Meet Elon Musk’s first wife Justine Wilson – the fantasy author was married to the billionaire Tesla CEO for 8 years, and is supporting their twin child Vivian, who just came out as a trans woman

Jun 23 , 2022

Meet Elon’s Musk’s first wife, Justine Wilson, a published fantasy author who has spoken about their wealth, losing their first child and supporting the couple’s child that just came out as trans woman, Vivian. Photo: @elonmusk.ab/Instagram, @justinemusk/Twitter

Musk made US$20 million from his first company Zip2, went on to found SpaceX and lead Tesla while still with Wilson, and may soon own Twitter

After losing baby Nevada to SIDS in 2002, the couple had five further children – twins Vivian and Griffin, and triplets Kai, Saxon and Damian

When Elon Musk was 19 he left his family in native South Africa for Canada, enrolling at Queen’s University, Ontario. In his second year at university, before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, Musk met Justine Wilson. He pursued her relentlessly, refusing to take no for an answer, and after almost a decade together, the couple got married. Meet the woman who knew Elon Musk before he was the Elon Musk, and hear how – in her own words – she explains their relationship.

How they met

Justine Wilson, former wife of Elon Musk. Photo: @justinemusk/Twitter

Wilson met Musk when she was an aspiring writer during her first year at Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada. In an essay published in 2010 in Marie Claire, she said Musk approached her to go on a date and she agreed, but ditched him on the actual day. She said he still found her, with two ice-creams in hand, clearly not able to take no for answer.

Life-changing wealth

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla. Photo: @elon_musk_the_martian/Instagram

Fast forward a few years, and after a separation, the couple reunited. Wilson wrote how she had started off dating a struggling entrepreneur and then became engaged to a wealthy one. She said Musk was worth US$20 million overnight after he sold his first business venture, Zip2 in 1999. The couple suddenly had a 1,800 sq ft condo, a McLaren F1 and a small plane. She used to poke fun that he was going to break up with her for a model, but said that his answer was to get down on one knee on a street corner and proposed.

Family loss – and joy

Elon Musk with his twins, then known as Griffin and Xavier. Photo: @elonmusk/Instagram

The couple welcomed a baby boy, Nevada Alexander, into the world in 2002. At 10 weeks old, Nevada stopped breathing and was declared brain dead by the time paramedics arrived on the scene. The death was attributed to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), she wrote, saying that the baby was on life support for three days before the couple made the decision to take him off.