Elon Musk has two former wives, three marriages and at least 13 publicly confirmed children. A possible 14th child has also been reported, but paternity was still being determined in a New York court in the most recent supplied reporting. Musk has not had a publicly documented current spouse in the record reviewed for this article as of Aug. 21, 2026.
His family history includes a first marriage to author Justine Wilson, two marriages to actress Talulah Riley, three children with musician Grimes and four children with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis. The public record also identifies his parents as Maye Musk and Errol Musk. Some family details remain contested, private or incomplete, particularly where they involve minors.
This article focuses on the spouse and family information that has been publicly reported. For broader context on his career and public life, see Newsr’s profile of Elon Musk.
Who was Elon Musk married to?
Musk’s first wife was Justine Wilson, whom he met while both were students at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. The couple married in 2000 and divorced in 2008, according to the public biographical record. They had six children together, although their first child, Nevada Alexander Musk, died in infancy.
Wilson has written and spoken publicly about the marriage and its breakdown. Accounts cited by biographical reporting describe a relationship affected by conflict, work pressures and differing expectations. Because the accounts come from people with different perspectives, descriptions of the marriage should be treated as attributed statements rather than as an uncontested narrative.
Musk later married English actress Talulah Riley. Their first marriage took place in 2010 and ended in divorce in 2012. The couple reconciled and remarried in 2013, then divorced again in 2016. That history is why references to Musk’s “three marriages” generally mean two separate marriages to Riley plus his marriage to Wilson.
Riley was reported to have developed a relationship with Musk’s children during her time with him. Public accounts have said that she remained in contact with some of them, but the details of any present-day family relationship are not fully documented. Musk’s other reported relationships include actress Amber Heard and musician Grimes. Reports have also linked him to other women, but a media mention or alleged relationship is not the same as a confirmed marriage or ongoing partnership.
How many children does Elon Musk have?
The number depends on the standard used. TODAY reported in January 2026 that Musk had 13 children he had confirmed publicly, plus a possible 14th child whose paternity was being addressed in court. Wikipedia’s current biographical summary lists 14 publicly known children, including Nevada, who is deceased. These totals should not be read as proof that every detail of the family is settled.
With Justine Wilson, Musk had:
- Nevada Alexander Musk: Their first child, who died at 10 weeks old from complications related to sudden infant death syndrome, according to reporting cited by TODAY.
- Griffin Musk and Vivian Jenna Wilson: Twins born in 2004. Vivian legally changed her name and gender in 2022 and has publicly described her decision as including a wish to distance herself from her father.
- Kai, Saxon and Damian Musk: Triplets born in 2006. Their birth order has not been made public.
Public reporting has included occasional references by Musk to some of these children, but most have remained out of sustained public view. Protecting the privacy of children and young adults is especially important when discussing a family connected to a highly visible public figure.
Musk and Grimes have three children together. Their first child, born in 2020, was publicly known by the distinctive name X Æ A-Xii, later adjusted to X Æ A-Xii to comply with California birth-certificate rules. The couple also have a daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl, and a third child, Techno Mechanicus. The latter’s existence was not widely known until it was reported in connection with a 2023 biography, illustrating how incomplete the public record can be even for a prominent family.
Musk also has four children with Shivon Zilis, a technology executive associated with Neuralink. Public reporting first disclosed twins born in 2021. A later child was reported in 2024. The children’s names and personal details have not all been consistently publicized, and this article does not repeat private identifying information about minors.
In 2025, reporting also identified a child born to conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair. Musk’s paternity and relationship with St. Clair became the subject of public statements and legal reporting. TODAY’s January 2026 account described this as one child, while also distinguishing between children Musk had confirmed and a possible additional child whose paternity was under court review.
What is known about Musk’s relationships?
Musk’s relationships have often been covered through interviews, biographies, court filings and social-media posts. That material can establish marriages, children and some public statements, but it does not provide a complete account of his private life. Nine.com.au’s relationship timeline, drawing on Walter Isaacson’s biography and interviews, describes his early relationship with Jennifer Gwynne, his marriage to Wilson, his marriages to Riley and later relationships.
Business Insider similarly described Musk’s spouse history as two ex-wives and three marriages, while noting that his dating status was not clear in its reporting. That article also covered his relationships with Heard and Grimes, as well as reports involving Zilis and other women. Allegations about private relationships should remain labeled as allegations when the people involved dispute them. For example, Musk denied a Wall Street Journal report alleging an affair with Nicole Shanahan, and Shanahan’s lawyer also denied the report, according to Business Insider.
Musk has publicly expressed pronatalist views and has warned about declining birth rates. Biographer Walter Isaacson told TODAY that Musk believes people should have more children. Those statements help explain how Musk has discussed family in public, but they do not establish the private arrangements, custody terms or day-to-day relationships within his family.
Family facts that remain uncertain
Several points should be kept separate from verified facts. First, “14 children” can refer either to all publicly known children, including Nevada, or to living children, depending on the source’s counting method. Second, the possible 14th child reported in 2026 was not presented as an undisputed fact; the supplied account said paternity was being determined in court. Third, the status of Musk’s current romantic relationships is not established by the sources reviewed.
What is firmly documented is narrower: Musk was married to Wilson from 2000 to 2008; he married Riley twice, in 2010 and 2013, with divorces in 2012 and 2016; he has publicly reported children with Wilson, Grimes, Zilis and St. Clair; and his parents are Maye and Errol Musk. Beyond those points, the public record should be read with caution rather than treated as a complete family ledger.
For readers searching for Elon Musk’s spouse and family facts, the most accurate answer is therefore both specific and qualified: he has two former wives, no publicly confirmed current spouse in the supplied record, and a large family whose publicly reported size and relationships continue to include disputed or private details.
Sources and reporting notes
This profile uses reporting from TODAY, Business Insider, Nine.com.au and the Wikipedia biographical summary. Names, relationship dates and child counts are presented only where supported by the supplied extracts. Private addresses, schools, schedules and other identifying details about minors are intentionally omitted.
A source-conscious guide to Elon Musk’s spouse history, children and family record, with disputed claims clearly separated from established facts.
Sources and methodology
- TODAY: https://www.today.com/parents/parents/elon-musk-kids-rcna19692
- Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spouse-married
- Nine.com.au: https://www.nine.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/elon-musk-wives-girlfriends-baby-mamas-20230913-p5pkgh.html
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk
