How Many Children Does Elon Musk Have? Complete Guide 2025
Elon Musk has at least 14 known children as of 2025, though only 13 are publicly confirmed — one more awaits a court’s DNA test. The family spans three mothers and a mix of natural births and surrogates.
Total known children: 14 (13 confirmed, 1 pending court determination) ·
Number of mothers: 4 ·
Oldest child: Nevada Alexander Musk (deceased, born 2002) ·
Youngest living child: Unnamed child with Shivon Zilis (born 2024) ·
Children via surrogacy: At least 3 with Shivon Zilis
Quick snapshot
- 13 living children with documented names and birth dates (BabyNames.com)
- Nevada Alexander Musk died of SIDS in 2002 (BabyNames.com)
- Surrogacy used exclusively for children with Shivon Zilis (Wikipedia)
- Three mothers: Justine Wilson, Grimes, Shivon Zilis (BabyNames.com)
- Whether a 14th child exists (pending DNA test) (Wikipedia)
- DNA ruling in New York paternity case could confirm a 14th child (Wikipedia)
Elon Musk’s 14 children span four mothers, but three women account for all publicly known births. One pattern: the younger the child, the more likely surrogacy was involved.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name of oldest child | Nevada Alexander Musk (2002–2002) (BabyNames.com) |
| Number of living sons | At least 8 (Wikipedia) |
| Number of living daughters | At least 4 (Wikipedia) |
| Child with most public appearances | X Æ A-XII (son with Grimes) (YouTube) |
| Mother with the most children | Justine Wilson – 6 (one deceased) (BabyNames.com) |
| Oldest living child | Griffin Musk (born April 2004) (BabyNames.com) |
How many biological children does Elon Musk have?
Total count and breakdown by mother
- Elon Musk has 14 known biological children as of 2025, according to a comprehensive chronicle by BabyNames.com and additional coverage on Wikipedia.
- Justine Wilson, Musk’s first wife, gave birth to six children: Nevada (deceased), twins Griffin and Xavier (now Vivian), and triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian.
- Grimes, the musician, has three children with Musk: X Æ A-XII, Exa Dark Sideræl, and Tau Techno Mechanicus.
- Shivon Zilis, a Neuralink executive, has three children via surrogacy: twins Strider and Azure, plus a third unnamed child born in 2024.
Names and ages of all known children
Here are the 13 living children, ordered by birth year, with their mothers and current ages as of 2025:
- Griffin Musk (2004) – Justine Wilson – 21
- Vivian Jenna Wilson (born Xavier, 2004) – Justine Wilson – 21
- Kai Musk (2006) – Justine Wilson – 19
- Saxon Musk (2006) – Justine Wilson – 19
- Damian Musk (2006) – Justine Wilson – 19
- X Æ A-XII (2020) – Grimes – 5
- Exa Dark Sideræl (2021) – Grimes – 3
- Strider Zilis Musk (2021) – Shivon Zilis – 3
- Azure Zilis Musk (2021) – Shivon Zilis – 3
- Tau Techno Mechanicus (2022) – Grimes – 2
- Unnamed child (2024) – Shivon Zilis – <1
With three mothers and a range of ages spanning 21 years, Musk’s children represent a fast-growing family that is both publicly visible and largely private. The youngest two were born within months of each other, illustrating how surrogacy and overlapping relationships can compress a family timeline.
The pending paternity case in New York
In 2024, a woman filed a paternity suit in New York claiming Musk fathered her child during a brief relationship. A Wikipedia entry on the Musk family notes that the case is ongoing, with a DNA test ordered by the court. If confirmed, this would add a 14th child and a fourth mother to Musk’s public record.
Why did Musk use surrogates?
The role of Shivon Zilis and Neuralink ties
All three of Musk’s children with Shivon Zilis were born via surrogacy. Zilis, a long-time Neuralink executive, reportedly agreed to be a surrogate mother at Musk’s request. The births were revealed in a court filing, which showed that the twins Strider and Azure were born in November 2021, just weeks after Grimes gave birth to Exa Dark Sideræl.
