Elon Musk Addresses Claims of “13th Child” Amid Billionaire Ranking and CIA Visit.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has publicly responded to allegations by a U.S. author who claims to have given birth to his 13th child. On April 1, Musk stated he is uncertain about the child’s paternity but confirmed providing the woman 2.5million up front and 2.5 million up front and 500,000 annually.
The same day, the 2025 Forbes Global Billionaires List crowned Musk as the world’s richest person with a net worth of 342 billion—342 billion—126 billion ahead of second-place Mark Zuckerberg. Separately, CIA officials confirmed Musk, who leads the U.S. Government Efficiency Division, visited CIA headquarters on March 31 to discuss efficiency initiatives.
Musk’s Response to Paternity Claims
On Monday, Musk addressed the controversy on social media platform X. The claims originated from 31-year-old author Ashley St. Clair, who alleged in a February 15 post: “Five months ago, I had a child. Elon Musk is the father. I kept this private to protect my baby’s safety.” Recent reports revealed St. Clair was seen selling her $100,000 Tesla Model S outside her Manhattan apartment, claiming Musk reduced child support by 60%.
In interviews, St. Clair stated, “I must make up for the 60% cut Elon imposed on my son’s support.” When asked if Musk was retaliating, she added, “This is his pattern when women speak up. Check Tesla’s stock—I’m not the only one dealing with his fallout.” She claims to have hired lawyers to sue Musk, with a court ordering a paternity test.
Musk responded on X: “I don’t know if the child is mine, but I’m willing to clarify this without a court order. Despite uncertainty, I’ve given Ashley 2.5 million and provide 2.5 million and provide 500,000 yearly.”
Background on Musk’s Children
If confirmed, this would be Musk’s 13th child. In June 2023, he acknowledged secretly fathering a third child with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis earlier that year—his 12th overall. His publicly known children include:
- Six with first wife Justine Musk (their firstborn died of SIDS at 10 weeks).
- Three with musician Grimes, including X AE A-XII, frequently seen in public with Musk.
- Three with Zilis.
The latest allegations add to ongoing scrutiny of Musk’s personal life amid his high-profile business ventures and government collaborations.
