Elon Musk’s family life is often overshadowed by his tech career and space exploration. While he keeps much of his personal life private, his growing number of children has occasionally made headlines.
Elon Musk’s first steps into fatherhood began more than two decades ago. Since then, his family has grown across different relationships, with some moments making headlines and others remaining largely private.
Elon Musk at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 22, 2015, in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images
Though much of his personal life is kept under wraps, court documents, interviews, and social media have revealed surprising details about his children and family life over the years.
Elon Musk with one of his 12 children on stage TIME Person of the Year on December 13, 2021 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
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The Birth of Elon’s First Child and an Unimaginable Loss
Elon met Justine Wilson while they were both students at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. Justine was in her first year, and Elon, a year ahead of her, was a 19-year-old student with a South African accent and an ambitious spirit.
Their romance quickly grew, and after Elon sold his first company, Zip2, they got engaged and moved into a newly renovated condo. By January 2000, they were married. Two years later, they welcomed their first child, Nevada Alexander Musk.
In 2002, their joy turned to heartbreak when Nevada stopped breathing during a nap at just 10 weeks old. Although paramedics managed to resuscitate him, Nevada had been without oxygen for too long and was declared brain dead.
He spent three days on life support before Justine and Elon made the painful decision to let him go. Justine held him in her arms as he passed away. When news of Nevada’s passing resurfaced years later, it struck a chord with many people.
The loss deeply affected the couple, but in the years that followed, they went on to grow their family through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Twins and Triplets – Expanding the Family
After Nevada’s passing, Elon and Justine became parents to five more children. In 2004, he welcomed twins, Griffin and Xavier. Two years later, triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian joined the family.
During their marriage, Elon continued to expand his business ventures. However, the pressures of his growing career and personal life eventually took a toll on their relationship. In 2008, the couple divorced and Elon went on to date actress, Talulah Riley.
Elon Musk kissing Talulah Riley as they stand with his twins outside the Nasdaq Marketsite on June 29, 2010, in New York | Source: Getty Images
Despite their differences, they agreed to share custody of their five sons. In 2022, one of the twins, Xavier, made headlines after petitioning for a legal name and gender change. She adopted Vivian Jenna Wilson, taking her mother’s maiden name, and requested to sever ties with her father.
Her social media account offers rare glimpses into her life, making her one of the more public-facing members of the Musk family. Elon’s family continued to grow in the years that followed, this time with musician Grimes.