Who is Vivian Musk’s Mother? The Story of Justine Wilson

You’ve seen the headlines about the world’s richest man and his very public fallout with his daughter. It’s messy. It’s loud. But while Elon Musk dominates the 24-hour news cycle with his take on the "woke mind virus," there is a woman on the other side of that family tree who has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. People keep asking, "Who is Vivian Musk’s mother?" and honestly, her story is way more than just a footnote in a billionaire's biography.

Her name is Justine Wilson. Well, Jennifer Justine Wilson, to be exact.

She’s a Canadian author with a penchant for dark fantasy, a survivor of a high-profile divorce, and the woman who stayed by Vivian’s side when things got complicated. If you're looking for the typical "trophy wife" narrative, you're looking at the wrong person. Justine is sharp. She's fiercely independent. And she's the reason Vivian Jenna Wilson carries the surname she does today.

The Queen's University Connection

It all started at Queen's University in Ontario. Elon was just a guy with a lot of ideas and a big ego, and Justine was the girl who initially turned him down. He was persistent. He’d show up with ice cream or send her flowers. Eventually, she said yes.

They married in 2000. It was the start of a decade that would see them go from being a regular ambitious couple to one of the most powerful families in tech. But beneath the surface, the marriage was straining. Justine later wrote a famous essay for Marie Claire where she described herself as a "starter wife."

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She spoke about the "alpha" energy that Elon brought home. She felt like her own career as a writer was being sidelined to make room for his massive ambitions. It’s a classic story, kinda sad, but she wasn’t going to just sit there and play the part of the silent supportive spouse forever.

Raising Vivian and the IVF Journey

Vivian and her twin brother, Griffin, were born in 2004. This followed the tragic loss of their firstborn son, Nevada, who passed away from SIDS at just 10 weeks old. It was a trauma that changed everything. Justine and Elon eventually turned to IVF to grow their family. After the twins came triplets—Damian, Saxon, and Kai—in 2006.

That’s five kids in a very short span of time.

Justine was raising them in a 6,000-square-foot mansion in Bel Air, surrounded by nannies and staff, yet she felt increasingly isolated. When she and Elon divorced in 2008, she made a choice to keep her life private. She didn't want the media circus. She just wanted to be a mom and an author.

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Supporting Vivian’s Transition

In 2022, when Vivian turned 18, she legally filed to change her name and gender. She famously stated she no longer wished to be related to her biological father "in any way, shape, or form." She didn't just drop the "Musk" name; she chose to take her mother’s maiden name: Wilson.

That says a lot about the relationship between mother and daughter.

Justine hasn't done a press tour about it. She hasn't tried to monetize the drama. Instead, she shared a simple, moving interaction on X (formerly Twitter). She recalled her child saying, "I had a weird childhood," and "I can’t believe I’m as normal-seeming as I am."

Justine’s response? "I’m very proud of you."

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Basically, while Elon was publicly grieving the "loss" of his child in interviews with people like Jordan Peterson, Justine was just being a parent. She’s described Vivian as "fierce, wild, multi-layered magic." It’s a contrast that’s hard to ignore.

What You Should Know About Justine Wilson Today

• She's an accomplished writer: Her debut novel, BloodAngel, was published by Penguin Books. She’s also written Uninvited and Lord of Bones.
• She values her privacy: Unlike other ex-partners of high-profile billionaires, she rarely gives interviews.
• She’s the anchor: For Vivian and her brothers, Justine appears to be the steadying force in an otherwise chaotic, high-profile family dynamic.

Life After the Billionaire

Justine Wilson is still writing. She still lives in California. She remains on good terms with some of Elon's later partners, like Talulah Riley, proving she’s more interested in peace than palace intrigue.

She's the woman who helped Vivian find her own voice, even if it meant losing the "Musk" brand.

If you want to understand the dynamics of the Wilson-Musk family, stop looking at the rockets. Look at the books Justine writes and the way she’s stood by her kids. It tells you everything you need to know.

To stay updated on this story, you should follow reputable entertainment news outlets that focus on the family's legal filings and public statements rather than just social media rumors. Keep an eye on long-form interviews with Vivian herself—she’s becoming a vocal advocate for the trans community and often shares insights into her life with her mother.