Inside the World of Elon Musk Children: The Most Fascinating Legacy of a Modern Genius
Elon Musk
Introduction: Elon Musk – The Man, The Myth, The Father
Elon Musk isn’t just the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX or the face of controversial tweets and Mars colonization dreams—he’s also a father to a surprisingly large brood. While the media often zooms in on his business ventures or X (formerly Twitter) antics, what often gets overlooked is his unique and complex journey as a parent. From traditional names to ones that look like code, and from co-parenting arrangements to surrogacy, the Musk family dynamic is anything but ordinary.
Musk has openly spoken about the importance of population growth and having kids—he’s clearly leading by example. With ten known children (as of 2025), Elon Musk Children his approach to fatherhood is as unconventional as his rocket designs. And while he keeps some of his personal life private, enough details have emerged to paint a fascinating portrait of Elon Musk the dad.
In this article, we’ll explore Elon Musk’s children: their backgrounds, Elon Musk the controversies, the unique names, and how they fit into the story of one of the most influential men of the 21st century.
The Early Days: Musk’s First Family with Justine Wilson
Elon Musk’s first marriage was with Canadian author Justine Wilson. The two met while studying at Queen’s University in Ontario and got married in 2000. Together, they had six children—a journey that began with tragedy and led to a growing family.
Their first son, Nevada Alexander Musk, was born in 2002 but sadly passed away from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) at just 10 weeks old. The loss deeply affected Musk and Justine, but they went on to use IVF (in vitro fertilization) to grow their family. In 2004, the couple welcomed twins—Griffin and Xavier. Then, in 2006, triplets followed: Kai, Saxon, and Damian.
The couple divorced in 2008 but continued to co-parent. Not much is known about the triplets and twins, as Musk has largely shielded them from the spotlight. What is publicly known is that Musk has always believed in giving them a unique and practical education. He even created a secretive experimental school called Ad Astra for his children and a few others, focused more on critical thinking than traditional education models.
Xavier’s Name Change and Gender Identity: A Personal Family Rift
One of Elon Musk’s children made headlines in 2022 not for tech innovation or social appearances, but for a personal and deeply emotional reason. Xavier, one of the twins born in 2004, legally changed her name and gender identity. She now goes by Vivian Jenna Wilson, taking her mother’s last name and publicly stating she does “not wish to be related to [her] biological father in any way, shape, or form.”
This sparked massive media coverage and reignited debates over Elon Musk’s public stance on transgender rights and gender identity. Musk had previously tweeted statements viewed by many as controversial regarding pronouns and identity, and Vivian’s decision to separate herself legally and emotionally from him brought that conversation into his personal life.
While Musk didn’t comment much on the issue publicly, it revealed a more complex family dynamic beneath the surface. Vivian’s decision shows that despite the empire Elon Musk has built, his family isn’t immune to personal struggles, generational differences, and ideological divides.
The Grimes Era: Love, Sci-Fi Names, and More Children
After his divorce from Justine, Musk had a brief marriage to actress Talulah Riley, but it wasn’t until 2018 that things took another twist with Canadian musician Grimes (Claire Boucher). Their relationship, which was quirky and internet-breaking from the start, brought a new wave of attention—not least because of the names they gave their children.
In May 2020, Grimes gave birth to their first child, a son with the headline-grabbing name: X Æ A-12 Musk. That name—initially rejected by California authorities for not conforming to naming laws—was eventually modified to X AE A-Xii Musk. Musk and Grimes have explained the name as a combination of symbolic, mathematical, and futuristic inspirations. For the sake of practicality, they call him “X.”
Their second child was born via surrogate in December 2021 and named Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, nicknamed “Y.” She, too, got a name that reads like it belongs to a sci-fi novel, but Grimes and Musk seem aligned in embracing their eccentric naming style.
In 2023, they welcomed a third child named Techno Mechanicus, reportedly nicknamed “Tau.” Again, the name stirred reactions, from mockery to admiration, reflecting Musk’s unapologetically futuristic vision—even in parenting.
Grimes and Musk have had an on-again, off-again relationship, but continue to co-parent. Grimes has said in interviews that they’re trying to raise their children in a gender-neutral and intellectually open environment, filled with music, science, and exploration.
Secret Twins with Shivon Zilis: A Quiet Expansion
Just when the internet thought Elon Musk’s family tree couldn’t get more complex, news broke in 2022 that he had secretly fathered twins with Shivon Zilis, a top executive at Neuralink—another of Musk’s companies focused on brain-machine interfaces.
The twins were born in November 2021, just weeks before the birth of his second child with Grimes. This revelation led to scrutiny over workplace boundaries and the blurred lines between Musk’s personal and professional life. Musk didn’t deny the reports and later commented that he was “helping the underpopulation crisis.”
Zilis is highly respected in tech circles, and while she has avoided much media attention, she reportedly co-parents the twins amicably with Musk. Their names haven’t been made public, but the situation reflects Musk’s complex, web-like family life that spans multiple partners, cities, and ideologies.
Elon Musk’s Philosophy on Parenting and Population
Despite his demanding schedule, Musk claims to be involved in his children’s lives. He often posts pictures with his younger kids and has said that he sees his children as the future, not just personally but globally. He’s vocal about his concern over declining birth rates and has repeatedly said that one of humanity’s biggest threats is not overpopulation, but underpopulation.
In interviews, he’s expressed a rather philosophical approach to parenting. He believes children should be treated as individuals who should be encouraged to think critically and solve problems, rather than memorize facts. This vision likely influenced the creation of Ad Astra, which has since evolved into a school known as Astra Nova.
Musk is a firm believer in learning by doing, and reportedly encourages his children to code, build things, and explore concepts of physics and ethics from a young age. He’s not known to be overly strict or conventional, but instead encourages curiosity—a quality he credits for his own success.
Media Spotlight and Privacy: Balancing Fame with Family
One of the biggest challenges for any high-profile parent is shielding children from the media. Elon Musk, despite his larger-than-life persona, seems conscious of this and rarely posts about his older children. The younger ones, like “X” and “Y,” make occasional appearances in interviews or public events, but overall, Musk is cautious.
Grimes has commented that raising children with Musk is a balancing act, especially given how recognizable their family is. She’s also shared how they try to keep things grounded, despite the fame and money surrounding them.
Musk’s older children have largely stayed out of the spotlight—apart from Vivian’s public name change. This suggests a conscious effort to allow them space to grow up as “normally” as possible, despite being part of a billionaire dynasty.
Conclusion: The Future of Musk’s Legacy
Elon Musk’s children represent more than just his personal lineage—they’re extensions of his vision for the future. Whether it’s through unconventional names, experimental schooling, or progressive parenting ideologies, Musk seems to be raising kids not just to inherit wealth, but to tackle the world’s problems in their own unique ways.
As Musk continues to shape industries from space travel to AI, one can’t help but wonder how his children will fit into the picture. Will they follow in his footsteps, forge their own paths, or reject the limelight entirely? Only time will tell—but one thing is certain: the Musk family story is as compelling as any sci-fi saga, and it’s just getting started.
