Topline
Elon Musk is so eager to create a “legion” of children he once used X to recruit a potential mother and suggested to a former girlfriend they hire surrogates, according to a Wall Street Journal report, which alleges he manages the mothers like a “meritocracy,” financially rewarding those who are quiet and cooperative.
Elon Musk carries his son X Æ A-Xii on his shoulders in the Oval Office of the White House in … More
Key Facts
Ashley St. Clair—the 26-year-old conservative social media influencer who gave birth to a son, Romulus, with Musk in September—described what she referred to as Musk’s “harem drama,” and shared with The Journal some of the many texts she said she received from Musk throughout their relationship on topics ranging from politics to his “legion-level” offspring aspirations.
Musk wanted to use surrogates to quickly produce more children with St. Clair, he reportedly said in one of the text messages, and wrote “I want to knock you up again” in response to a selfie she sent him in November.
Musk has at least 14 children with four women: St. Clair, the pop singer Grimes, his ex-wife Justine Musk and Shivon Zilis, an executive at his Neuralink company, though he reportedly told St. Clair he gave his sperm to impregnate a high-profile Japanese woman, and multiple sources told the Journal they believe the number of Musk’s children is “much higher than publicly known.”
St. Clair and other unnamed sources told the Journal Musk is highly sensitive to privacy concerns: St. Clair said Musk’s fixer, Jared Birchall, texted her when she went into labor and urged her to keep Musk’s name off the birth certificate, a request she complied with, though she refused to keep Musk’s relationship to her and their child secret in exchange for Musk’s offer of $15 million plus $100,000 per month until the baby was 21.
After she publicly disclosed her relationship with Musk in a post on X in February, the billionaire revoked the $15 million offer and lowered her monthly payments to $40,000 a month, then appeared to slash them further when he found out about the Journal article, paying her $20,000 on Tuesday, she reportedly said.
Musk propositioned another woman he’d never met, cryptocurrency influencer Tiffany Fong, to have his children via direct message on X, and he unfollowed her when he learned she told others about the offer, according to unnamed sources cited by the Journal.
Crucial Quote
“Privacy and confidentiality is the top of the list in every aspect of his life, every aspect, and his entire world is set up to be, like, a meritocracy,” Birchall told St. Clair, according to the Journal. “Benefits flow” when “people do good work,” he reportedly said.
Chief Critic
Musk did not speak to the Journal for the article, but wrote on X Tuesday, shortly after it was published, “TMZ>>WSJ,” referencing the tabloid website.
Tangent
In addition to his child support battle with St. Clair, Musk was also in a custody battle with Grimes that settled in August. Grimes claimed on X the legal dispute bankrupted her.
Forbes Valuation
We estimate Musk, the wealthiest person in the world, is worth $367.9 billion.
Key Background
Musk, 53, has become a fixture at Trump’s side since he donated more than $250 million to his political campaign last year, often with his young son, X, one of the children he shares with Grimes, in tow at the White House. Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, and Zilis, also sometimes attend political events with Musk. The billionaire speaks openly about his concerns of a dwindling population and has told people close to him he’s particularly concerned about what he describes as “Third World countries” having higher birthrates than the U.S. and Europe, the Journal reported.
Further Reading
The Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His ‘Legion’ of Babies—and Their Mothers (Wall Street Journal)
