A recent Wall Street Journal report has unveiled a surprising private exchange between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and crypto influencer Tiffany Fong, highlighting a direct message he allegedly sent during the peak of her online prominence.
According to sources cited in the report, Musk reached out to Fong via direct message on X (formerly Twitter) in late 2023, asking if she would be interested in having his child. The message came during a period of increased engagement between Musk and Fong, who had gained attention for her coverage of the crypto world and, later, her political commentary.
Musk, known for his frequent and sometimes unpredictable activity on X, has a history of engaging with both high-profile and lesser-known accounts. According to people familiar with his online habits, he has occasionally used these interactions to propose fathering children with women he has not met in person.
Fong rose to prominence while covering the downfall of crypto figure Sam Bankman-Fried. Her visibility grew further as she began posting content supportive of Donald Trump. Musk followed her in the summer of 2023 and began interacting more often with her posts, significantly boosting her reach.
The increased attention led to substantial financial rewards. In November, Fong earned $21,252.25 in just two weeks through X’s revenue-sharing program—an amount she publicly shared via screenshot. The post sparked online speculation, with one user sarcastically quipping: “Breaking: Tiffany Fong pregnant with Elon Musk’s 17th child,” a nod to both the earnings and her interactions with Musk.
That same month, Musk allegedly sent her the now-publicized message. Fong reportedly declined the offer, citing her preference for raising children in a more traditional family environment. She confided in a few friends, including conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair, but feared the disclosure could jeopardize her earnings or standing on the platform.
When Musk discovered she had shared the exchange with others, he allegedly chastised her for a lack of discretion and unfollowed her. Fong’s engagement and revenue reportedly declined thereafter.
Fong has denied ever meeting Musk in person and publicly refuted the pregnancy rumor. In February, she posted a screenshot of a sensational headline mocking the claim with the caption, “We live in a clown world. 🤣😭.” She also joked on X, “Wow according to the internet, I’m ‘pregnant.’ Congrats to me this is huge news!!!” later adding, “As far as I know, I am not pregnant, but thank you!!!”
When contacted by The Independent, Fong clarified that she was not the source of the leak to the Wall Street Journal and said she would have preferred to keep the matter private.
Beyond this incident, Fong is known for her unconventional path in the crypto media space. Based in Las Vegas, she juggles various roles, including managing an e-commerce business. Her digital presence began after she lost access to her funds when Celsius froze customer withdrawals in 2022. What started as a frustrated YouTube rant quickly evolved into a platform for updates and interviews.
Her coverage of the FTX collapse drew further attention. In November 2022, she published audio of a phone call with Bankman-Fried, offering insight into his mindset after the crash. Though she emphasized she was not a journalist, she sought to share a balanced account and later posted documents he sent her while under house arrest.
Fong, a graduate of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, describes herself in her LinkedIn bio as a “reluctant crypto content creator.” Her work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Bloomberg. Despite her rising profile, she often warns followers to beware of impersonators and scams using her name.
While Fong is not, as rumors claimed, the mother of Musk’s child, her friend Ashley St. Clair later revealed that she is. According to The Wall Street Journal, St. Clair disclosed in April that she had a son with Musk—named Romulus—who was born five months earlier.
A disgruntled netizen’s comment on Elon Musk, dated April 17, 2025 | Source: Instagram/enews
The name has since sparked online conversations, particularly following St. Clair’s social media confirmation earlier this year. On Facebook, some users expressed a mix of empathy and sarcasm. One person wrote, “That name isnt as bad as some of the other kids names [sic].” Another commented, “I really feel bad for this child.”
A third added, “Well, at least Romulus is a NAME and not part of a mathematical equation, like poor X Æ A-Xii. That poor kid is probably going to have some issues….”
Elon Musk attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre on June 16, 2023, in Paris, France. | Source: Getty Images
Reactions on Instagram were similarly varied. One netizen wrote, “Its his kid. Straight up. Name like that [sic]!” Another said, “What a name [sic].” A second one added, “Poor baby.”
Meanwhile, another person asked, “Why and how [sic].” Yet another reader divulged, “Romulus? i mean i loved the new alien movies but that’s a little much gang [sic].”
Elon Musk departs the U.S. Capitol Building on March 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
According to The Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk offered conservative commentator Ashley St. Clair a one-time payment of $15 million and $100,000 per month in support in exchange for her silence regarding their child and relationship.
The proposed agreement stipulated that Musk’s name would be omitted from the birth certificate and that St. Clair would maintain complete confidentiality about their connection. Initially, she complied with part of the request by leaving Musk’s name off the official documents, but ultimately, she declined to sign the full agreement.
The terms would have barred St. Clair from publicly criticizing Musk or referencing him in relation to their son. A breach of those conditions would have obligated her to return the $15 million lump sum. However, the agreement was notably one-sided—offering Musk the freedom to speak negatively about St. Clair without similar restrictions.
It also lacked several protections for the child, including provisions for serious illness, personal security, a trust fund, or life insurance in the event of Musk’s death before their son, Romulus, reached adulthood.
St. Clair reportedly hesitated to move forward due to concerns about how the agreement might affect her son, particularly its implications for his legitimacy. She also sought a paternity test, which is a legal requirement for child-support cases in New York, where she resides, according to her attorney Karen B. Rosenthal.
