Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, is not only known for his technological innovations but also for being a father to a large and growing family. With a dozen children, Musk’s family tree is extensive, and his approach to parenting has been a subject of both admiration and debate. This article takes a closer look at his children, co-parenting dynamics, and reflections on fatherhood.
Musk and his first wife, Justine Wilson, welcomed their first child, Nevada Alexander, in 2002. Tragically, Nevada passed away at just 10 weeks old due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In a 2010 essay for Marie Claire, Wilson recounted the heartbreaking experience, writing, “Nevada went down for a nap, placed on his back as always, and stopped breathing. By the time the paramedics resuscitated him, he had been deprived of oxygen for so long that he was brain-dead.”
Following the loss of their first child, Musk and Wilson had twins, Griffin Musk and Vivian Jenna Wilson, through in vitro fertilization (IVF). In April 2022, Vivian legally changed her name and gender, stating that she no longer wished to be associated with her father. Musk has previously voiced his opinions on gender identity pronouns, referring to them as an “esthetic nightmare” on Twitter.
The couple expanded their family further in 2006, welcoming triplet sons—Kai, Saxon, and Damian—again via IVF. However, Musk and Wilson divorced in 2008, two years after the triplets were born.