Elon Musk and Grimes’ relationship has always been far from ordinary — an unpredictable rollercoaster blending high-tech ambition with avant-garde art. The duo, who first captivated the public with their unexpected debut at the 2018 Met Gala, have since built a complex family life that includes three uniquely named children: X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl, and Techno Mechanicus.
Despite their on-again, off-again status, their union has continued to grab headlines — not just for its eccentricity, but for its blend of sci-fi flair, musical mystique, and very public parenting challenges.
A Child Named X, A War-Like Pregnancy, and a Post-Apocalyptic Baby Shower Vibe
Grimes announced her first pregnancy in true Grimes fashion: topless, ethereal, and vaguely dystopian. That child became the now-famous X Æ A-12 — later updated to X Æ A-Xii to comply with California naming laws. Born in May 2020, little “X” quickly became a symbol of the couple’s unconventional parenting style.
While Musk was largely hands-off during X’s early months — describing babies as “eating and pooping machines” — Grimes took charge, even letting her son call her “Claire” instead of “Mom.” She admitted she couldn’t fully identify with the word “mother,” preferring a more fluid role in their relationship.
And X? He’s already a tiny tech prodigy. The boy joins Musk at engineering meetings, knows the inner workings of rockets, and even suffered “PTSD” when SpaceX’s Starship exploded — according to his mom. “He knows more about rockets than me,” she told Wired.
Meet Y: Their Daughter Exa, Who Loves Nietzsche and Techno
In December 2021, the couple quietly welcomed their second child via surrogate. Named Exa Dark Sideræl (nicknamed “Y”), her name mirrors the futuristic poetry of her brother’s. “Exa” is a nod to supercomputing power, “Dark” to the mysterious universe, and “Sideræl” to star time. Together, it reads like an astrophysics thesis with a Tolkien twist.
Grimes originally wanted to name her daughter Odysseus, but they landed on something that fit the pair’s intergalactic aesthetic. The baby, by all accounts, is as eccentric as her name — preferring techno music, obscure shipping logistics, and, reportedly, is also a “little engineer.” She’s rarely seen in public, but the few glimpses shared show a fiercely curious spirit already.
Tau Time: The Third Musk-Grimes Baby Stays Hidden — for Now
Grimes and Musk’s third child, born in June 2022, remained a well-kept secret until the release of Walter Isaacson’s biography on Musk. Named Techno Mechanicus, or simply “Tau,” he may be the most mysterious of the three. Grimes describes him as deeply wise, almost otherworldly — “like a little Spock.”
While his name sounds like a transformer and his nickname like a math constant, Tau has yet to make a public debut. Grimes has said she’s intentionally shielding him from the spotlight, prioritizing privacy over public fascination — a difficult balance, given his lineage.
Grimes vs. Musk: Custody Battles and Social Media Confessions
While their parenting styles have often aligned in their futuristic vision, the co-parenting situation turned rocky behind the scenes. In October 2023, Grimes filed to establish parental rights for all three children, and a custody battle quietly unfolded.
In a vulnerable post in late 2024, Grimes revealed the toll it had taken: “Spent a year locked in battle in a state with terrible mothers rights… All the while I didn’t see one of my babies for 5 months.” The custody drama reportedly delayed her creative output and strained her connection to Musk, whom she said had become “unrecognizable.”
Their communication occasionally spilled into the public — most notably when Musk took X to the Oval Office in 2025 to witness former President Trump sign an executive order. Grimes, blindsided, publicly expressed her discomfort: “He should not be in public like this… I did not see this.”
A Relationship of Extremes: From MET Gala to Parental Gridlock
Their romance has always defied labels — not quite traditional, never boring. At times a power couple of genius innovation, at others locked in quiet warfare, Musk and Grimes have become emblematic of the modern celebrity dynamic: part spectacle, part deeply human.
Despite their differences, both seem determined to remain active parents in their children’s lives, though with wildly different approaches. Grimes blends maternal rebellion with artistry and philosophical parenting. Musk brings in-office mentorship and a touch of engineer obsession.
Whether or not their relationship is truly over, one thing is clear: Elon Musk and Grimes have created a legacy — in both the children they raise and the strange, poetic chaos they inhabit.