Despite efforts to reach Musk directly, St. Clair said he ignored her messages. When she learned that a tabloid was preparing to publish a story about their relationship, she decided to speak publicly on her own terms. In a February post on X, she wrote:
“Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father.
I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child’s privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause.”
Following her announcement, Musk reportedly withdrew the $15 million offer. As legal proceedings began—including a paternity case and a gag order requested by Musk—the monthly support offer was reduced to $40,000, while St. Clair’s legal costs increased.
Elon Musk walks to the White House after landing in Marine One on the South Lawn with U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) on March 9, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
By the time The Wall Street Journal contacted Elon Musk for comment on Thursday, April 10, Ashley St. Clair said she had not received the child support payment scheduled for the following day. Later that week, on Tuesday night, Musk’s team transferred $20,000—effectively cutting her monthly support in half for the second time.
St. Clair also revealed that Musk’s longtime advisor, Jared Birchall, informed her that similar nondisclosure agreements had been arranged with other mothers of Musk’s children. Birchall, who leads Musk’s family office, was the one who pressed her to sign the confidentiality documents after the birth of her son, Romulus.
Musk, who has long emphasized humanity’s future in space, has publicly stated that making civilization multiplanetary is vital for “the long-term survival of humanity and all life as we know it.”
Sources close to him say this belief drives not only his work at SpaceX but also his personal choices. Musk reportedly sees declining global birth rates as a threat to civilization and considers it a personal mission to help reverse the trend—particularly by fathering children with what he views as highly intelligent women.
Elon Musk delivers remarks as he joins U.S. President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
During St. Clair’s pregnancy, Musk suggested they bring in additional women to accelerate the process. According to a text message reviewed by the Journal, he wrote, “To reach legion-level before the apocalypse, we will need to use surrogates.”
He refers to his children as a “legion,” likening them to Roman military units that helped expand the empire’s reach. In other private correspondence, Musk expressed fear about the risks of revealing his involvement, texting St. Clair that he considered himself the “#2 after Trump for assassination,” and adding that “only the paranoid survive.”
Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas. | Source: Getty Images
The public conversation about Elon Musk’s children often extends beyond headlines and financial arrangements. In past years, attention has also focused on the unconventional names chosen for his kids — and the reasons behind them.
In 2020, Musk and his former partner, musician Grimes, introduced their first child together with a name that generated global debate: X Æ A-12.
Elon Musk and son X Æ A-12 are seen on-stage, on December 13, 2021, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
The unique choice prompted widespread curiosity, which Grimes addressed publicly online, “X, the unknown variable. Æ, my elven spelling of Ai (love &/or Artificial intelligence). A-12 = precursor to SR-17 (our favorite aircraft). No weapons, no defenses, just speed. Great in battle, but non-violent. (A=Archangel, my favorite song) (metal rat).”
Elon Musk and his son X Æ A-12 are seen in attendance during the UFC 314 event at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025, in Miami, Florida | Source: Getty Images
In a follow-up post on X, she added, “I think it sounds like the name of the main character in the story I hope he vibes with that. Ok, going back into the pain/ beauty reverie for sum time, just came on to add my thoughts. Peace to all [sic].”
Later, in a 2022 Vanity Fair interview, Grimes — whose real name is Claire Boucher — shared deeper insight into the challenges and complexities of her relationship with Musk.
According to the article, she often goes by Grimes, Claire, or even “c,” referencing the scientific symbol for the speed of light.
Grimes explained that, especially after becoming a mother, much of her identity was overshadowed by her association with Musk.
Grimes and Elon Musk attend “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & the Catholic Imagination”, at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
She described Musk as deeply involved in their son’s life, “X is just out there. I mean, I think E is really seeing him as a protégé and bringing him to everything and stuff.… X is out there. His situation is like that.”
Elon Musk and his son X Æ A-12 walk off Marine One on the south lawn of the White House on April 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
During a candid interview, musician Grimes became visibly uncomfortable when discussing aspects of her personal life, underscoring the deeply sensitive nature of the topic. The moment turned revealing when a baby’s cry was heard in the background. Grimes laughed and admitted, “She’s a little colicky too,” confirming the quiet arrival of her and Elon Musk’s second child—a daughter, referred to publicly as “Y.”
While Grimes did not initially share the child’s full name, the article revealed that the couple had used a surrogate, allowing them to keep the pregnancy and birth out of the public eye.
Reflecting on her first pregnancy, Grimes shared how physically taxing it had been. “I hemorrhaged. It was scary,” she said, recalling the severity of the experience. She also noted that late in the pregnancy, nerve pressure became so intense that she collapsed and had to crawl instead of walk.
In the same interview, Grimes clarified the nature of her relationship with Musk, stating that they were no longer traditionally “together,” and described their dynamic as “very fluid.”
Elon Musk and Grimes head for dinner on May 4, 2021, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
They lived in separate homes, saw each other regularly, and considered each other best friends. When asked whether they planned to expand their family, she said, “We’ve always wanted at least three or four.”
Musk had previously confirmed their separation in 2021, attributing it to distance and demanding careers. He had been spending more time in Texas, near the SpaceX Starbase and a new Tesla Gigafactory, while Grimes was based in Los Angeles and later Austin, where she continued to raise X and work on new creative projects.
