Elon Musk: Net Worth, Children, Health, and More

Elon Musk’s public record is dense but unevenly sourced: his wealth is documented in hundreds of billions, yet basic questions about his health and personal life remain unanswered. This article answers the most common questions people search for — his wealth, children, health, and early life — grounding each answer in named sources so you can see where the information comes from.

Role: CEO and largest shareholder of Tesla and SpaceX ·
Twitter/X acquisition: $44 billion in 2022 ·
Birth year: 1971 ·
First known sale: Software program at age 12

Five key facts, one pattern: Musk’s public record is dense but unevenly sourced — some claims are backed by official or editorial sources, while others rely on aggregated data.

The table above compiles the biographical facts that appear consistently across named editorial sources — the details that anchor any discussion of Musk’s public record.

Did Elon lose trillionaire status?

The short answer: no one has officially confirmed that Musk ever reached a trillion-dollar net worth, let alone lost it. The BBC reported in October 2025 that Musk became the first person to reach a net worth above half a trillion dollars (BBC (UK news organisation)). Forbes estimated his net worth at about $823 billion as of August 8, 2026 (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)). The term “trillionaire” is not verified by any major editorial source; it appears mainly in commentary and aggregated rankings.

Who on Earth is richer than Elon Musk?

According to Wikipedia’s synthesis of public wealth trackers, Musk has been the wealthiest person in the world since 2025 (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)). No named editorial source lists an individual with a higher net worth as of the latest reporting. The BBC’s coverage of Musk’s half-trillion milestone also does not name a richer person.

What is Elon Musk’s net worth?

Reported figures vary by date and source. Forbes’ wealth guide estimated $823 billion in August 2026, while Biography.com reported $843.3 billion as of February 17, 2026 (Biography.com (biography site)). An earlier snapshot from Investing.com put the figure at $208.6 billion in March 2024 (Investing.com (financial data site)). The wide range reflects the volatility of Musk’s wealth, which is tied to Tesla and SpaceX stock valuations.

How many children does Elon Musk have?

This is one of the most frequently searched questions about Musk, and the answer has changed over time. The BBC reported in 2025 that Musk has fathered 14 children (BBC (UK news organisation)). The breakdown: six with his first wife, three with Grimes, four with Shivon Zilis, and one with conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair. Forbes’ guide says 11 children with three women, including one child who died as an infant (Forbes (business magazine)). Biography.com reported 13 living children as of May 29, 2025 (Biography.com (biography site)). The discrepancy likely stems from different counting methods and the timing of the reporting.

Do any of Elon Musk’s children talk to him?

There is no named editorial source that confirms or denies which of his children currently speak with him. The BBC’s report on his children includes no information about communication or estrangement. Wikipedia notes that one of his children, Vivian Wilson, has publicly distanced herself from Musk, but the status of other relationships is not documented (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)). Speculation on this topic is common, but the sourced record is silent.

Who is Elon Musk’s new partner?

Musk’s relationship history is a frequent topic of search queries. According to the BBC’s 2025 report, his current partner is not identified by name in any editorial source (BBC (UK news organisation)). The report mentions that he has a child with Shivon Zilis, who is a Neuralink executive, and that he also has a child with Ashley St. Clair, a conservative influencer. However, neither is described as a current partner. Forbes’ guide does not mention a current partner either (Forbes (business magazine)).

Who is Elon Musk’s wife?

Musk has been married twice: to Justine Wilson (2000–2008) and to Talulah Riley (2010–2012 and 2013–2016). He is not currently married, according to the available sourced reporting (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

Who is Elon Musk’s partner?

No named editorial source identifies a current partner. The most recent publicly known relationship was with Grimes, with whom he has three children, but that relationship ended before 2022 (BBC (UK news organisation)).

What is Musk diagnosed with?

This is a question that appears frequently in search results, but no named editorial source reports a medical diagnosis for Elon Musk. The BBC, Forbes, and Business Insider do not mention any diagnosis in their profiles (BBC (UK news organisation)) (Forbes (business magazine)). Musk himself has not publicly disclosed any diagnosis. The absence of any confirmed medical condition means the question remains unanswered.

Is Elon Musk an intelligent person?

Musk’s intelligence is often cited as a factor in his success, but it is not a clinical diagnosis. The closest editorial source is the Business Insider profile, which describes his early achievements: selling a software program at age 12 and later co-founding PayPal, Tesla, and SpaceX (Business Insider (business profile)). These are documented accomplishments, not IQ scores. The question of intelligence is better framed as a record of achievement rather than a measurable trait.

What did Elon Musk sell at age 12?

This is a well-documented early-life fact. Business Insider reports that Musk sold a software program he wrote at age 12 (Business Insider (business profile)). The program was a space-themed game called “Blastar,” which he sold to a magazine for about $500. The BBC and Forbes also mention this as part of his early-life record (BBC (UK news organisation)) (Forbes (business magazine)).

What does 42 mean to Elon Musk?

The number 42 is a cultural reference to the “Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything” from Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Musk has referenced the book in public statements and on his X profile, but no named editorial source confirms a specific personal meaning (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)). The question is often asked in search, but the answer remains in the realm of cultural trivia, not documented fact.

How old is Elon Musk?

Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, according to Business Insider (Business Insider (business profile)). As of 2025, he is 54 years old. The Simple English Wikipedia also confirms the birth date (Simple English Wikipedia (simplified encyclopedia)).

Which billionaire has the smallest house?

This People Also Ask question is more about trivia than Musk himself. No named editorial source identifies a billionaire with the smallest house in a verifiable way. The query may refer to a viral story or a listicle, but it does not appear in the editorial profiles of Musk or any other billionaire from the research notes. The answer is unclear.

What is Elon Musk’s house?

Musk has stated publicly that he lives in a small, prefabricated home near the SpaceX launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. The BBC reported that he sold his seven California homes in 2020 and now lives in a $50,000 house (BBC (UK news organisation)). Forbes also notes that his primary residence is a compact house in Texas (Forbes (business magazine)). The claim about the smallest house among billionaires likely stems from this fact, but it is not a formal ranking.

The timeline above shows a biographical arc that moves from a single early sale to corporate leadership at a scale that affects global markets.

For investors and casual observers alike, the pattern is clear: Musk’s public biography is a mix of well-documented facts and significant gaps. The wealth numbers are real and sourced, but the personal health and relationship details remain largely private. For anyone relying on search results to understand Musk, the answer is to trust the editorial sources — BBC, Business Insider, Forbes — and to treat aggregator data with caution. The choice is between accepting uncertainty or waiting for more official disclosure.