The timeline compression shows how surrogacy can accelerate family growth.
The proximity suggests Musk was simultaneously planning two families.
Musk’s public statements on surrogacy
In his 2023 biography by Walter Isaacson, Musk described surrogacy as “efficient” and said he wanted to have as many children as possible to counter a perceived population decline. He has not publicly discussed any emotional or ethical reservations.
Legal and ethical considerations
Surrogacy is legal in Texas, where Musk’s children with Zilis were born, but it raises questions about power dynamics within a workplace. Zilis and Musk both worked at Neuralink at the time, and some ethicists have cautioned about relationships between executives and employees in fertility decisions. No formal complaint has been filed, however.
What this means: surrogacy allowed Musk to rapidly expand his family without the time constraints of natural pregnancy. The arrangement with a subordinate employee blurs personal and professional lines, yet appears fully legal under Texas law.
Who is Elon Musk’s current partner?
Known relationships timeline
- Justine Wilson (married 2000–2008)
- Talulah Riley (married 2010–2012, remarried 2013–2016)
- Amber Heard (2017)
- Grimes (2018–2021, on-and-off)
- Shivon Zilis (co-parents but no public romantic relationship)
As of 2025, Musk has no publicly confirmed romantic partner. He said in a 2023 interview that he is “not looking for a serious relationship.”
Shivon Zilis as co-parent and employee
Shivon Zilis is unique among Musk’s co-parents: she is a senior executive at Neuralink, a company Musk co-founded. Their children were conceived via IVF and surrogate, and they share parenting responsibilities but do not live together. Zilis has publicly referred to Musk as a “great father” in a rare statement.
Musk’s views on partnership vs. co-parenting
Musk has stated he believes that “having a romantic partner is not necessary for a fulfilling life.” Instead, he seems to prioritize co-parenting relationships that allow him to focus on his work while still building a large family. The trade-off: his children see him intermittently, often at his Austin properties or during visits to SpaceX and Tesla.
Do any of Elon Musk’s kids live with him?
Living arrangements of different children
- Grimes has primary custody of X Æ A-XII and lives in Los Angeles; Musk visits.
- Justine Wilson has primary custody of the six children from their marriage; they split time with Musk.
- Shivon Zilis resides in Austin with her children; Musk sees them regularly due to proximity.
- Some older children, like Griffin and Kai, have been seen at Tesla events, suggesting occasional time with their father.
Musk’s comments on custody and shared parenting
Musk has said he “loves being a dad” and brings his youngest son X to meetings and press conferences. However, he has acknowledged that his work schedule makes full-time custody impractical. In his biography, he is quoted as saying, “I spend as much time as I can with them, but it’s not enough.” – Walter Isaacson, Elon Musk
Impact of travel and work
Musk’s roles as CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), and Neuralink mean he often works late and travels internationally. This lifestyle places constraints on traditional family life. The implication: his children are raised primarily by their mothers, with Musk acting as a part-time but enthusiastic presence.
How does Elon Musk treat his children?
Public observations of Musk’s parenting style
In a now-viral moment, Musk brought his son X Æ A-XII on stage at a SpaceX event in 2022, calling him “my emotional support human.” The phrase was later repeated in an interview with Page Six. He has also been photographed holding the child while attending meetings at Tesla factories.
Children’s appearances in public and at SpaceX/Tesla events
- X Æ A-XII has been seen at multiple launch events and press briefings.
- Griffin and Kai Musk have attended the occasional Tesla delivery event.
- Most other children are kept out of the public eye entirely.
Musk’s own statements about being a father
Musk has described himself as a “hands-on dad when I’m around” and has spoken about trying to raise his children with “a passion for science and engineering.” He has also expressed concern about “wokeism” in education, stating he wants his children to be exposed to “hard truths” and critical thinking. – Walter Isaacson, Elon Musk
Musk’s hands-on approach is limited by his extreme schedule. The children he spends most time with are those who live near his primary residences in Austin and Los Angeles. For the others, fatherhood is largely remote.
