Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX, is not only revolutionizing industries but also navigating a complex and ever-growing family life. Over two decades, he has welcomed 13 children, each with unique stories and connections to their father and diverse mothers. This article delves into the fascinating world of the Elon Musk Family, exploring the individuals who make up this modern family tree and the dynamics that shape their lives.
Musk’s journey into fatherhood began in 2002 with his then-wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson. Their first son, Nevada Alexander Musk, tragically passed away at just 10 weeks old due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This devastating loss profoundly impacted the couple, but they subsequently expanded their family through IVF, welcoming twins Vivian and Griffin, followed by triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian.
After his divorce from Wilson in 2008, Musk’s personal life continued to evolve. He married and divorced actress Talulah Riley twice, though they did not have children together. In 2018, his relationship with singer Grimes began, and in 2020, they announced the arrival of their son, X Æ A-12, a name that immediately captured global attention. Grimes and Musk later added two more children to their family: a daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl, and another son, Techno Mechanicus.
Adding another layer of complexity, court documents revealed that Musk also fathered twins, Strider and Azure, with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink, one of his companies, in November 2021 – just weeks before Exa’s birth. In early 2024, Musk and Zilis welcomed their third child, whose name remains private. Most recently, in February 2025, author Ashley St. Clair announced the birth of Musk’s 13th child, born in September 2024, making her the fourth woman to have a child with the tech mogul.
This exploration will provide a detailed look at each of Elon Musk’s children, their mothers, and what is known about their lives within this extraordinary family structure.
Nevada Alexander Musk: A Heartbreaking Beginning
The story of the Elon Musk family begins with profound sorrow. Nevada Alexander Musk, Elon’s first child with Justine Wilson, was born in 2002. Tragically, Nevada passed away at just ten weeks old due to SIDS.
Justine Wilson recounted the devastating event in an essay for Marie Claire, writing, “Nevada went down for a nap, placed on his back as always, and stopped breathing. By the time the paramedics resuscitated him, he had been deprived of oxygen for so long that he was brain-dead.” She poignantly described holding him as he passed away after three days on life support. This profound loss marked the beginning of Musk’s journey as a father and deeply influenced his and Wilson’s subsequent family planning.
Vivian Jenna Wilson and Griffin Musk: Twins and Divergent Paths
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(484×164:486×166)/elon-musk-kids-vivian-wilson-021225-f2b1d77250b948f1bdf83262f8739861.jpg)
Vivian Jenna Wilson, daughter of Elon Musk, pictured in November 2024, showcasing the next generation of the Elon Musk family.
Following the loss of Nevada, Justine Wilson described turning to IVF to expand their family. Within five years, she gave birth to twins, Vivian and Griffin, and then triplets. Vivian Jenna Wilson, one of the twins, has gained public attention not only as part of the Elon Musk family but also for her personal decisions regarding her identity.
In 2022, Vivian petitioned to legally change her name, taking her mother’s maiden name, Wilson, and to officially recognize her gender as female. Court documents revealed her statement that she wished “to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.” This significant decision highlighted a complex dynamic within the Elon Musk family.
Elon Musk publicly commented on his relationship with Vivian, suggesting that their estrangement was linked to neo-Marxist ideology in elite schools and universities. He stated to the Financial Times that he believes Vivian’s views are influenced by a sentiment that equates wealth with evil. Despite this, Musk expressed having “very good relationships with all the others” of his children, acknowledging, “Can’t win them all.”
Vivian has been more outspoken, particularly after Musk publicly misgendered her and made claims about her gender-affirming care. She refuted his statements, stating on Threads that he was not present during her childhood and that she experienced harassment from him for her “femininity and queerness.” Grimes, mother to some of Musk’s other children, publicly supported Vivian, expressing pride in her.
Griffin Musk, Vivian’s twin brother, has maintained a lower public profile. He was seen with his father at an American Express event in Miami in May 2024. Musk acknowledged Griffin’s presence on X, sharing a photo of them together and referring to him as his “eldest son.”
Kai, Saxon, and Damian Musk: The Triplet Sons
Born in 2006, Kai, Saxon, and Damian Musk are the triplet sons of Elon Musk and Justine Wilson, conceived through IVF. While Musk and Wilson have generally kept these children out of the public eye, some details have emerged, painting a picture of their personalities and interests.
Author Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk provided glimpses into Damian’s character, noting that he became a vegetarian at age eight due to environmental concerns. Isaacson also highlighted Damian’s intellectual gifts, describing him as a classical music prodigy with strengths in math and physics. Elon’s mother, Maye Musk, reportedly even remarked that Damian might be “brighter” than Elon himself. These details offer a rare insight into the personalities of these lesser-known members of the Elon Musk family.
X Æ A-12 (X Æ A-Xii) Musk: The Intriguing First Child with Grimes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999×0:1001×2)/elon-musk-3-6a2ab1ea4a164afba2e929b663f6faf2.jpg)
Elon Musk with his son X Æ A-Xii at the TIME Person of the Year function in December 2021, illustrating the unique bond within the Elon Musk family.
X Æ A-12 Musk, later legally modified to X Æ A-Xii, arrived in May 2020 as Elon Musk’s first child with singer Grimes. The name itself, a combination of letters, symbols, and numbers, sparked widespread curiosity and discussion, becoming a defining aspect of this branch of the Elon Musk family.
