Elon MuskĀ has been making headlines for countless reasons lately ā from his tech innovations to his unpredictable moves in the business world.
But did you know that behind the scenes, the worldās richest man is a father to 12 children, and tragically lost his firstborn at just 29 days old?
Curious about how many times heās walked down the aisle?
Well, hold on tight because Musk has an āincredibleā new plan thatās catching everyoneās attention.
Elon Muskās wives
Justine Musk, Elon Muskās first wife, played a significant role in the early chapters of his personal life.
The pair met while studying at Queenās University in Ontario and married in 2000, embarking on a journey that would see early success and deep personal tragedy.
The couple welcomed their first son, Nevada Alexander, in 2002, but their joy turned to heartbreak when Nevada tragically passed away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at just 10 weeks old.
Elon Musk hasnāt spoken much about the heartbreaking loss of his son Nevada, but some details have emerged ā partly due toĀ a tragic Tesla accident.
In emails exchanged with James Riley, whose son Barrett died in a 2018 Tesla Model S crash, Musk showed unusual compassion and empathy, writing,Ā āThereās nothing worse than losing a child.ā
Elon Musk about his lost son
He shared his own grief, recounting the personal tragedy of losing his firstborn son, Nevada, at 10 weeks old:Ā āMy firstborn son died in my arms. I felt his last heartbeat.ā
Despite this profound loss, the couple went on to have five more children ā twins in 2004 and triplets in 2006 ā before parting ways in 2008.
Hereās how Justine hasĀ describedĀ the breakup:
āIn 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 gorgeous 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 2005āsĀ Pride and Prejudice. Two of the things that struck me were: a)Ā Pride and PrejudiceĀ is a really good movie, and b) My life with this man had devolved to a clichĆ©.ā
The actress who married Musk ā twice
The British actress Talulah Riley captured Muskās heart not once but twice. The 39-year-oldĀ St TriniansĀ actor first crossed paths with Musk in 2008 at a London nightclub, and she was immediately captivated by the innovatorās āsweetā and āshyā demeanor.
The pair first married in 2010, shortly after Muskās divorce from Justine.
Their whirlwind romance was marked by both intense passion and challenges, leading to their first divorce in 2012.
However, proving that some love stories are hard to let go, they remarried in 2013 only to divorce again in 2016. Riley has since spoken kindly of Musk, calling him āa great friendā despite their complex past.
āHe looks out for me. We are in a happy place now, where weāre good to each other, which is really nice. I have the utmost love for him,ā sheĀ said.
The couple lived together with Muskās five children from his first marriage. However, Musk and Talulah Riley do not have any children of their own.
Secretive union with Shivon Zilis
In recent years, Musk has been linked with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink, one of his brain-machine interface companies.
Their relationship was kept under wraps until it was revealed in 2022 that they had become parents to twins viaĀ IVF, adding to Muskās growing family tree.
The news certainly sparked some chatter about workplace ethics, especially since Zilis directly reported to Musk. Their third child together was welcomed in early 2024, thanks to the help of surrogacy.
The Neuralink executive revealed inĀ Walter Isaacsonās biographyĀ that she and Musk never dated. Instead, Musk donated his sperm to ensure their children would be genetically his, with Zilis explaining that Musk encouraged her to have children because he āreally wants smart people to have kids.ā No romantic or sexual involvement was part of their arrangement.
The musician who broke all conventions
Perhaps the most unexpected and talked-about relationship of Muskās was with Canadian musician Grimes (born Claire Boucher).
The couple first appeared together in 2018, shocking the world with their contrasting personalities ā the tech mogul and the avant-garde artist.
They welcomed a son in 2020, with a name as unconventional as their union: X Ć A-12 (later adjusted to X AE A-Xii for legal reasons).
One year later, they had a daughter, Exa Dark SiderƦl Musk, through surrogacy.
Although they announced a āsemi-separationā in late 2021, they reportedly remain close and committed to co-parenting. For example, Grimes described her relationship with Musk by saying, āIād probably call him my boyfriend, but weāre both very fluid in how we define things.ā
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 regarding parental rights and custody of their eldest son.
How many times have Elon Musk been married?
A question that naturally comes up is how many times Elon Musk has actually been married. Given all the relationships heās had, it can be a bit tricky to keep track.
But the answer is three ā heās been married three times, to two different women. His marital history includes two marriages to actress Talulah Riley and one marriage to author Justine Wilson.
Elon Muskās estranged relationship with Vivian Jenna Wilson
One of Elon Muskās most well-known children isĀ Vivian Jenna Wilson, who, along with her twin brother, was born to Muskās first wife, author Justine Musk.
Vivian, 20, made headlines in June 2022 when she legally changed her name and gender at the Santa Monica courthouse, choosing to adopt her motherās last name to distance herself from her biological father.
In a petition filed in April 2022, Vivian expressed her desire to sever ties with Musk, stating,Ā āI no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.āĀ Despite her decision, Musk has publicly reacted to the change, claiming in a July 2022 interview that his āsonā was ādeadā due to the influence of what he called the āwoke mind virus.ā
Musk has also made controversial comments about his childās transition, stating that he was misled into approving the use of puberty blockers. He claimed,Ā āIt happened to one of my older boys, where I was essentially tricked into signing documentsā¦ I was told Xavier might commit suicide if he doesnātā¦āĀ Muskās remarks have sparked debate, with Dr. Jordan Peterson, who was interviewing him at the time, dismissing his claims asĀ āa lie right from the outset.ā
Elon Muskās parenting wisdom
With 12 children and a series of relationships that have captivated the public, Elon Muskās personal life is as complex and intriguing as his professional one.
Elon Musk, known for his unique approach to life, recently shared some light-hearted thoughts on parenting in a post on X.com. Reflecting on the challenges of raising kids, he quipped,Ā āWhoa, I just realised that raising a kid is basically 18 years of prompt engineering.āĀ also has strong views on the importance of family, previously stating,Ā āHaving children is saving the world.ā
When a soon-to-be parent asked Musk for his biggest piece of advice on raising a child, Musk didnāt hold back,Ā replying,Ā āMy advice regarding starting a family is start immediately.āĀ He also stressed the importance of being mindful about education, advising,Ā āBe super careful about what schools teach your kids.āĀ Classic Musk ā blending humor with some solid wisdom on family life.
The story continues: Whatās next for Musk?
Elon Muskās most recent plans reportedly involve constructing a $35 million mansion complex in Austin, Texas, where his blended family can come together, promoting unity and co-parenting. According to theĀ New York Times, Musk has shared with those close to him that he wants his children and two of their mothers to live on the Tuscan-style compound, so his younger children can be near each other, making it easier for him to spend time with them.
Sources close to the Texas billionaire told the Times that the new properties are just a 10-minute walk from the Austin mansion where he typically stays.
Whether this ambitious plan succeeds or not, one thing is certain: Elon Muskās story is far from over.