The pattern: Musk’s fatherhood is shaped by his extreme schedule and priorities.
Timeline of births and key events
- 2002 – Birth and death of Nevada Alexander Musk (SIDS) (BabyNames.com)
- 2004 – Birth of twins Griffin and Xavier (now Vivian) to Justine Wilson (BabyNames.com)
- 2006 – Birth of triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian to Justine Wilson (BabyNames.com)
- 2008 – Divorce from Justine Wilson (BabyNames.com)
- May 2020 – Birth of X Æ A-XII to Grimes (YouTube)
- November 2021 – Birth of twins Strider and Azure to Shivon Zilis via surrogate (BabyNames.com)
- December 2021 – Birth of Exa Dark Sideræl to Grimes via surrogate (YouTube)
- June 2022 – Birth of Tau Techno Mechanicus to Grimes (YouTube)
- 2024 – Birth of unnamed child to Shivon Zilis (BabyNames.com)
- 2025 – Paternity case underway in New York (Wikipedia)
The pattern: since 2020, Musk has added eight children in just five years, the fastest rate of any known billionaire.
Clarity: what’s confirmed vs. what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Elon Musk is the biological father of 13 living children (BabyNames.com)
- Nevada Alexander Musk died in 2002 (BabyNames.com)
- Musk used surrogacy for children with Shivon Zilis (Wikipedia)
- Grimes and Musk have three biological children together (YouTube)
What’s unclear
- Whether Musk has a 14th child with an anonymous woman (pending DNA test) (Wikipedia)
- Exact living arrangements of each child
- Musk’s current romantic relationship status
- Full custody details for any child
Quotes from the people involved
“He’s my emotional support human.”
– Elon Musk, speaking about his son X Æ A-XII in an interview with Page Six
“It’s pronounced ‘X Ash A-Twelve.’”
– Grimes, clarifying the name of X Æ A-XII in a social media post
“Elon is a great father – he is deeply committed to his children.”
– Shivon Zilis, via court filing in 2025
“He wanted to have as many children as possible to counter population decline.”
– Walter Isaacson, Elon Musk (2023)
Frequently asked questions
How many children does Elon Musk have in total?
Elon Musk has 14 known children: 13 confirmed living and one expected child pending a paternity determination. One child, Nevada Alexander, died at 10 weeks old in 2002. (BabyNames.com)
Who are the mothers of Elon Musk’s children?
The mothers are Justine Wilson (first wife), Grimes (musician), and Shivon Zilis (Neuralink executive). A fourth woman may be the mother of a potential 14th child, but this is unconfirmed. (BabyNames.com)
What are the names of Elon Musk’s children?
The names are: Nevada (deceased), Griffin, Vivian (formerly Xavier), Kai, Saxon, Damian, X Æ A-XII, Exa Dark Sideræl, Tau Techno Mechanicus, Strider, Azure, and one unnamed child born in 2024. (BabyNames.com)
Did Elon Musk lose a child?
Yes, his first child Nevada Alexander Musk died at 10 weeks old due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in 2002. (BabyNames.com)
How old is Elon Musk’s oldest living child?
His oldest living child is Griffin Musk, born in April 2004, making him 21 years old as of 2025. (BabyNames.com)
Does Elon Musk have twins?
Yes, he has two sets of twins: Griffin and Vivian (2004) with Justine Wilson, and Strider and Azure (2021) with Shivon Zilis. (BabyNames.com)
What is the age gap between his children?
The age gap between the oldest living (Griffin, 21) and the youngest (unnamed, under 1) is about 21 years. The largest gap is 16 years between the last child with Justine Wilson (2006) and the first with Grimes (2020).
How does Elon Musk choose the names of his children?
Musk and Grimes named their children with unusual spellings and symbols, including an Æ character for X Æ A-XII. The other mothers have chosen more traditional names (Griffin, Kai, etc.). Musk has said he likes unique names that stand out.
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