Zilis. Seldon is likely a nod to Hari Seldon, the mathematician from Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series. Lycurgus was a legendary Spartan lawgiver. Basically, the kid is named after the ultimate planners of society.
The 14th Child: Romulus
Rounding out the list is a son named Romulus, born in September 2024 to author and influencer Ashley St. Clair. This one was a bit of a surprise to the public, only coming to light through social media announcements and legal filings in 2025. It brings the current total of known Musk children to 14.
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What This Means for the Future
Elon has been very vocal about "underpopulation" being a bigger threat to civilization than global warming. He isn't just talking the talk; he’s quite literally building a small village in Texas. Here are a few actionable takeaways if you’re trying to keep up with the Musk-verse:
- Watch the legal filings: Most of Musk's "secret" children come to light through name-change petitions in Texas courts or mentions in authorized biographies.
- Don't rely on old lists: If you see a source saying he has 11 children, check the date. They’re missing at least three of the most recent additions.
- The "X" naming convention is a brand: Notice how the names shifted from "Griffin and Kai" to "X Æ A-Xii" and "Techno Mechanicus"? He has fully leaned into the "tech-god" aesthetic for his younger brood.
If you’re looking to dig deeper into the actual logistics of how he manages this—like the reported $35 million compound he bought in Austin to house his families—you’ll find that the "11 children" story is just the tip of the iceberg in a much larger, weirder experiment in legacy building.
The best way to stay updated is to keep an eye on his X posts; he’s recently become much more comfortable sharing photos and names of his younger kids, especially the ones he shares with Zilis. Just don't expect the count to stay at 14 for long.