When it comes to the lives of tech billionaires, few stories capture the public’s imagination like that of Elon Musk. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, known for his audacious visions of colonizing Mars and building futuristic electric vehicles, has also made headlines for his complex and often unconventional personal life. Central to this is the story of Elon Musk’s children — a growing family that reflects Musk’s unique perspectives on life, technology, and humanity’s future.
In recent years, Musk has spoken candidly about his belief in large families and his concern over global population decline. As a result, he has become a father to several children with different partners, each relationship adding new layers to his personal narrative. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Elon Musk’s children, the women he shares them with, and how he manages fatherhood while running some of the world’s most ambitious companies.
Elon Musk’s Philosophy on Family and Parenthood
Before diving into the list of his children, it’s worth understanding Musk’s views on family. The billionaire has often voiced concerns over falling birth rates in developed countries. In various interviews and social media posts, he’s emphasized that one of the biggest risks to civilization is population decline. For Musk, having a large family isn’t just a personal choice — it’s part of his broader worldview.
This belief has partly driven Musk’s decision to have multiple children, sometimes through unconventional means. His openness to different types of relationships and his willingness to use assisted reproductive technologies reflect a modern, if somewhat controversial, approach to family-building.
The Beginning: Children with Justine Musk
Elon Musk’s first marriage was to Canadian author Justine Musk (née Wilson). The two met while attending Queen’s University in Ontario and married in 2000. Their relationship marked the beginning of Musk’s journey into fatherhood.
Nevada Alexander Musk
Their first child, Nevada Alexander Musk, was born in 2002. Tragically, Nevada passed away at just 10 weeks old from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The loss was devastating for the couple, but it also set the stage for their later decision to use in vitro fertilization (IVF) for future pregnancies.
Griffin and Vivian Jenna Musk
In 2004, the couple welcomed twins Griffin and Xavier Musk via IVF. In 2022, it was publicly revealed that Xavier, at the age of 18, had filed legal documents to change her name to Vivian Jenna Wilson, adopting her mother’s last name and distancing herself from Musk. Vivian also requested to be legally recognized as female, expressing her desire to sever ties with her father.
Griffin, on the other hand, has maintained a relatively private life, staying out of the public spotlight.
Kai, Saxon, and Damian Musk
Two years after the twins, Justine gave birth to triplets: Kai, Saxon, and Damian Musk, also via IVF. Born in 2006, the triplets have largely stayed away from public attention, with little known about their personal interests or daily lives. Unlike their famous father, they seem to prefer a quieter existence.
Elon and Justine divorced in 2008 but have shared custody of their five surviving children.
The Grimes Era: X Æ A-12 and Exa Dark Sideræl
In 2018, Musk began dating Canadian musician Claire Boucher, better known by her stage name, Grimes. Their relationship quickly captured media attention, not least because of their shared fascination with technology, space, and AI.
X Æ A-12 Musk
In May 2020, the couple announced the birth of their son, originally named X Æ A-12 Musk. The unique name immediately sparked curiosity and confusion online. California naming laws led the couple to adjust it slightly to X AE A-Xii Musk on the birth certificate.
Grimes explained the meaning behind the name on social media, revealing that ‘X’ stood for the unknown variable, ‘Æ’ was her elven spelling of AI (artificial intelligence), and ‘A-12’ referred to a precursor to the SR-71 Blackbird aircraft, a favorite of Musk’s. X has made occasional public appearances and seems to be growing up in an environment shaped by both music and advanced technology.
Exa Dark Sideræl Musk (Y)
In December 2021, the world learned of Musk and Grimes’ second child, born via surrogate: Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, nicknamed Y. Grimes described the name as having cosmic significance — “Sideræl” (pronounced sigh-deer-ee-el) is a more obscure spelling of sidereal, relating to the stars. Like her brother, Exa has been kept mostly out of the public eye.
Interestingly, though Musk and Grimes announced a separation, they have referred to their relationship as “fluid,” and both remain involved in co-parenting.
Shivon Zilis and the Surprise Twins
In one of the more unexpected revelations of Musk’s personal life, it was reported in July 2022 that he had fathered twins with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink, one of Musk’s neurotechnology companies.
Unnamed Twins
The twins were born in November 2021, just weeks before the birth of Exa Dark Sideræl with Grimes. Court documents showed that Musk and Zilis had petitioned to give the twins Musk’s last name and Zilis’ last name as part of their middle names. As of now, the names and gender of the twins have not been made public, and both Musk and Zilis have remained tight-lipped about the nature of their relationship.
Balancing Fatherhood and Billionaire Responsibilities
With a demanding professional life spread across Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), Neuralink, and The Boring Company, many have questioned how Musk manages to be present for his children. Musk has admitted in interviews that while he loves his children deeply, his time with them is limited due to his work obligations.
He has emphasized quality over quantity, sharing that he makes an effort to spend time with them during vacations, family trips, or visits to his company offices. Musk’s older children have reportedly visited SpaceX launch sites and Tesla factories, suggesting that he involves them in his world as much as possible.
The Public and Media’s Fascination
The story of Elon Musk’s children continues to captivate the public for several reasons: the unconventional names, the high-profile relationships, and the intrigue surrounding how one of the world’s busiest men handles fatherhood. Each revelation about Musk’s growing family sparks headlines, underscoring the public’s fascination with celebrity families and unconventional lifestyles.
This curiosity also reflects broader cultural conversations about modern parenthood, assisted reproductive technologies, co-parenting arrangements, and the personal lives of public figures in the age of social media.
Conclusion: A Modern, Complex Family
In total, Elon Musk is known to have at least 11 children, though exact details about some remain scarce. His children span multiple relationships and were brought into the world through both traditional and assisted methods, including IVF and surrogacy. Despite the controversies and media attention, Musk appears committed to his children in his own distinctive way.
As his family continues to grow and his ventures push the boundaries of science and technology, one thing remains clear — Elon Musk’s children are growing up in an environment unlike any other, one shaped by innovation, media scrutiny, and their father’s outsized ambitions.
