Elon Musk and Grimes are the first to admit their relationship was unique.
“There’s no real word for it,” Grimes (born Claire Elise Boucher) told Vanity Fair in March 2022. “I would probably refer to him as my boyfriend, but we’re very fluid. We live in separate houses. We’re best friends. We see each other all the time. … We just have our own thing going on, and I don’t expect other people to understand it.”
Although the pair called it quits that same year, Musk and Grimes welcomed three children during their relationship: son X Æ A-Xii in May 2020, daughter Exa Dark Sideræl via surrogate in December 2021 and son Techno Mechanicus via surrogate in June 2022.
“For a girl, it’s sacrificing your body and your freedom,” Grimes recalled to Rolling Stone in March 2020 about pregnancy. “It’s a pretty crazy sacrifice and only half of the population has to do it. It was really profound to me when I decided I was going to do it.”
Look Back at Elon Musk and Grimes’ Relationship Timeline
Keep reading to see what Grimes and Musk have said about parenthood and raising kids together:
Elon Musk’s Thoughts on Fatherhood
After the birth of X, Musk admitted that Grimes was taking the lead parenting role while their son was an infant. “Well, babies are just eating and pooping machines, you know?” he told The New York Times in July 2020. “Right now there’s not much I can do. Grimes has a much bigger role than me right now. … When the kid gets older, there will be more of a role for me.”
Grimes’ Thoughts on Motherhood
After breaking up with Musk in 2022, Grimes said she was determined to have a healthy coparenting relationship with her ex as the kids continue to grow. ”I really care about having a very good relationship with my kids,” she told Wired in August 2023. “I think I understand how to be a good parent to them. Both enforcing discipline and being their friend. Who knows, maybe they’ll resent me and reject family culture, but I feel like they will not.”
Their Big Family Goals
After welcoming her second baby with Musk, Grimes expressed her desire to have more children with her partner. “We’ve always wanted at least three or four,” she told Vanity Fair in March 2022. The pair went on to welcome their third child in June 2022.
Their Legal Battle
In September 2024, Grimes sued Musk in regard to parental rights over their three children. According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly, the “Oblivion” singer filed a “petition to establish parental relationship” in the Superior Court of San Francisco.
While the documents are sealed, a petition to determine parental relationship can be filed to request that a judge identify the legal parents of a child in the state of California.
Grimes Reacts to Her Son Visiting the White House
In February 2025, Musk made headlines when he brought X to the Oval Office and included him while delivering remarks alongside President Donald Trump.
After the press conference was widely discussed, Grimes took to social media to say that she was unaware X would be present at the press conference.
“He should not be in public like this,” she wrote. “I did not see this, thank (you) for alerting me. But I’m glad he was polite. Sigh.”
Differing Views While Co Parenting
In January 2026, Grimes shared a rare glimpse into the former couple’s coparenting dynamic when an X user asked her if her kids are ever allowed screen time.
“Huge debate cuz the other parent is fine w it but it’s fairly avoided,” she responded, without referring to Musk or their children by name. “If it happens we focus on great art and ideally slower stuff like [Japanese animation] Ghibli that isn’t constantly changing context.”
