Elon Musk, the elusive entrepreneur behind SpaceX and Tesla, is well-known for his pioneering contributions to technology and space exploration and his complicated personal life. Musk’s fatherhood path has been fascinating, from his early days with Justine Wilson to his latest family expansion with Grimes and Shivon Zilis.
Justine Wilson: Elon Musk The First Partner
In the early 2000s, Elon Musk began his path into motherhood with his first wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson. Musk’s first six children were born during their marriage from 2000 until 2008. Wilson, in a forthright essay for Marie Claire, sarcastically referred to herself as Musk’s starter wife,’ offering light on the dynamics of their marriage.
Grimes – A Musical Passage
Another crucial chapter in Musk’s romantic story emerged with Canadian singer and musician Grimes. Despite their on-and-off relationship, Musk and Grimes had three children. In May 2020, X Æ A-Xii was born, followed by Exa Dark Siderael and the newest member, Techno Mechanicus (Tau). She stated that dating Musk was the ‘greatest internship ever.‘
Grimes commented on her time with Elon Musk, calling it a good learning experience. She stressed the honor of experiencing SpaceX’s revolutionary work firsthand, praising Musk’s extraordinary leadership and engineering prowess. Despite their breakup, Musk and Grimes remain on good terms, with Grimes expressing deep affection for Musk as her best friend and the love of her life.
Shivon Zilis: A Professional and Personal Union
Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis, a top executive at his business Neuralink, welcomed twins in November 2021, blurring the barriers between their work and personal lives. This development occurred during Musk’s intermittent emotional entanglements with Grimes, adding another layer to his complex personal story. In July 2022, when reports surfaced about the children of Zilis and Musk, the entrepreneur took to Twitter, stating, “Doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis. A collapsing birth rate is the biggest danger civilization faces by far.”
Elon Musk Marriage with Talulah Riley
In addition to his notable partnerships with Wilson, Grimes, and Zilis, Elon Musk has had two marriages with actress Talulah Riley. The first union lasted from 2010 to 2012, with a brief break, and the second marriage lasted from 2013 to 2016. Despite their relationship, Musk and Riley did not produce children, leaving their narrative open to interpretation (until future biographies show differently).
In just two decades, Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla, has embarked on a fatherhood journey with three different women, welcoming 11 children into his life. From the birth of his first child in 2002 to the most recent addition in 2023, Musk’s family has continued to grow, each child bringing their own unique story and experiences.
Nevada Alexander: The Tragic Loss
Nevada Alexander, Elon Musk’s first son with his first wife, Justine Wilson, was born in 2002. However, tragedy struck when Nevada died at only ten weeks old from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Wilson described the horrific ordeal, including the moment Nevada stopped breathing and the choice to take him from life support.
Vivian Jenna Wilson and Griffin: A Journey of Healing for Elon Musk
Following Nevada’s death, Musk and Wilson set out to expand their family. They gave birth to twins Vivian Jenna Wilson and Griffin, using in vitro fertilization. On April 18, a petition was submitted to Vivian Jenna Wilson for a legal name change. Vivian’s mother, Justine Wilson, bore the name Wilson before her marriage. Vivian also sought identification as a female and demanded a new birth certificate to reflect these developments.
Vivian claimed in the petition that her request for the modifications originated from her gender identification and a desire to cut all ties with her biological father, with whom she no longer lives and wishes to be unconnected in any way.
Kai, Saxon, and Damian: A Growing Family
Elon Musk’s then-wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson, gave birth to three sons: Kai, Saxon, and Damian Musk. This year, the triplets turned 17. Despite their fame, Wilson and Elon have avoided discussing the triplets widely in public. However, Wilson stated in a 2017 TedTalk that the trio was created through IVF.
Musk and Wilson got divorced in 2008. In a 2010 Business Insider op-ed, Musk claimed that he pays $20,000 per month in child support to his ex-wife, as well as supporting Wilson’s living expenses and the salaries of the children’s nannies. He stressed his desire to spend quality time with his children, noting that custody of his five children was evenly divided and that his children were the center of his life.
X Æ A-Xii: A Unique Name and Early Adventures
In May 2020, Musk and singer Grimes welcomed their first child, X Æ A-Xii. The pair made waves for their unique name, which was inspired by both technological advancement and personal importance. Despite their public split, Musk and Grimes continue to co-parent their son, who has already joined his father in a number of public engagements, indicating a growing interest in space exploration.
Expressing pride in his role, he mentioned that “A-12 was [his] contribution,” though he credited Grimes for primarily devising the name. Grimes further elaborated on the significance of the name in a detailed explanation shared on her Twitter account.
Twins with Shivon Zilis and Exa Dark Sideræl: Expanding Horizons
In a surprise turn of events, Musk had twins, Strider and Azure, with Shivon Zilis in November 2021, adding to his burgeoning family. Grimes also announced the birth of their daughter, Exa Dark Siderael, via surrogate in December 2021. Each child’s name and narrative add to the rich mosaic of Musk’s family life.
Techno Mechanicus (Tau): The Latest Addition
The newest member of Elon Musk’s growing family is Techno Mechanicus, also known as Tau. Tau, introduced to the public through Walter Isaacson’s biography, is Musk’s eleventh kid, adding to the Musk family history of innovation and exploration.
Elon Musk has fathered 11 children with various women over the course of two decades. Each child contributes their own tale and experiences to Musk’s family life. From the heartbreak of losing his first son, Nevada Alexander, to the delight of welcoming twins Justine Wilson and Shivon Zilis, Musk’s family story represents life’s highs and lows. His dedication to being an engaged and present father remains an enduring aspect of his character despite his constant push for innovation in his work life.
