Elon Musk has been making waves lately, from his groundbreaking tech innovations to his unpredictable business moves.
But did you know that the world’s richest man is also a father of 12 children, including the heartbreaking loss of his firstborn at just 29 days old?
Ever wondered how many times he’s tied the knot? Buckle up, because Musk’s latest ambitious plan is grabbing everyone’s attention.
Elon Musk’s wives
Justine Musk, Elon Musk’s first wife, was a key figure in the early years of his personal life.
The two met while studying at Queen’s University in Ontario and married in 2000, beginning a journey marked by early success and profound personal loss.
In 2002, they welcomed their first son, Nevada Alexander, but their joy was short-lived. Nevada tragically passed away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at just 10 weeks old.
Elon Musk has rarely spoken about the devastating loss of his son Nevada, but some details have surfaced, partly due to a tragic Tesla accident.
In emails with James Riley, whose son Barrett died in a 2018 Tesla Model S crash, Musk expressed an uncommon level of compassion and empathy, writing, “There’s nothing worse than losing a child.”
Elon Musk on the Loss of His Son
Elon Musk opened up about the deep grief he felt after losing his firstborn son, Nevada, at just 10 weeks old. “My firstborn son died in my arms. I felt his last heartbeat,” he shared, recounting the heartbreaking tragedy.
Despite this profound loss, Elon and Justine went on to have five more children—twins in 2004 and triplets in 2006—before separating in 2008.
Justine has described the breakup in candid terms:
“In the late spring of 2008, my wealthy entrepreneurial husband, Elon Musk, the father of my five young sons, filed for divorce. Six weeks later, he texted me to say he was engaged to a beautiful British actress in her early 20s who had moved to Los Angeles to be with him. Her name is Talulah Riley, and she played one of the sisters in Pride and Prejudice (2005). Two things that struck me were: a) Pride and Prejudice is a really good movie, and b) My life with this man had devolved into a cliché.”
The Actress Who Married Elon Musk—Twice
British actress Talulah Riley captured Elon Musk’s heart not once, but twice. The 39-year-old St. Trinian’s actress first met Musk in 2008 at a London nightclub, where she was immediately drawn to his “sweet” and “shy” demeanor.
The couple married in 2010, shortly after Musk’s divorce from Justine. Their whirlwind romance was marked by both passionate highs and tough challenges, ultimately leading to their first divorce in 2012.
However, their connection proved difficult to shake, and they remarried in 2013, only to divorce again in 2016. Despite their complicated past, Riley has spoken warmly of Musk, calling him “a great friend.”
“He looks out for me. We are in a happy place now, where we’re good to each other, which is really nice. I have the utmost love for him,” she said.
The couple lived together with Musk’s five children from his first marriage, but Musk and Talulah Riley never had children of their own.
A Secretive Union with Shivon Zilis
In recent years, Musk has been linked to Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink, one of his brain-machine interface companies. Their relationship remained private until it was revealed in 2022 that they had welcomed twins via IVF, further expanding Musk’s family.
The news certainly raised questions about workplace ethics, particularly since Zilis reported directly to Musk. In early 2024, they welcomed their third child together through surrogacy.
In Walter Isaacson’s biography, Zilis clarified that she and Musk never dated. Instead, Musk donated his sperm to ensure their children would be genetically his. Zilis shared that Musk encouraged her to have children because he “really wants smart people to have kids.” Their arrangement, she explained, involved no romantic or sexual involvement.
The musician who broke all conventions
One of Musk’s most surprising and widely discussed relationships was with Canadian musician Grimes (born Claire Boucher). The pair made their debut together in 2018, drawing attention for their starkly different personalities—the tech mogul and the avant-garde artist.
In 2020, they welcomed a son, whose name was as unconventional as their relationship: X Æ A-12 (which was later changed to X AE A-Xii for legal reasons).
A year later, they had a daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, via surrogacy.
Although they announced a “semi-separation” in late 2021, they reportedly remain close and dedicated to co-parenting. Grimes described their relationship, saying, “I’d probably call him my boyfriend, but we’re both very fluid in how we define things.”
In September 2023, it was revealed that the couple had welcomed a third child, a son. Just a month later, in October 2023, Grimes filed a lawsuit against Musk concerning parental rights and custody of their eldest son.
How many times has Elon Musk been married?
A common question is how many times Elon Musk has actually been married. With all the relationships he’s had, it can be hard to keep track.
The answer is three—he’s been married three times to two different women. His marital history includes two marriages to actress Talulah Riley and one to author Justine Wilson.
Elon Musk’s Strained Relationship with Vivian Jenna Wilson
One of Elon Musk’s most well-known children is Vivian Jenna Wilson, who, along with her twin brother, was born to Musk’s first wife, author Justine Musk.
At 20, Vivian made headlines in June 2022 when she legally changed her name and gender at the Santa Monica courthouse. She chose to adopt her mother’s last name, distancing herself from her biological father.
In a petition filed in April 2022, Vivian expressed her desire to sever all ties with Musk, stating, “I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape, or form.” Despite this, Musk publicly responded to her decision, claiming in a July 2022 interview that his “son” was “dead” due to the influence of what he called the “woke mind virus.”
Musk has also made controversial remarks about his child’s transition, stating that he was misled into approving the use of puberty blockers. He claimed, “It happened to one of my older boys, where I was essentially tricked into signing documents… I was told Xavier might commit suicide if he doesn’t…” These comments sparked debate, with Dr. Jordan Peterson, who was interviewing Musk at the time, dismissing his claims as “a lie right from the outset.”
Elon Musk’s Approach to Parenting
With 12 children and several high-profile relationships, Elon Musk’s personal life is as interesting as his work.
Musk recently shared some fun thoughts on parenting in a post on X.com. He joked, “Whoa, I just realized that raising a kid is basically 18 years of prompt engineering.” He’s also spoken about the importance of family, saying, “Having children is saving the world.”
When someone asked Musk for his top advice on having a child, he simply said, “Start immediately.” He also stressed being careful about education, advising, “Be super careful about what schools teach your kids.” Typical Musk—mixing humor with useful advice on family life.
The journey continues: What’s next for Elon Musk?
Elon Musk’s latest plans reportedly include building a $35 million mansion complex in Austin, Texas, designed to bring his blended family together and encourage unity and co-parenting. According to the New York Times, Musk has told those close to him that he envisions his children and two of their mothers living on the Tuscan-style estate, allowing his younger kids to be nearby and making it easier for him to spend time with them.
Sources familiar with the Texas billionaire shared that the new properties will be just a 10-minute walk from the mansion in Austin where he typically resides.
Whether this ambitious project will come to fruition or not, one thing is clear: Elon Musk’s story is far from over.
