Elon Musk said he would seek full custody of his one-year-old son after public comments by the child’s mother about “transgender” issues, escalating a long-running and highly public dispute.
Musk posted on January 12 that he planned to file for full custody of a child he shares with influencer Ashley St. Clair, citing her recent social media statements about people who claim to be “transgender” as the reason for his decision. The announcement marked the latest turn in a conflict that has played out across court filings and social media posts for nearly a year.
The SpaceX chief made the statement in response to online discussion about St. Clair’s recent posts, which included an apology for earlier remarks she said had harmed “transgender” people and members of her family. In his post, Musk framed those statements as raising concerns about the child’s future.
I will be filing for full custody today, given her statements implying she might transition a one-year-old boy
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 12, 2026
“I will be filing for full custody today, given her statements implying she might transition a one-year-old boy,” Musk wrote in an X post early January 12.
It is not clear that St. Clair has ever said she intended to pursue any medical or social “transition” for the child. Her posts did not explicitly reference the child’s gender identity or upbringing, but instead focused on her reassessment of past comments and her views on “transgender” issues.
The comments that drew Musk’s response were posted on January 11, when St. Clair replied to another X user who questioned her past rhetoric. In that reply, she expressed remorse and referenced the impact of her words on family members.
St. Clair’s reference to her “son’s sister” appeared to allude to one of Musk’s other children, Xavier, who now calls himself “Vivian” and came out as “transgender” in 2022. Musk has spoken critically about “transgender” issues in the past and has said he opposes medical “transition” for minors.
The custody dispute between Musk and St. Clair dates back to early 2025, when St. Clair publicly claimed that she had given birth to Musk’s child and later sought legal recognition of paternity and support. Musk responded at the time by questioning paternity while acknowledging that he had provided financial support.
“I don’t know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed,” Musk wrote on March 31, 2025. “Despite not knowing for sure, I have given Ashley $2.5M and am sending her $500k/year.”
St. Clair replied the same day, accusing Musk of using money and legal threats as leverage. “Elon, we asked you to confirm paternity through a test before our child (who you named) was even born. You refused,” she wrote. Further in the post, St. Clair mentioned, “It’s all about control with you, and everyone can see it.”
Court records related to the custody and paternity proceedings have not been fully unsealed, and it is not clear whether Musk had formally filed for full custody as of midday January 12. Representatives for St. Clair did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Musk’s statement.
The latest exchange has drawn widespread online reaction.
Musk has acknowledged fathering numerous children with multiple partners. He has six children with his first wife, Justine Wilson, three with musician Grimes, and several with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, People reported. One of his children, Nevada, died as an infant in 2002.
The custody fight remains unresolved, with legal filings and public statements continuing to shape a case that blends family law, online speech, and political controversy, according to reporting by the New York Post.