Grimes explained the name’s components, noting “X” as simply the letter, “Æ” pronounced as “Ash,” and “A-12” in part a tribute to the CIA’s Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance plane. Pronunciation debates ensued, with both Grimes and Musk offering different phonetic guides.
X Æ A-Xii has occasionally appeared in the public eye alongside his father. Reports detailed him joining Musk at Twitter (now X) offices, even during meetings, as early as age two. He was also seen at a conference in Miami with Musk in 2023, engaging with his father onstage.
Grimes has spoken about X Æ A-Xii’s fascination with space and rockets, revealing his deep interest and even emotional response to a SpaceX rocket explosion. In February 2025, X Æ A-Xii accompanied Musk to the Oval Office, a visit that drew a mixed reaction from Grimes, who expressed concerns about his public exposure.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(729×128:731×130)/elon-musk-kids-son-x-white-house-021225-9e0fe5ea6f2745bb8129b4ed9858b625.jpg)
Elon Musk carries his son X Æ A-Xii on his shoulders during a visit to the Oval Office in February 2025, offering a glimpse into the life of Elon Musk’s son.
Strider and Azure Musk: Secret Twins with Shivon Zilis
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749×0:751×2)/elon-musk-twins-names-090723-7ab20e21ef5b4b6f92c58cfb70a239b9.jpg)
Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis pictured with their twins Strider and Azure, showcasing another facet of the Elon Musk family.
In November 2021, Elon Musk secretly welcomed twins, Strider (son) and Azure (daughter), with Shivon Zilis. Born in Austin, Texas, their arrival remained private until court documents surfaced. These documents revealed that Musk and Zilis petitioned to change the twins’ names to include both parents’ last names. The names and genders were publicly disclosed in September 2023 when the twins were 16 months old. The birth of Strider and Azure adds another layer to the complex timeline of the Elon Musk family, occurring shortly before the arrival of his daughter Exa with Grimes.
Exa Dark Sideræl Musk (“Y”): Daughter with a Unique Name and Personality
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(427×244:429×246)/elon-musk-kids-daughter-exa-021225-deda000778f04439a8c4bf945da9287c.jpg)
Elon Musk and Grimes’ daughter Exa Dark Sideræl, nicknamed “Y,” pictured in a moment shared by Grimes, offering a rare glimpse into Elon Musk’s daughter’s life.
Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, Elon Musk’s daughter with Grimes, was born via surrogate in December 2021, shortly after their public breakup. Grimes revealed her birth in a Vanity Fair interview, explaining the name’s intricate meaning. “Exa” refers to exaFLOPS, a supercomputing term, while “Dark” represents “the unknown.” “Sideræl,” pronounced “sigh-deer-ee-el,” is described as “star time, deep space time.” She also noted it as an “elven” spelling of “sidereal” and a nod to her favorite Lord of the Rings character, Galadriel.
Exa, nicknamed “Y,” has been described by Grimes as a “little engineer” with an interest in “industrial shipping.” Grimes has shared rare glimpses of Y on social media, noting her unique personality and preferences.
Techno Mechanicus Musk (“Tau”): The Secret Second Son with Grimes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(671×19:673×21)/elon-grimes-c553a9afd6ab486ca4119f9818870826.jpg)
A past photo of Elon Musk and Grimes attending the Met Gala, parents to Techno Mechanicus, reflecting on the expanding Elon Musk family.
Elon Musk and Grimes secretly welcomed their second son, Techno Mechanicus, nicknamed “Tau,” in June 2022. Details of his birth were revealed in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk. Grimes described Tau as having “eyes that could just see so deeply into your soul, with so much knowledge,” and likened him to a “little Spock,” suggesting a Vulcan-like appearance. Grimes has emphasized her desire to keep Techno Mechanicus and Exa out of the public eye, maintaining their privacy.
Baby No. 12 and No. 13: Expanding the Musk Family Further
In June 2024, Elon Musk confirmed the arrival of his 12th child, his third with Shivon Zilis. The name and birth date of this child have not been publicly released. Musk addressed the term “secretly fathered,” stating it was inaccurate as family and friends were aware, and the absence of a press release did not constitute secrecy.
Most recently, in February 2025, Ashley St. Clair revealed that she and Musk welcomed his 13th child in September 2024. St. Clair stated her intention to protect her child’s privacy and safety, requesting media respect for their privacy. As with the 12th child, details such as name and gender remain private.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(729×314:731×316)/Ashley-St-Clair-Elon-Musk-011425-2-56e26a557d2d48ed9dc506b0d934ad0e.jpg)
A combined image of Ashley St. Clair and Elon Musk, parents to Elon Musk’s recently disclosed 13th child, illustrating the growing Elon Musk family.
Conclusion: A Modern Family Saga
The Elon Musk family presents a fascinating case study in modern family dynamics. With 13 children across multiple partnerships, Elon Musk’s family life is as unconventional and expansive as his professional endeavors. From the heart-wrenching loss of Nevada to the unique names and personalities of his younger children, each member adds to the complex narrative of the Elon Musk family. As his children grow and navigate their own paths, the world will undoubtedly continue to watch the evolving story of this extraordinary family.
