Imagine being born as one half of the first set of twins to the richest man on the planet.
For Xavier and Griffin Musk, that isn’t a thought experiment. It’s their literal life. Born in April 2004, these two have spent the better part of two decades living in a shadow that is both incredibly wide and increasingly complicated. While their father, Elon Musk, dominates headlines with rockets and social media takeovers, his eldest children have largely tried to do the opposite: disappear.
But they haven't exactly succeeded.
Honestly, the story of the Musk twins isn't just about wealth or "tech royalty" vibes. It’s a messy, human saga of identity, estrangement, and the massive gulf between a public persona and private family life. You’ve probably seen the headlines about legal name changes or Twitter feuds, but the reality is way more nuanced than a thirty-second news clip.
The Reality of Xavier and Griffin Musk Today
Let's get the facts straight first. If you're looking for "Xavier Musk" in 2026, you won't find her. In 2022, shortly after turning 18, the child formerly known as Xavier filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The goal? To change her gender marker to female and her name to Vivian Jenna Wilson.
She didn't just change her first name; she dropped "Musk" entirely.
She took her mother Justine Wilson’s maiden name. The court filing was blunt, stating she no longer wished to be related to her biological father "in any way, shape or form." It was a public divorce from a father-son dynamic that had clearly been fractured for years.
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Griffin, on the other hand, has played it very differently. He’s the "quiet" twin. While Vivian has become a vocal critic of Elon’s politics—especially his views on transgender rights—Griffin has stayed almost entirely out of the limelight. He hasn't changed his name. He doesn't post manifestos. Basically, he’s living the life of a normal 21-year-old college student, or as normal as you can be when your dad owns the platform everyone uses to argue.
Why the Estrangement Happened
It’s easy to blame "politics," but that’s a surface-level take.
Elon Musk has frequently blamed a "woke mind virus" for the rift with Vivian. He told biographer Walter Isaacson and interviewer Jordan Peterson that he felt "tricked" into signing documents for gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He’s even gone as far as to say his "son is dead," a comment Vivian famously mocked on Threads, noting that she’s "very much alive" and doing quite well.
Vivian’s side of the story is different. She’s described Elon as an "absent" father who was "cold" and "easily angered" when he was around. In a scathing interview with Teen Vogue and various social media posts, she painted a picture of a childhood where she was berated for being "too feminine" or queer.
- Vivian Jenna Wilson: Currently living her life in Tokyo and Los Angeles, studying languages (Japanese, French, Spanish), and making a name for herself as a model and streamer.
- Griffin Musk: Remains close to his mother, Justine, and is reportedly finishing up his university studies. Unlike Vivian, he hasn't publicly denounced Elon, but he also doesn't show up in those staged "family at the launchpad" photos you see with the younger kids like X Æ A-Xii.
Navigating the Musk Family Tree
Keeping track of the Musk kids in 2026 is like trying to map a small country. There are 14 of them now.
Vivian and Griffin are the eldest survivors. Their older brother, Nevada Alexander, tragically passed away from SIDS at just 10 weeks old. This loss hung over the family for years. Elon and Justine turned to IVF to conceive the twins, and later, the triplets (Kai, Saxon, and Damian).
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Because they were the first, Xavier and Griffin Musk saw the "early" version of Elon—the one who was still building Tesla and SpaceX from the ground up, before he became the global lightning rod he is now.
The Contrast Between Twins
It’s fascinating how two people born at the exact same time can take such divergent paths.
Vivian is the firebrand. She recently made her New York Fashion Week debut and uses her platform to advocate for trans rights. She’s a self-described "leftist" who finds her father’s political trajectory "terrifying." She’s financially independent, which is a massive statement when your dad is a multi-billionaire.
Griffin is the ghost. You might see a grainy photo of him at a restaurant in Malibu or leaving his mother’s house, but he isn't interested in the "influencer" life. He represents the half of the family that just wants to be left alone.
What People Get Wrong About the "Musk Legacy"
Most people assume the Musk kids are all being groomed to run the "X" empire. That’s just not true.
Elon’s relationship with his children seems to be split into two eras. There’s the "First Family" (the five kids with Justine), who grew up in the 2000s and 2010s and seem to value their privacy or, in Vivian's case, their autonomy. Then there’s the "New Era" (the children with Grimes and Shivon Zilis), who are often featured in his public appearances.
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Xavier and Griffin Musk didn't grow up in the age of "Techno Mechanicus" and "Exa Dark Sideræl." They grew up attending Astra Nova (formerly Ad Astra), the experimental school Elon built at SpaceX. They were the original "test subjects" for his ideas on education, but as adults, they’ve largely chosen to define themselves outside of his vision.
Is Reconciliation Possible?
Honestly? It doesn't look likely for Vivian.
When your father goes on national podcasts and refers to your transition as a "tragedy," the bridge isn't just burned; it’s vaporized. Vivian has been very clear that she doesn't want his money or his name.
Griffin is the wild card. Because he hasn't made a public stand, there’s a chance he maintains a relationship with Elon behind the scenes. But even then, the silence speaks volumes. In a family where the patriarch is the loudest person in the room, choosing to say nothing is a powerful choice.
Practical Takeaways for Following the Story
If you're trying to keep up with the latest on the Musk family, here’s how to filter the noise:
- Check the Name: If a news outlet is still calling her "Xavier," they’re likely biased or outdated. Her legal name is Vivian Jenna Wilson.
- Follow the Mother: Justine Wilson (the twins' mom) is an accomplished author. Her social media often gives a more grounded look at the lives of the elder Musk children than Elon’s feed does.
- Distinguish Between the Kids: Don't lump the " Justine kids" (Vivian, Griffin, Kai, Saxon, Damian) in with the younger children. Their upbringing and current lifestyles are completely different.
- Look for Primary Sources: Vivian is active on Threads and Instagram under her own terms. If you want to know what she thinks, read it from her, not from a filtered press release.
The saga of Xavier and Griffin Musk is far from over, but it has transitioned from a story about "billionaire kids" to a story about two young adults figuring out who they are when the whole world thinks they already know. Whether they're walking runways or walking to class, they’re proving that a last name—or the rejection of one—is only a small part of the person.