Elon Musk's complicated love life and relationships: All the women he's dated, married, and had children with

Time of India

2 days ago

Elon Musk
, the billionaire tech mogul behind Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and X (formerly Twitter), has earned global recognition for reshaping industries. Yet, behind the scenes of rocket launches and AI debates lies a personal life filled with passion, heartbreak, and unconventional choices.
Musk's romantic journey, just like his business ventures, is layered, complex, and at times, controversial. From college sweethearts to high-profile celebrities and co-parenting across multiple households, Musk's relationships have been as headline-grabbing as his innovations. Let's take a closer look at the notable women Musk has loved, lost, and continues to co-parent with.
Jennifer Gwynne
: The college sweetheart
Long before becoming the world's richest man, Musk had a quiet college romance with Jennifer Gwynne during his time at the University of Pennsylvania in the mid-1990s.
Described by Gwynne as 'sweet, nerdy, and intensely focused,' Musk was known for bringing her chocolates, helping with homework, and talking late into the night about his big dreams, as per reports. Their relationship lasted about a year, ultimately ending when Musk moved to California to start Zip2, his first company.
Gwynne later auctioned off mementoes from their relationship, including photos and a gold necklace he gifted her, shedding light on the softer, more vulnerable side of Musk before fame took over.
Justine Musk: Elon Musk's first wife
In 2000, Musk married Canadian author Justine Wilson, whom he met at Queen's University. Their marriage was filled with both joy and tragedy. Their first child, Nevada, died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at just 10 weeks old. The couple went on to have twins and then triplets through in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, the marriage was far from smooth. Justine later described it as emotionally suffocating, stating Musk was controlling and dismissive of her aspirations.
They divorced in 2008, but continued to co-parent their five sons. Justine has since spoken publicly about reclaiming her identity after the marriage, revealing the emotional costs of being with a man so consumed by his ambitions.
Talulah Riley
: The on-again, off-again love
Musk's relationship with British actress Talulah Riley reads like a romantic drama. They first married in 2010, divorced in 2012, remarried in 2013, and finalised a second divorce in 2016.
Riley stood by Musk during difficult times, including the production delays at Tesla and media scrutiny. Despite their turbulent relationship, they have remained on good terms, with Musk even saying, 'We are still friends, see each other frequently and love each other.
' Riley has since moved on, but their unique bond and mutual respect continue to be a rare constant in Musk's ever-evolving personal life.
Amber Heard: A fiery fling
In 2017, after Amber Heard filed for divorce from
Johnny Depp
, the actress was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Elon Musk.
Their relationship was intense, passionate, and short-lived. Roughly a year or so of dating each other, Amber Heard and Elon Musk broke up, citing their busy schedules as a major reason. However, Musk later admitted that the breakup 'hurt bad.' According to Walter Isaacson's biography on Musk, their relationship was described as 'toxic' at times, with wild fights and dramatic makeups.
Friends reportedly warned Musk against getting involved, noting the emotional strain it was causing.
The fling ended permanently by early 2018, but not without leaving an impression, both publicly and personally.
Grimes: The most unconventional love story
Perhaps Musk's most headline-making relationship was with Canadian musician Claire Boucher, known professionally as Grimes. The pair debuted as a couple at the 2018 Met Gala and quickly became pop culture's oddest pairing. Grimes described their relationship as 'fluid,' and their children's names made global headlines, especially their son X Æ A-12 (later changed to X Æ A-Xii due to California law).
They welcomed a daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl (nicknamed Y), via surrogate in 2021, and another child, Techno Mechanicus, in 2022.
Though they reportedly broke up in 2022, Grimes filed a petition in 2023 to establish legal custody rights, hinting at their behind-the-scenes parenting conflicts. Still, she has publicly said she respects Musk's vision and remains committed to co-parenting.
Shivon Zilis
: From Neuralink to parenthood
While much of Musk's romantic history is public, his relationship with Shivon Zilis unfolded quietly.
Zilis, a Neuralink executive, gave birth to Musk's twins, Strider and Azure, in 2021, just weeks before the birth of his second child with Grimes. The news only became public in 2022. Though the nature of their relationship remains private, Zilis and Musk reportedly co-parent amicably, with Musk even moving closer to her Texas home to be involved in the twins' upbringing.
She has kept a low profile, focusing on her professional role and the children.
Recent rumours: Ashley St. Clair and Baby Number 13
In 2025, conservative commentator Ashley St. Clair claimed she gave birth to Musk's 13th child and accused him of not acknowledging the baby. Musk has not publicly responded to the allegation, and the situation remains shrouded in mystery. The story, if true, adds another chapter to Musk's intricate and expanding family web, further intensifying public curiosity about his personal decisions and the impact they may have on his children.
A love life as complex as his career
Elon Musk's love life is far from conventional, filled with intensity, reinvention, and heartbreak. Whether it's romantic rollercoasters or unconventional co-parenting, his relationships often mirror the same ambition and unpredictability that fuel his career. With 13 children across various partnerships, Musk's romantic past continues to shape his present and may well influence his future. While he forges paths to Mars, the world remains equally intrigued by his terrestrial affairs of the heart.
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