On Friday, conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair filed a paternity petition in the New York Supreme Court, seeking legal recognition of tech billionaire Elon Musk as the father of her five-month-old child and requesting full custody. St. Clair, a 26-year-old children’s book author and former writer for the satirical news site The Babylon Bee, made headlines weeks earlier when she revealed on the social media platform X that Musk was the father of her child. In her post, she wrote, "Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father." This revelation has sparked significant attention, not only due to Musk’s high-profile status but also because, if proven, this would make the child Musk’s 13th known offspring.
According to the court documents, St. Clair alleges that she and Musk began a romantic relationship in May 2023, and the child was conceived during a trip to St. Barts in January 2024. She claims that she did not have any other sexual partners around the time of conception and that Musk has acknowledged paternity in private communications. For instance, after giving birth in September 2024, St. Clair sent Musk a photo of the baby, to which he allegedly responded, "I look forward to seeing you and him this weekend." In another exchange, Musk reportedly admitted to being the father, saying, "If I make a mistake on security, [redacted] will never know his father," suggesting concerns about the child’s safety. Additionally, court filings include texts where Musk appears to reference their relationship and plans for more children, such as, "I want to knock you up again," and "we do have a legion of kids to make." The petition also includes photos purporting to show Musk holding the baby and screenshots of messages exchanged between the two.
Despite these claims, court documents paint a picture of Musk being largely absent from the child’s life. St. Clair states that Musk has only visited the child three times, has not been involved in his care, and has not requested custody or shown interest in the child’s well-being beyond these brief interactions. In the petition, St. Clair emphasizes her role as the sole caregiver, writing, "I am, and always have been, the only parent and caretaker that R.S.C. has known. I schedule and take him to all his medical appointments. I am the only parent who cares for him on a daily basis. I feed him, bathe him, and ensure that all his physical and emotional needs are met." She adds that Musk has not seen the child since November 2024, during a 30-minute visit, and has not reached out to check on the child or attend doctor appointments without being prompted. Her attorneys also claim that they attempted to resolve the paternity issue privately but were met with no response from Musk.
Musk has not publicly commented on the matter, but he did respond to a post on X that accused St. Clair of plotting to "ensnare" him for half a decade. He simply wrote, "Whoa," in response. St. Clair quickly addressed Musk’s comment, expressing frustration that he would respond publicly to such claims rather than engage with her directly. Her attorneys have since released a statement, explaining that they had hoped to handle the situation confidentially but were unable to do so due to the involvement of a tabloid reporter who "repeatedly ambushed Ashley and her family." The statement continues, "We are waiting for Elon to publicly acknowledge his parental role with Ashley, to end unwarranted speculation, and Ashley trusts that Elon intends to finish their agreement quickly, in the best interests of the wellbeing and security of the child they share."
This is not the first time Musk has faced a paternity dispute. In October 2023, singer Claire Boucher, known professionally as Grimes, filed a similar petition in California to establish a parental relationship with Musk over their three children. While the details of that case are not publicly available, it was reportedly settled in Texas in August. However, Boucher recently took to X to claim that one of their children was experiencing a medical emergency and that Musk was unresponsive to her attempts to contact him. She wrote, "I’m not giving any details but he won’t respond to texts, call or emails and has skipped every meeting and our child will suffer life-long impairment if he doesn’t respond asap, so I need him to f–king respond and if I have to apply public pressure then I guess that’s where we are at." Her posts have since been deleted, according to reports.
The situation involving St. Clair and Musk has drawn attention to the broader challenges of single parenthood, the responsibilities of high-profile individuals, and the complexities of resolving private matters in the public eye. While Musk has yet to address the claims directly, the court filing and associated evidence suggest a pattern of behavior that raises questions about his level of involvement in the lives of his children. St. Clair’s case, in particular, highlights the emotional and logistical toll of raising a child without the support of the other parent. As the legal proceedings unfold, the focus will likely remain on ensuring the best interests of the child, as well as the accountability of both parents in fulfilling their roles. For now, the situation remains unresolved, leaving many to wonder how this will play out and what it means for all parties involved.
