MAGA Influencer Ashley St. Clair Files Paternity and Custody Petitions Against Elon Musk
In a dramatic turn of events, MAGA influencer Ashley St. Clair has filed two legal petitions against billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, seeking a court-ordered paternity test and sole custody of her 5-month-old child, whom she claims Musk fathered. The filings, submitted to the New York Supreme Court, outline the details of St. Clair’s alleged relationship with Musk and her assertions about his involvement—or lack thereof—in their child’s life. This legal move comes after St. Clair publicly announced on Valentine’s Day via X, a social media platform owned by Musk, that he was the father of her infant. If true, this would make the child Musk’s 13th, and his first with St. Clair.
The Alleged Relationship and Conception
According to the court filings, St. Clair and Musk began their romantic relationship in May 2023, and the child, identified as R.S.C., was conceived around January 2024. St. Clair claims that Musk has acknowledged the child as his own in various written communications, which she has included as evidence in her petitions. Among these are alleged text messages between the two, including one from November 24, 2024, where Musk appears to say, “I want to knock you up again,” and another from February 2, 2025, where he writes, “Well, we do have a legion of kids to make.” Additionally, St. Clair shared images of purported messages where Musk expresses interest in meeting the child, such as asking, “All well?” after she gave birth and stating, “I look forward to seeing you and him this weekend.”
Custody Dispute and Allegations of Absentee Fatherhood
In her petition for sole custody, St. Clair portrays Musk as an absent and uninvolved father. She alleges that Musk has only met their child three times and has had no meaningful role in his upbringing. “I am the only parent who cares for him on a daily basis,” St. Clair writes. “I feed him, bathe him, and ensure that all his physical and emotional needs are met. By his choice, Respondent [Musk] was not present for the birth of our child, has had no more than three in-person visits with our child, and has not expressed an interest in having custody of our child.” She further claims that Musk first met their son in September 2024 during a visit to New York, where he spent only three hours with the baby. In a subsequent meeting in Austin, Texas, in late November 2024, Musk reportedly spent just 30 minutes with the child. Since then, St. Clair alleges that Musk has shown no further interest in their son, failing to inquire about his well-being or request updates.
Security Concerns and Naming the Child
The filings also reveal an interesting dynamic between the two regarding the child’s surname and security concerns. St. Clair claims that Musk expressed fears about potential assassination attempts, stating that if he made a mistake in his security arrangements, their son “will never know his father.” In response, St. Clair explains that she decided to give their child her surname and omitted Musk’s name from the birth certificate to protect his identity. This decision, she suggests, was driven by Musk’s own concerns about security and the risks associated with being his child.
Legal Proceedings and Lack of Response from Musk
The legal filings were first reported by journalist Taylor Lorenz, who broke the story on her Substack newsletter, User Mag. Musk has not publicly addressed St. Clair’s claims, and his legal team has reportedly been unresponsive to attempts at resolving the matter privately. St. Clair’s attorneys have stated that Musk “indicated that he no longer wishes to resolve issues of custody and support amicably,” prompting her to take the matter to court. The petitions were filed just one day after Musk’s ex-partner, the singer Grimes, publicly called on him to respond to their child’s “medical crisis.” Musk and Grimes share three children, adding another layer of complexity to his already high-profile personal life.
Broader Implications and Public Interest
This legal battle between St. Clair and Musk has sparked significant public interest, not only due to Musk’s status as one of the most influential figures in technology and business but also because of the unusual nature of the allegations. The case raises questions about the challenges of balancing high-profile personal lives with private family matters, as well as the legal complexities surrounding paternity, custody, and support in cases involving high-net-worth individuals. As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the court will handle the evidence presented and whether Musk will publicly address the claims. For now, St. Clair’s petitions serve as a reminder of the often messy and deeply personal nature of family legal disputes, even when they involve some of the world’s most powerful people.
