Elon Musk has a fractured relationship with daughter Vivian Wilson.
Wilson has made it clear through the years that she has no interest in patching things up with her billionaire dad. The model and influencer has been estranged from the Tesla CEO since 2020, when she came out as transgender. Since then, Wilson has legally changed her name, built her own career and repeatedly clapped back at her father’s claims about why their bond imploded.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about their complicated dynamic:
Vivian Wilson’s Estrangement From Elon Musk Began in 2020
Wilson is one of Musk’s 14 children. She was born in 2004 to Musk and his first wife, Justine, who were married from 2000 to 2008. The exes also share Wilson’s twin brother, Griffin, along with triplets Kai, Saxon and Damian. (Their son Nevada died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome at 10 weeks old.)
In June 2022, Vivian legally changed her name to Vivian Jenna Wilson — a nod to her mother’s maiden name — and officially changed her gender from male to female.
“I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form,” she told a Los Angeles judge, per NBC News.
Speaking to Teen Vogue in March 2025, Vivian confirmed she had not spoken to Elon “in almost half a decade.” She added, “Thank God.”
Elon Musk Claimed Vivian Wilson Was ‘Brainwashed’
Musk has publicly blamed his daughter’s estrangement on outside influences.
“It’s full-on communism and a general sentiment that if you’re rich, you’re evil,” he told the Financial Times in an October 2022 interview. “[Our relationship] may change, but I have very good relationships with all [of my other children].”
He added, “Can’t win them all.”
Wilson has firmly rejected the characterization.
“Why would I feel scared of him? ‘Ohhh, he has so much power.’ Nah, nah, nah. I don’t give a f***. Why should I be scared of this man?” she told Teen Vogue. “I don’t give a f*** how much money anyone has. I don’t. I really don’t. He owns Twitter. OK. Congratulations.”
Elon Musk Says Vivian Wilson Is the Reason He Got Into Politics
Musk claimed via X in May 2026 that his daughter’s transgender identity is what motivated his right-wing political pivot. Responding to a post claiming Elon “never would have gotten involved” in politics if not for Vivian, the billionaire simply replied, “True.”
Elon campaigned for President Donald Trump’s 2024 reelection and was appointed to oversee the Department of Government Efficiency before quitting after 130 days over budget disagreements.
Wilson has denied being responsible for her father’s political trajectory.
“It’s such a convenient narrative, that the reason he turned right is because I’m a f**ing t**nny, and that’s just not the case,” she told Teen Vogue. “Him going further on the right — make sure you put ‘further’ in there — is not because of me. That’s insane.”
Vivian Wilson Walked Off a Red Carpet Over Elon Musk
In June 2026, Wilson was attending the 40th anniversary celebration for Spanish fashion label Desigual when a reporter asked, “Your father, the best. No?”
A visibly confused Vivian replied, “My what? Sorry?” When the reporter repeated the question, calling Elon Musk “the best,” she said, “OK,” before turning around and walking away.
Vivian Wilson Learns About Her Half-Siblings Online
Musk shares additional children with Grimes, Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis and author Ashley St. Clair — and Wilson says she often learns about them the same way the public does.
After St. Clair revealed in February 2025 that she had welcomed Elon’s 13th child, Vivian fired off a TikTok joke: “Wow, if I had a nickel for every time I found out I had half-siblings through Reddit, I’d have two nickels … which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened twice, right.”
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
