As discussions about Musk’s romantic life persist, it’s intriguing to delve into the entrepreneur’s relationship past. His vibrant personal life could perhaps be attributed to his fear of solitude, a sentiment he confessed to experiencing since his early years. From his college romances to his marital unions, here’s a glimpse into the dating chronicles of the world’s wealthiest individual.
Elon Musk and Jennifer Gwynne
In the mid-1990s, Elon Musk and Jennifer Gwynne met as students at the University of Pennsylvania. Gwynne was drawn to Musk’s “quiet intensity” and they dated for about a year, becoming serious enough to introduce each other to their families. However, the relationship ended when Gwynne returned from studying abroad; Musk found long-distance communication unfulfilling. Despite the breakup, Gwynne auctioned off memorabilia from their time together in 2022, describing her experience with Musk as “amazing.” She fondly recalled Musk’s brilliance and vision, coupled with a sense of wonder. She cherished memories of Musk’s family welcoming her during the holidays in 1994, providing a glimpse into the 
private side of the tech magnate’s life.
Elon Musk and Justine Musk
Elon Musk first met Justine Musk (née Wilson) while they were students at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. He pursued her persistently, eventually winning her over after several attempts. The couple became engaged and got married in 2000. However, their relationship became strained over time, marked by Musk’s controlling behavior and criticism of Justine. The couple faced a tragic loss in 2002 when their first child, Nevada Alexander, died at 10 weeks old from sudden infant death syndrome.
Despite their grief, they went on to have twins, Griffin and Vivian, in 2004, followed by triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian in 2006. Their life together was marked by extravagant wealth and a high-profile lifestyle, but Justine felt a lack of emotional intimacy. A turning point came after a car accident, leading her to realize she had become a “trophy wife.” Attempts at counseling failed, and Musk gave her an ultimatum: maintain the status quo or get a divorce. Following this ultimatum, he filed for divorce in 2008. The divorce proceedings were complex and ended with shared custody of their five children, with Justine also receiving spousal and child support along with their Los Angeles home.
Elon Musk and actress Talulah Riley
After filing for divorce from his first wife, Justine, Elon Musk met actress Talulah Riley in a London bar. Despite initially not recognizing Musk, Riley found him nervous and decided to be kind to him. Within six weeks of Musk’s divorce filing, he and Riley got engaged and married in 2010 in Scotland. However, Musk filed for divorce just two years later. They reconciled and remarried in 2013, but Musk filed for divorce again in 2014, only to withdraw the petition later. Riley initiated a divorce in March 2016, which was finalized in November that year.
Despite their multiple divorces, Riley stated in 2022 that it felt “strange” to be married and divorced twice. She admitted that they got remarried out of habit and described their relationship as friendly even after the final divorce, highlighting the complexities of their unusual romantic journey.
Musk’s relationship with actress Amber Heard
Elon Musk’s relationship with actress Amber Heard was marked by a series of on-again, off-again moments. They first met in 2012 when Musk set up a dinner with Heard through director Robert Rodriguez. However, their romantic involvement didn’t begin until 2017. During this time, Heard was in the midst of her divorce from actor Johnny Depp. Musk and Heard made their relationship public in April 2017, and by May, they were described as being “very serious” and Heard had met Musk’s children. Despite their busy schedules, the couple faced challenges due to long-distance and work commitments, leading to their first breakup in August 2017.
However, their split was short-lived, and they reconciled, citing distance as a challenge. Despite several ups and downs, Musk expressed his deep feelings for Heard, revealing that he had been “really in love” with her. The pair briefly separated again in February 2018 due to timing issues but maintained a friendship based on shared values and intellectual interests. Despite the turbulence, Heard spoke positively about their relationship, emphasizing their enduring friendship rooted in mutual respect and shared passions.
Relationship with musician Grimes
Elon Musk’s relationship with musician Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher, has been a rollercoaster. They first sparked dating rumors in April 2018 and made their public debut at the Met Gala. Despite breakup rumors in August 2018, they were seen together later that year at a pumpkin patch with Musk’s children. Grimes confirmed her pregnancy in January 2020 and gave birth to their son, X Æ A-12, in May. The couple appeared together on Saturday Night Live in May 2021 but announced a semi-separation in September, citing their busy work schedules and geographical distance.
They welcomed their second child, a daughter named Exa “Y” Dark Sideræl, via surrogate in December 2021. Grimes described their relationship as fluid, living separately but remaining best friends. However, shortly after an interview with Vanity Fair, Grimes tweeted that they had broken up again, emphasizing their enduring friendship despite the romantic separation.
Shivon Zilis
In November 2021, Elon Musk fathered twins, Strider and Azure, with Shivon Zilis, an executive at his company Neuralink. The birth of these children was revealed in July 2022 when news sources obtained Texas court documents stating that the infants would carry Musk’s last name and have their mother’s last name as part of their middle name. Musk responded to the news on Twitter, mentioning concerns about declining birth rates and the underpopulation crisis.
Zilis clarified that she and Musk were never romantically involved and that the twins were conceived through IVF. This revelation came just weeks before Musk welcomed his daughter Y with Grimes, further adding complexity to his family dynamics.
