new baby with Shivon Zilis reinforces pronatalist vision

Elon Musk, the billionaire behind companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, has once again expanded his family with the birth of his 14th child, announced in March 2025. The baby, named Seldon Lycurgus, is the result of his partnership with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink, marking their fourth child together. The news, shared by Zilis in a post on X, underscores the ongoing growth of Musk’s extensive brood, which now includes children with four different women. At 53, the mogul remains reserved about his personal life, responding to the announcement with just a heart emoji. This latest family milestone reflects his pronatalist philosophy, advocating for higher birth rates as a solution to global demographic challenges, a stance that contrasts with declining population trends in countries like Brazil and the United States.

The arrival of Seldon Lycurgus comes at a time of heightened visibility for Musk, who juggles fatherhood with a demanding business and political schedule. His influence in the United States has grown through his close ties to Donald Trump’s administration, where he co-leads initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency. Meanwhile, Neuralink, under Zilis’s management, progresses with brain-machine interface trials, solidifying the professional and personal bond between the two. The baby’s name, evoking the fictional mathematician Hari Seldon from Isaac Asimov and the Spartan lawgiver Lycurgus, suggests a choice rich in intellectual symbolism, consistent with Musk’s eccentric persona.

In Brazil, where the fertility rate dropped to 1.57 children per woman in 2023, according to IBGE data, Musk’s example sparks curiosity. As the country debates policies to reverse population decline, the billionaire moves in the opposite direction, building a family that defies traditional norms. Musk’s journey, now with 14 heirs, features exotic names, varied partnerships, and a routine blending technological innovation with a vision of an interplanetary future.

A family expanding at a rapid pace

Shivon Zilis, 38, has become a pivotal figure in Musk’s life in recent years, both as the mother of four of his children and as a key player at Neuralink. A Canadian with a low-profile approach, she announced Seldon Lycurgus’s birth on X, citing the anniversary of a “beautiful Arcadia” as inspiration for sharing the news. Before him, the couple welcomed twins Strider and Azure in 2021 and a third child, confirmed in 2024, whose name remains undisclosed. Their relationship, which gained attention in 2021, reflects a strong partnership bolstered by shared interests in technology and innovation.

Neuralink, the company linking Musk and Zilis, has achieved significant milestones under their leadership. In 2023, it secured approval for initial human trials, a critical step in developing brain implants. This professional progress aligns with their family’s growth, suggesting their collaboration extends far beyond the personal realm. Names like Seldon Lycurgus reinforce this synergy, blending science fiction and historical references—areas that captivate the billionaire known for his SpaceX mission to colonize Mars.

Beyond Zilis, Musk shares his children with three other women. Justine Musk, his first wife, is the mother of five living children from their 2000–2008 marriage. Claire Boucher, known as Grimes, bore three children with him between 2020 and 2023, distinguished by names like X AE A-XII and Techno Mechanicus. More recently, in 2024, influencer Ashley St. Clair gave birth to Musk’s 13th child, identified as R.S.C., before Seldon Lycurgus brought the total to 14.

Timeline of Musk’s heirs

Elon Musk’s family-building spans over two decades, with a pace that has accelerated in recent years. Here’s a timeline of key milestones in his progeny:

• 2002: First child with Justine Musk is born but dies weeks later from sudden infant death syndrome.
• 2004: Twins Griffin and Vivian are born to Justine.
• 2006: Triplets Damian, Saxon, and Kai arrive, completing five living children with Justine.
• 2020: X AE A-XII, Musk’s first child with Grimes, is born in May.
• 2021: Twins Strider and Azure, with Shivon Zilis, are registered.
• 2022: Exa Dark Sideræl, second child with Grimes, arrives via surrogate.
• 2023: Techno Mechanicus, third with Grimes, is revealed in Musk’s biography.
• 2024: R.S.C., child with Ashley St. Clair, is born in September; a third child with Zilis is confirmed.
• 2025: Seldon Lycurgus, fourth with Zilis, is born early in the year.

