According to The Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk proposed a $15 million upfront payment and $100,000 monthly support to conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair in exchange for confidentiality about their son, Romulus, born in September 2024. A paternity test confirmed Musk’s biological relationship at 99.9999% probability, though his name does not appear on the birth certificate.
Key Details
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Conception: The child was conceived during a New Year’s Eve 2023 trip to St. Barts after Musk reportedly responded to St. Clair’s ovulation notification with, “What are we waiting for?” (The Wall Street Journal).
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Rejected Terms: St. Clair declined the offer, fearing it would render her son “illegitimate” and criticizing the lack of trust funds or life insurance for the child (South China Morning Post, Times of India).
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Post-Disclosure Changes: After St. Clair publicly announced the birth in February 2025, Musk allegedly reduced monthly support to $40,000(Business Standard, Hindustan Times).
Musk’s “Legion” Strategy
Court documents reviewed by People indicate Musk, who has at least 14 children with four women, refers to his offspring as a “legion” aimed at combating “population collapse.” He has negotiated similar confidentiality agreements with other mothers, including Grimes and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis. St. Clair refused Musk’s request to relocate to a secluded Austin compound housing other mothers of his children (E! News, The Wall Street Journal).
Legal Fallout
St. Clair filed a custody suit in February 2025, alleging Musk “ghosted” her during negotiations and met their son only three times, according to People. Musk countered via X (formerly Twitter), claiming he had already provided $2.5 million upfront and $500,000 annually. A judge has since sealed the case (Times of India, Business Standard).
Musk’s Defense
The billionaire denied financial retaliation, stating he prioritized privacy due to being “#2 after Trump for assassination risk,” as reported by The Wall Street Journal. He has not publicly acknowledged paternity but shared a post disparaging the outlet’s reporting (South China Morning Post, Hindustan Times).
Final Note: Some details (e.g., St. Barts conception anecdote) were first reported by The Wall Street Journal but do not appear in all subsequent coverage. For precise sourcing, refer to original court documents.