All About Elon Musk’s Kids: Meet His 14 Children and Their Four Moms
All About Elon Musk’s Kids: Meet His 14 Children and Their Four Moms
Elon Musk, one of the most recognizable figures of the 21st century, is widely known for his ventures in technology and space exploration — from Tesla and SpaceX to Neuralink and X (formerly Twitter). Yet beyond his entrepreneurial achievements, Musk’s personal life, particularly his growing family, has often attracted nearly as much attention as his business empire.
As of 2025, Musk is known to have at least 14 children, though he has hinted in interviews that the number might be higher. His children span multiple relationships and generations, reflecting not only his complex personal journey but also his public advocacy for larger families and population growth. This article provides a comprehensive exploration of Elon Musk’s children, their backgrounds, and how his views on family and reproduction intersect with his public persona.
Elon Musk’s Philosophy on Family and Parenthood
Musk has repeatedly emphasized that declining birth rates pose one of the greatest risks to civilization. He believes that humanity’s future depends on ensuring a sustainable and growing population — a conviction that appears to inform his own approach to parenthood.
In various interviews, Musk has described children as “the most important thing we can create.” His decision to have a large family, across different partners, aligns with his often-stated view that “smart and capable people should have more kids.”
While this perspective has sparked both admiration and criticism, it underscores Musk’s deep interest in the long-term survival and expansion of humanity — including his dream of creating a multiplanetary civilization.
Early Family Life: The Beginning with Justine Wilson
Meeting and Marriage
Elon Musk met Justine Wilson, a Canadian author, while both were students at Queen’s University in Ontario. They married in 2000 and shared a desire for a large family. Musk’s early life with Justine marked his first experience with both love and loss — a theme that would reappear in different ways later.
Tragedy and Resilience
Their first child, Nevada Alexander Musk, was born in 2002. Sadly, Nevada died at just ten weeks old due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The tragedy deeply affected both parents. Musk has rarely spoken publicly about Nevada’s death, saying only that he coped by focusing on work and technology.
The Twins and Triplets
After Nevada’s death, the couple turned to in vitro fertilization (IVF). In 2004, they welcomed twin boys — Griffin and Xavier Musk. Two years later, in 2006, triplets — Damian, Saxon, and Kai — were born, also through IVF.
That brought their total to five surviving children. The couple divorced in 2008, sharing custody of their kids. Justine later described their relationship as “a very modern kind of family” in which both parents maintained involvement in their children’s lives.
Transformation and Identity: Vivian Jenna Wilson
One of the most discussed of Musk’s children is Vivian Jenna Wilson, who was born as Xavier Musk. In 2022, she legally changed her name and gender, publicly stating that she no longer wished to be associated with her father. Vivian’s decision became a media focal point, symbolizing both the generational and ideological differences within Musk’s family.
Vivian has sought privacy since the name change, and little else is known about her current life. However, her story reflects the challenges faced by children growing up under intense media scrutiny, especially in families led by globally recognized figures.
The Second Chapter: Musk and Grimes
The Unlikely Partnership
After his marriage to actress Talulah Riley ended, Musk began dating Claire Boucher, better known as Grimes, a Canadian musician and artist, in 2018. Their relationship drew immense media curiosity due to their contrasting personalities — Musk the logical engineer, and Grimes the avant-garde artist.
Despite the differences, they shared a fascination with technology, artificial intelligence, and the future of humanity — themes that seemed to shape both their partnership and the names of their children.
The Birth of X Æ A-Xii
In May 2020, Grimes gave birth to X Æ A-Xii Musk, originally registered as “X Æ A-12.” The name — a mix of letters, symbols, and numbers — caused global bewilderment. Musk later explained that “X” stood for “the unknown variable,” “Æ” represented “AI” (Artificial Intelligence or love in Elvish), and “A-12” referred to a prototype aircraft, the Archangel 12, symbolizing speed and simplicity.
California law required only letters for birth names, leading to the modification “X Æ A-Xii.” The couple affectionately refers to him simply as “X.”
The Arrival of Exa Dark Sideræl
In December 2021, the couple welcomed a daughter via surrogate, naming her Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, nicknamed “Y.” Grimes explained that “Exa” refers to “exaFLOPS,” a measure of supercomputing power; “Dark” represents the unknown; and “Sideræl” (pronounced “sigh-deer-ee-al”) means “the true time of the universe.”
The child’s name, again, reflected their shared interest in science and space, but also Grimes’s poetic sensibilities.
Techno Mechanicus (“Tau”)
In 2022, Grimes and Musk had another child, Techno Mechanicus, known as “Tau.” The birth was kept private for months until Grimes confirmed it in 2023. The name “Tau,” the Greek letter used in physics, once again showcased Musk’s penchant for blending mathematics and meaning into his family’s story.
Although Grimes and Musk have had an on-again, off-again relationship, they reportedly maintain an amicable co-parenting arrangement for their three children.
The Neuralink Connection: Shivon Zilis and Her Children
Professional to Personal
In late 2021, news surfaced that Elon Musk had fathered twins with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink, one of Musk’s ventures focused on brain-computer interfaces. Zilis, a Yale-educated AI expert, worked closely with Musk on projects related to artificial intelligence and neurotechnology.
Twins Strider and Azure
Court documents later confirmed that the twins, born in November 2021, were named Strider Sekhar Sirius Musk and Azure Astra Alice Musk. The names, characteristically celestial, fit Musk’s fascination with the cosmos.
