Elon Musk, the billionaire visionary behind Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, is no stranger to headlines, but his latest revelation is a deeply personal one. In a rare candid moment during a July 29, 2025, interview on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Musk shared heartfelt reflections on the happiness he finds in fatherhood, raising his 11 children across multiple relationships. Known for his futuristic ambitions, Musk’s grounded joy in his sprawling, unconventional family offers a glimpse into the man behind the empire, striking a chord with fans worldwide.

At 54, Musk’s family life is as complex as his ventures. He has three children with musician Grimes, five with ex-wife Justine Musk, and three with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, including twins and a child via surrogate. His children, with names like X Æ A-12 and Techno Mechanicus, reflect his quirky, boundary-pushing spirit. “Being a dad to this big, wild crew is the best chaos I could ask for,” Musk said, chuckling. “They keep me honest—nothing humbles you like a toddler asking why rockets can’t fly to Narnia.”

Musk described fatherhood as a grounding force amid his high-stakes career. “I can spend all day solving Mars colonization, but nothing compares to watching my kids discover the world,” he shared. He recounted moments like teaching his youngest to stack blocks or debating AI ethics with his teens, calling them “tiny philosophers with no filter.” These interactions, he said, recharge him for his mission to advance humanity. “They remind me why I’m building a future—because it’s theirs.”

Despite his demanding schedule, Musk prioritizes family time, often hosting “kid chaos days” at his Texas compound, where his children from different mothers play together. “It’s a loud, messy symphony,” he laughed, describing Nerf battles and impromptu science experiments. He credited his partners, especially Grimes, for fostering a collaborative co-parenting dynamic. “We’re not traditional, but we make it work for the kids,” he noted, emphasizing love over convention.

Musk also addressed public scrutiny about his large family, often tied to his comments on global population decline. “I’m not just preaching about birth rates—I’m living it,” he said. “Every kid is a new adventure, a new chance to see life fresh.” He hopes to inspire others to embrace parenthood, calling it “the ultimate startup: high risk, high reward.”

The internet buzzed with reactions, with #MuskDad trending on X. Fans posted, “Elon as a dad is the wholesome content we didn’t expect!” while others admired his balance of ambition and heart. Critics, however, questioned the logistics of his sprawling family, to which Musk quipped, “Spreadsheets aren’t just for Tesla.”

This glimpse into Musk’s fatherhood reveals a softer side, humanizing a man often seen as larger-than-life. His joy in raising his eclectic brood underscores a universal truth: even galactic dreamers find meaning in the small, chaotic moments of family life.