Elon Musk has been dominating headlines for countless reasons ā from groundbreaking tech innovations to his bold and unpredictable moves in the business world.
But behind the scenes, thereās a deeply personal story many donāt know: Elon Musk is a father to 12 children and has faced heartbreaking loss, including the death of his firstborn at just 10 weeks old.
Wondering how many times this billionaire entrepreneur has walked down the aisle?
Hold tight ā because Muskās love life is as fascinating and complex as his ventures, and he now has an āincredibleā new plan thatās turning heads everywhere.
Elon Muskās Wives and Family Life
First up is Justine Musk, Elonās first wife and partner during his early years. They met while studying at Queenās University in Ontario and tied the knot in 2000. Their marriage was filled with moments of joy and deep sorrow.
In 2002, the couple welcomed their first son, Nevada Alexander. Tragically, their joy was cut short when Nevada passed away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at only 10 weeks old ā a loss that shaped much of their journey together.

Elon Musk has rarely spoken publicly about the devastating loss of his first son, Nevada, but some poignant details have emergedāespecially in the wake of a tragic Tesla accident.
In private emails with James Riley, whose son Barrett died in a 2018 Tesla Model S crash, Musk showed a rare moment of tenderness and empathy, writing, āThereās nothing worse than losing a child.ā
Elon Musk on Losing His Son
Musk opened up about his own heartbreak, revealing the profound pain of losing Nevada at just 10 weeks old: āMy firstborn son died in my arms. I felt his last heartbeat.ā
Despite this unimaginable tragedy, Elon and his then-wife Justine went on to have five more childrenāwelcoming twins in 2004 and triplets in 2006ābefore their marriage ended in 2008.
Reflecting on their breakup, Justine Musk shared candidly:
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 things struck me: 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
British actress Talulah Riley captured Muskās heart not once, but twice. TheĀ St TriniansĀ star met Musk in 2008 at a London nightclub and was charmed by his unexpectedly āsweetā and āshyā personality.
They married in 2010, shortly after Muskās divorce from Justine, in a whirlwind romance filled with passionāand challenges. Their first marriage ended in divorce in 2012.
Yet some love stories are hard to let go: the couple remarried in 2013, only to divorce again in 2016.
Despite their rocky past, Riley has spoken warmly of Musk, calling him āa great friend.ā
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 she shared.
The pair lived together with Muskās five children from his first marriage, though they had no children of their own.
The Secretive Union with Shivon Zilis
More recently, Muskās personal life took another unexpected turn with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink, one of Muskās companies focused on brain-machine interfaces.
Their relationship remained private until 2022, when it was revealed they had twins via IVF, expanding Muskās already large family.
This revelation sparked conversations about workplace ethics, given Zilis reported directly to Musk.
A third child together arrived in early 2024 through surrogacy.
In Walter Isaacsonās biography, Zilis clarified that they never dated romantically. Instead, Musk donated his sperm to ensure their children were genetically his. She explained Musk encouraged her to have children because he āreally wants smart people to have kids.ā Their arrangement involved no romantic or sexual relationshipājust a shared desire to build a family.
The Musician Who Defied All Conventions
Perhaps the most unexpected and talked-about relationship in Elon Muskās life has been with Canadian musician Grimes (born Claire Boucher).
Their pairing first captured global attention in 2018, bringing together two strikingly different worlds ā the visionary tech mogul and the avant-garde artist known for pushing creative boundaries.
In 2020, they welcomed a son whose name made headlines as much as the couple themselves: X à A-12 (later changed to X AE A-Xii for legal reasons). A year later, they expanded their unconventional family with the birth of a daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, born via surrogate.
Though the pair announced a āsemi-separationā in late 2021, their bond remains strong. Grimes has described their relationship in her own unique way:
āIād probably call him my boyfriend, but weāre both very fluid in how we define things.ā
Despite their nontraditional arrangement, they continue to share a committed co-parenting partnership, navigating the complexities of fame, innovation, and family life on their own terms.

In September 2023, the couple surprised the world once again by welcoming their third child together, a son. But just a month later, in October 2023, Grimes took a legal step, filing a lawsuit against Musk over parental rights and custody of their eldest son, adding a new chapter to their complicated relationship.
How Many Times Has Elon Musk Been Married?
With Elon Muskās high-profile romances and complex family life, itās easy to lose track of his marital history. So, how many times has he actually walked down the aisle?
The answer is three times ā but only to two women. Musk was married twice to British actress Talulah Riley and once to author Justine Wilson.
Elon Muskās Estranged Daughter: Vivian Jenna Wilson
Among Muskās many children, one of the most well-known is Vivian Jenna Wilson. She and her twin brother were born to Musk and his first wife, Justine Musk.
Vivian has since legally changed her name and gender identity, distancing herself from her father, highlighting the complexities that can exist even in families as public as the Musk clan.

Vivian, now 20, made headlines in June 2022 when she legally changed her name and gender at a Santa Monica courthouse, choosing to adopt her motherās last name to distance herself from her biological father.
In an April 2022 petition, Vivian made her feelings clear, stating, āI no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.ā
Elon Musk publicly reacted to her decision with controversial remarks. In a July 2022 interview, he claimed his āsonā was ādeadā due to what he called the āwoke mind virus.ā Musk also said he felt misled into approving the use of puberty blockers for Vivian, alleging, āI was essentially tricked into signing documents… I was told Xavier might commit suicide if he doesnāt…ā These comments sparked widespread debate, with psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson calling Muskās claims āa lie right from the outset.ā
Elon Muskās Parenting Wisdom
With 12 children and a personal life as intricate as his business ventures, Muskās approach to parenting has drawn plenty of attention.
Known for his candid, sometimes quirky style, Musk recently joked on X.com, āWhoa, I just realized that raising a kid is basically 18 years of prompt engineering.ā Yet, beneath the humor, he expresses a strong belief in family, once saying, āHaving children is saving the world.ā
When asked for his top parenting advice, Musk didnāt hesitate: āMy advice regarding starting a family is start immediately.ā He also cautioned parents to ābe super careful about what schools teach your kids.ā Classic Muskāmixing humor with straightforward wisdom.
Whatās Next for Elon Musk?
Looking ahead, Musk reportedly has ambitious plans for his blended family. According to theĀ New York Times, he is developing a $35 million Tuscan-style mansion complex in Austin, Texas.
The idea? To bring his children and two of their mothers together in one place, fostering unity and making co-parenting easier. The new compound will be just a short 10-minute walk from the Austin mansion where Musk typically resides.
Whether this bold vision for family life comes to fruition or not, one thing is certain: Elon Muskās story ā full of innovation, complexity, and controversy ā is far from over.