Parenting isn’t for the faint-hearted. Now, imagine parenting a dozen kids while running multiple companies that shape the future of technology. Welcome to Elon Musk’s world! The enigmatic billionaire isn’t just about rockets, electric cars, and AI—he’s also a dad to 12 children, each with their own stories, challenges, and quirks. Musk’s family life is as complex as his companies, involving three mothers, secret births, public drama, and some truly out-of-this-world baby names.
Let’s take a closer look at how Musk’s family tree has grown over two decades, marked by love, loss, and no shortage of headlines.
Elon Musk Shares 12 Children With 3 Different Mothers—Justine Wilson, Grimes, and Shivon Zilis
Elon Musk became a father for the first time in 2002 when he welcomed Nevada Alexander Musk with his then-wife, Canadian author Justine Wilson. Tragically, Nevada passed away at just 10 weeks old from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The loss was heartbreaking, and Musk has rarely spoken about it publicly. However, Justine shared in a 2010 essay that the tragedy led her to turn to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) just months later.
The couple went on to have five more children—twins Griffin and Vivian in 2004 and triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian in 2006—before their divorce in 2008. Justine once described herself as Musk’s “starter wife,” but their shared parenting journey has left an indelible mark on both of them.
After divorcing Justine, Musk married and divorced actress Talulah Riley not once, but twice, though they had no children together. Then came the whirlwind romance with singer Grimes (real name: Claire Boucher), which brought three more kids into the picture, along with a generous helping of drama. Musk also fathered twins with Shivon Zilis, an executive at his Neuralink company, and recently welcomed his 12th child in early 2024.
Griffin and Vivian Jenna Wilson (Born April 2004)
- Mother: Justine Wilson
- Age: 20
Griffin and Vivian (originally Xavier Alexander Musk) were Musk’s first set of twins, born via IVF. While Griffin has maintained a low profile, Vivian made headlines in 2022 when she legally changed her name and gender. She also chose to drop her father’s last name, adopting her mother’s maiden name, Wilson. In court documents, Vivian cited her reason as no longer wishing to be associated with her biological father. Musk later attributed their estrangement to “neo-Marxist” ideologies he believes have infiltrated elite schools.
In 2024, Vivian publicly refuted Musk’s claims, describing him as absent during her childhood. The two remain estranged, though Grimes has expressed public support for Vivian.
Kai, Saxon, and Damian Musk (Born January 2006)
- Mother: Justine Wilson
- Age: 18
These triplets were also born through IVF and have mostly stayed out of the spotlight. Musk and Justine split custody after their divorce, and Musk has described his time with his kids as the highlight of his life.
While Musk pulled his children from traditional schooling in favor of his experimental school, Ad Astra (later Astra Nova), he’s admitted their education comes heavily from online resources like YouTube and Reddit. Among the three, Damian has been noted as a classical music prodigy and vegetarian since age 8.
X Æ A-Xii (Born May 4, 2020)
- Mother: Grimes
- Age: 4
Musk and Grimes’ first child together instantly became a cultural phenomenon thanks to his unique name, which was later adjusted to comply with California naming laws. Pronounced “X Ash A Twelve” or simply “X,” his name reflects both parents’ love of science and art.
From attending Twitter boardroom meetings at age 2 to obsessing over rockets and spacecraft, X is already following in his father’s footsteps as a tech enthusiast. Grimes shared that X struggled emotionally after witnessing SpaceX’s Starship rocket explosion in 2023.
Exa Dark Sideræl (Born December 2021)
- Mother: Grimes
- Age: 3
Nicknamed “Y,” Exa’s name is just as unconventional as her brother’s. “Exa” refers to exaFLOPS, a computing term, while “Dark” symbolizes the mysteries of the universe. “Sideræl” pays homage to deep space time and Grimes’ love of The Lord of the Rings.
Grimes has described Y—whom she welcomed via surrogate in December 2021—as a “little engineer” with an unusual interest in industrial shipping. The toddler has already made waves online, appearing in rare photos with her mother.
Strider and Azure Musk (Born November 2021)
- Mother: Shivon Zilis
- Age: 3
Strider and Azure are Musk’s twins with Shivon Zilis, a top executive at Neuralink. Their birth was kept secret until court documents revealed their existence in 2022. The twins’ names were officially updated to reflect both parents’ surnames. Musk’s parenting style reportedly includes engaging them in discussions about AI and technology, given Zilis’ role in Musk’s brain-computer interface venture.
Techno Mechanicus (Birth Year Unknown)
- Mother: Grimes
- Age: Estimated around 2
Revealed in Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk’s third child with Grimes goes by the nickname “Tau.” Very little is known about Tau, but the name suggests the continuation of Musk and Grimes’ fascination with science and math.
Baby No. 12 (Born Early 2024)
- Mother: Shivon Zilis
- Age: Infant
The youngest Musk sibling arrived in early 2024, though the baby’s name and gender remain undisclosed. Musk’s prolific parenting has drawn both admiration and criticism, with some questioning how he balances his growing family with his demanding career.
From Nevada to Tau, Elon Musk’s kids span a spectrum of stories—heartbreak, individuality, and quirky names that capture their parents’ unique vision. With 12 children and three mothers, Elon Musk’s family is as fascinating as the billionaire himself. Whether you admire or critique him, one thing is certain: Musk is shaping more than the future of technology; he’s raising a new generation, one rocket-inspired name at a time.