This timeline reveals that seven of Musk’s 14 children were born in the last five years, underscoring his intensified commitment to pronatalism. The diversity of mothers and unique name choices highlight the distinctiveness of this expansive family.

Names reflecting a futuristic vision

The names Musk chooses for his children mirror his personality and passions. With Grimes, he opted for combinations like X AE A-XII, pronounced “X Ash A Twelve,” blending references to a CIA spy plane (A-12) and artificial intelligence. Exa Dark Sideræl, born in 2022, carries a cosmic and mysterious tone, while Techno Mechanicus, nicknamed “Tau,” nods to the technological innovation defining his career. With Zilis, names like Strider and Azure suggest literary or natural inspirations, and Seldon Lycurgus merges science fiction with ancient history.

With Justine Musk, names were more conventional—Griffin, Vivian, Damian, Saxon, and Kai—indicating an evolution in his naming preferences over time. Musk’s influence shines through, particularly with Grimes and Zilis, where names echo his vision of an interplanetary future. This trend aligns with his SpaceX mission to establish human colonies on Mars, a dream he ties to the need for a robust population.

The eccentricity of these names also fuels public intrigue. Seldon, for instance, may honor Asimov’s character who predicts humanity’s future, while Lycurgus recalls the Spartan reformer known for social restructuring. These choices not only set Musk’s children apart but also tie his family to a narrative of innovation and legacy.

Challenges of balancing fatherhood and influence

Managing 14 children with four mothers poses logistical and emotional challenges for Elon Musk. Grimes has publicly voiced frustrations, such as a post on X urging him to address a “medical crisis” involving one of their shared children. Ashley St. Clair filed a lawsuit in New York in February 2025, seeking sole custody of R.S.C., claiming Musk has seen the child only three times since the September 2024 birth. In court documents, she portrays him as an absent father, unfit for consistent parental duties.

Musk’s public life adds further complexity. In February 2025, he was photographed with son X in the Oval Office alongside Donald Trump, a moment Grimes criticized as using the child as a “political prop.” His schedule—leading billion-dollar companies and shaping U.S. policy—often clashes with the demands of a large family. Yet Zilis maintains a quieter stance, focusing on their partnership without airing public tensions.

The dynamic with Justine Musk, his first wife, also sheds light on fatherhood’s ups and downs. During their marriage, she raised five children as Musk built his fortune, a time marked by immense personal and professional strain. Now, with 14 heirs, he faces the task of nurturing bonds with each, while his pronatalist vision continues to drive his decisions.

Pronatalism in action: Musk’s global impact

Elon Musk’s pronatalist philosophy, which he has championed at events and on X, takes tangible form with his 14 children. He argues that declining birth rates in developed nations threaten civilization, a concern backed by global data. In the United States, the birth rate fell to 1.62 children per woman in 2023, per CDC figures. In Japan and South Korea, rates dip below 1 child per woman, signaling looming demographic crises.

Musk bucks these trends by building a sprawling, diverse family. His children, spread across Justine, Grimes, Zilis, and St. Clair, embody an unconventional approach to parenthood, challenging societal norms. In Brazil, where the government explores incentives to boost births, Musk’s example stands out, though his reality diverges from the local average. In 2023, IBGE recorded 2.5 million births in the country, yet the fertility rate continues to decline.

Musk’s influence extends beyond statistics. His brood reinforces his call for humanity to reproduce on a large scale to secure its future, particularly in the context of space colonization. Seldon Lycurgus’s arrival in 2025 keeps this vision in focus, as Musk shapes discussions on demography, technology, and global policy.

Fascinating facts about the Musk family

Musk’s family is defined by quirks that go beyond its size. Here are some standout details:

• Vivian, daughter with Justine, is transgender, showcasing diversity in his lineage.
• X AE A-XII, son with Grimes, had his name tweaked to comply with California law.
• Seldon Lycurgus, the 14th child, blends science fiction and history in its naming.
• Seven of the 14 children were born in the last five years, reflecting a rapid pace.

These elements illustrate how Musk fuses eccentricity, innovation, and a long-term vision into his family life, keeping the public captivated with each new development.