Both children were conceived via IVF, and reports suggested Musk and Zilis lived close to each other in Texas to make co-parenting easier.
Expansion of the Zilis Family
In 2024, reports emerged that Zilis and Musk had welcomed a third child named Arcadia Musk, followed by a fourth, Seldon Lycurgus Musk, in early 2025. The latter name was believed to reference Hari Seldon, a character from Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, a science-fiction saga frequently cited by Musk as one of his inspirations.
The Controversial Claim: Romulus Musk and Ashley St. Clair
In 2024, social media personality and author Ashley St. Clair claimed that she had a child with Elon Musk, named Romulus Musk. The name “Romulus” — referencing one of the legendary founders of Rome — again fits Musk’s pattern of mythological or scientific symbolism.
Musk has not publicly confirmed paternity, and reports indicate ongoing legal proceedings over the matter. Regardless of the outcome, the claim contributed to continued speculation about Musk’s growing family and unconventional approach to relationships.
Patterns in Naming: Science, Myth, and Identity
Across all of Musk’s children, a clear pattern emerges: the names are deeply symbolic. Musk and his partners often choose names rooted in mythology, science, or futurism, blending human creativity with technological symbolism.
| Category | Example | Meaning / Inspiration |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics / Science | X Æ A-Xii, Tau, Exa | Represents variables, computation, or physics |
| Mythology / Literature | Sideræl, Arcadia, Romulus, Seldon | Reflects mythic or literary roots |
| Space & Cosmos | Azure, Sirius, Astra | Allude to celestial or cosmic imagery |
This naming trend reinforces Musk’s worldview — one where science, art, and imagination merge to shape the narrative of humanity’s future.
Parenting Philosophy and Public Perception
Musk’s approach to parenting, much like his approach to business, is unconventional. He has stated that he spends as much time as possible with his children but does not believe in shielding them from the realities of life or work.
In an interview, he remarked:
“I take them to Tesla and SpaceX; they learn more there than in any classroom.”
His older sons reportedly attended Ad Astra, a private school Musk founded at SpaceX’s headquarters to promote experimental learning. The curriculum emphasized critical thinking, ethics, and hands-on problem solving over traditional rote education.
Critics have questioned whether Musk can dedicate enough personal time to such a large family, given his numerous business commitments. Nonetheless, Musk maintains that being a father gives him “meaning beyond measure.”
Public Scrutiny and Privacy Challenges
Despite his immense fame, Musk has attempted to shield his children from constant media exposure. However, the curiosity surrounding their names, relationships, and upbringing continues to make privacy difficult.
The story of Vivian Jenna Wilson’s public disavowal in particular underscored the challenges of growing up as one of the world’s most famous entrepreneur’s children. Similarly, speculation around Musk’s relationships often spills over into coverage about his children, blending public fascination with personal matters.
Timeline of Elon Musk’s Children
Below is a simplified timeline chart summarizing the birth years and maternal relationships of Musk’s known children:
| Year | Child(ren) | Mother | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Nevada Alexander | Justine Wilson | Died in infancy |
| 2004 | Griffin, Vivian (then Xavier) | Justine Wilson | Twins via IVF |
| 2006 | Kai, Saxon, Damian | Justine Wilson | Triplets via IVF |
| 2020 | X Æ A-Xii | Grimes | Known as “X” |
| 2021 | Exa Dark Sideræl; Strider & Azure | Grimes; Shivon Zilis | Births within months |
| 2022 | Techno Mechanicus (“Tau”) | Grimes | Publicly revealed later |
| 2024 | Arcadia; Romulus | Shivon Zilis; Ashley St. Clair | Arcadia confirmed; Romulus disputed |
| 2025 | Seldon Lycurgus | Shivon Zilis | Most recent child |
Elon Musk’s Children and the Future
Musk has said that he envisions a future where humans live across multiple planets and technology enhances life rather than replaces it. His large family is, in a sense, a personal manifestation of that vision — a belief that humanity’s survival depends on its ability to create, reproduce, and expand.
He has publicly stated, “I’m doing my part,” when asked about population decline. Yet his family life also illustrates the complexity of balancing innovation, fame, and personal responsibility.
While Musk’s children may grow up in vastly different circumstances, each carries a legacy tied to the world’s most ambitious entrepreneur — one whose vision extends from Earth to Mars, and whose family story mirrors his unorthodox, ever-expanding universe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many children does Elon Musk have?
As of 2025, Elon Musk is known to have at least 14 children, though he has hinted that there may be more who are not publicly known.
What are the names of Elon Musk’s children?
His known children include: Nevada, Griffin, Vivian Jenna, Kai, Saxon, Damian, X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl, Techno Mechanicus, Strider, Azure, Arcadia, Seldon, and Romulus (disputed).
Who are the mothers of Elon Musk’s children?
Musk’s children are with Justine Wilson, Grimes (Claire Boucher), Shivon Zilis, and Ashley St. Clair (disputed).
Why do Elon Musk’s children have such unusual names?
Most of the names reflect scientific, mythological, or futuristic inspirations, aligning with Musk’s and his partners’ shared interests in technology, space, and art.
Does Elon Musk have a relationship with all his children?
Musk has said that he maintains relationships with his children and prioritizes spending time with them when possible, though he admits that his demanding schedule makes it challenging.
