Overview
Elon Musk is an innovator, entrepreneur and industrialist whose inventions have transformed global industry. A pioneer of the electric car revolution, he is well-known as the founder of Tesla Motors, which has become a publically-traded Fortune 500 company. Musk is also the founder of SpaceX, a commercial aerospace company, and chairman of SolarCity, a solar energy giant.
He is also a family man, raising a total of six children divided between two marriages. His first wife is Justine Wilson, who had five sons with Musk: twins Griffin and Xavier, triplets Damian, Saxon and Kai. After his divorce from Wilson, Musk remarried actress Talulah Riley, with whom he has one son, Nevada Alexander Musk.
Elon Musk’s Children
All six of Musk’s children are under 21 years old, the youngest being Nevada Alexander, who was born in 2014. Musk has described being a father as his “greatest adventure” and has been open about the struggles and joys of raising his kids while making a difference in the world.
Musk’s oldest sons, Griffin and Xavier, have both grown up to become entrepreneurs. Xavier is the founder of XMC, a social media consultancy, and Griffin is the CEO of Beyond Meat, a plant-based meat substitute company. Musk’s triplets, Damian, Saxon and Kai, are only 12 years old, but the tech mogul has said he hopes to teach them coding and entrepreneurship as they mature.
Nevada Alexander, who is six years old, lives with his mother and half-siblings in London. Musk, who makes frequent trips to London, has shared that he loves spending time with Nevada.
Fatherhood
Musk has often spoken glowingly of his kids. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he said that while his sons are different, they all have a “good sense of humor” and an appreciation for technology. He also said that he uses bedtime to teach his boys honor and courage.
Even though he has a full professional life, Musk said that he often joins his sons for extended trips, hot-air balloon expeditions and other activities. He also famously joined them in a Reddit Ask Me Anything session in 2016.
Musk has also spoken about the challenges of parenting, noting that it can be difficult for young kids to process and articulate the degree of their suffering, but he also believes that even negative experiences can be teaching moments. He told Rolling Stone, “There’s no such thing as hopelessness. If something’s bad, you can always make it better. If there’s a dawn, things can change — and you need to keep fighting for that dawn.”
Work-Life Balance
Despite his busy career and challenging home life, Musk manages to find balance. He is up hours before the sun rises and works into the night, but he makes time to be with his kids. He has said that while he’s not always around all day, he makes sure to be available, relevant and engaging when interacting with his children.
Musk also said that he believes his sons have inherited some of his core values, such as hard work, integrity and ambition. He said, “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you can accomplish more with a positive attitude, leading through example and taking responsibility than you can with negativity and finger-pointing.”
Effect on Businesses
Musk’s enterprises have benefited from his parental responsibilities. He has said he often thinks of his sons when considering how his businesses might affect the world. According to Musk, “I think about them being grown ups and what kind of world would they want to inherit.” This has led him to invest heavily in renewable energy, electric vehicles and efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Musk has also cited his parental duties in his leadership style. He wants his employees to think of their work with the same vigor and dedication as they do when raising their own children. In an interview with The Times, he said, “When you are raising kids you are an engineer, you are a doctor, you are a psychologist, you’re a disciplinarian, you’re a storyteller. You’re responsible for practically everything.”
Parenting Skills
Musk has stressed the importance of letting his kids have room to learn and grow on their own. He has noted that scolding is not the best approach to parenting and highlighted the need to encourage children to be independent. He has said that he embraces the challenge of parenting and understands that the responsibility to give perspective to children cannot be taken lightly.
Musk also noted the importance of modeling honest behavior. He told The Times that he is keenly aware of his sons not only seeing him work hard, but also viewing him use ethical principles in business decisions. In his words, “I want them to have seen the right things in their development.”
Conclusion
Elon Musk is a unique figure in the business world, known for his innovative vision and ambition. He also takes his role as a father seriously, understanding that his example and his parenting decisions will have a deep impact on his six children. By embracing a positive attitude and creating a balance between parenting and professional responsibilities, Musk hopes to make the world a better place for the children of today and tomorrow.
