Ashley St. Clair and Elon Musk: The Disputed $40 Million NDA, Their Child and the New Musk Documentary

Updated October 11, 2026. Ashley St. Clair, the American author and former conservative influencer who has a son with Elon Musk, says she rejected a $40 million nondisclosure agreement that would have prevented her from publicly discussing their relationship. Her claim has drawn renewed attention following her appearance in Musk, a nearly four-hour documentary directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney. Musk, however, has categorically denied that the alleged offer was made.

St. Clair's account is one of the central personal stories in the documentary, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2026 and began a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 9. The film examines Musk's business career, family relationships and increasing political influence through interviews with former partners, colleagues, journalists and technology experts.

The dispute goes beyond a single alleged confidentiality agreement. St. Clair and Musk have also been involved in disagreements over their son, financial support and parental responsibilities. Earlier reporting described a separate proposed multimillion-dollar support arrangement involving Musk's family office, raising broader questions about the intersection of privacy, wealth and family disputes involving prominent public figures.

Who Is Ashley St. Clair?

Ashley St. Clair is an American writer, former conservative political commentator and social media personality who became nationally known through her political commentary before publicly discussing her relationship with Elon Musk.

She developed an online following through conservative media appearances, commentary on gender and politics, and work associated with the satirical publication The Babylon Bee.

St. Clair also wrote the children's book Elephants Are Not Birds, which attracted attention for its treatment of gender identity and political themes.

Her public profile changed in February 2025 when she revealed that she had given birth to a son, Romulus, in 2024 and identified Musk as the child's father.

Since then, she has discussed their relationship in interviews, legal proceedings and public statements. Her participation in Gibney's 2026 documentary has brought those accounts to a wider audience.

Ashley St. Clair Quick Facts

Did Elon Musk Offer Ashley St. Clair $40 Million to Stay Silent?

St. Clair says she declined an offer worth $40 million in exchange for agreeing not to speak publicly about her relationship with Musk.

She discussed the alleged proposal during a September 8, 2026, press conference at the Venice Film Festival, where Gibney's documentary received its world premiere.

St. Clair characterized the decision as a choice between financial security and maintaining control over her own public account of events.

She said that accepting such an arrangement would have affected her ability to participate in the documentary and discuss experiences she believed were important.

However, the existence of the specific $40 million offer remains disputed.

After TMZ reported her remarks, Musk responded publicly on X on September 9, denying that St. Clair had ever received such an offer.

He also accused her of making inaccurate claims.

The reporting reviewed for this article does not establish a publicly authenticated copy of the alleged $40 million agreement, its exact terms or the circumstances under which it was supposedly presented.

The claim must therefore be attributed to St. Clair rather than described as a confirmed payment proposal.

Why Did She Say She Refused the Agreement?

St. Clair has explained that she wanted to preserve the ability to discuss her own experiences rather than accept a payment that she believed would restrict her speech.

At the Venice press conference, she emphasized the example she wanted to set for her children.

Her explanation also reflected concerns about the influence of wealth within personal relationships.

In an October 2026 interview with The New York Times, St. Clair argued that society often treats financial success as evidence of personal credibility or moral authority.

Her position was that powerful people should not automatically receive greater trust merely because they control substantial financial resources.

These are her stated views and motivations. They do not independently prove that the alleged $40 million proposal existed.

The Earlier $15 Million and $100,000-a-Month Proposal

The disputed $40 million NDA is not the only financial arrangement discussed in reporting about St. Clair and Musk.

In April 2025, The Wall Street Journal published an investigation into Musk's relationships with the mothers of his children and the role of his longtime associate Jared Birchall.

The investigation described a proposed arrangement under which St. Clair would receive $15 million and approximately $100,000 in monthly support in connection with an agreement involving privacy and their child.

The proposed terms were reported as part of negotiations involving Musk's family office.

That reporting also described conversations in which Birchall discussed the consequences of pursuing a legal process rather than reaching a private agreement.

The Journal's investigation relied on documentary material and accounts of the negotiations, providing a more detailed description of proposed financial terms than the publicly available reporting about the later $40 million allegation.

Are the $15 Million and $40 Million Offers the Same?

No. The two figures should not be treated as interchangeable.

The differences in amount, reporting date and stated purpose make it inappropriate to combine the figures or assume that one proposal replaced the other.

Neither reported arrangement establishes what St. Clair ultimately received under any private agreement.

Who Is Jared Birchall and Why Does He Matter?

Jared Birchall is a longtime Musk associate who has worked in financial management and operates in connection with Musk's family office.

He has been involved in managing significant financial matters and coordinating aspects of Musk's personal and business affairs.

The Wall Street Journal's 2025 investigation described Birchall as an important intermediary in negotiations involving St. Clair.

According to the reporting, discussions about parental arrangements, financial support and confidentiality were conducted through Birchall rather than exclusively through direct communication between Musk and St. Clair.

His involvement illustrates the role professional advisers can play in managing complex personal and financial relationships for wealthy individuals.

However, his reported participation in earlier negotiations does not independently establish St. Clair's separate allegation that a $40 million offer was later made.

How Did Ashley St. Clair and Elon Musk's Relationship Begin?

St. Clair has said her relationship with Musk began through private messages on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

In a June 2026 interview with Don Lemon, she described how Musk contacted her through the social media platform and how their interactions subsequently developed.

Business Insider reported in October 2026 that the two initially connected in 2023.

At the time, St. Clair was already known for conservative commentary, while Musk had become increasingly prominent in political discussions on X.

St. Clair has described their relationship as close but unconventional, with conversations that extended beyond a typical romantic relationship.

She has also discussed Musk's interest in expanding his family and his ideas about declining birth rates.

The personal details of their private relationship largely come from St. Clair's recollections and should not be treated as independently verified accounts of every interaction.

Ashley St. Clair, Elon Musk and Their Son Romulus

St. Clair gave birth to Romulus in 2024 and announced in February 2025 that Musk was the child's father.

The announcement attracted attention because Musk was already publicly known to have a large family with several women.

In 2025, reporting based on a paternity test established a very high statistical probability that Musk was Romulus's biological father.

Musk had previously expressed uncertainty about paternity while also publicly acknowledging that he had provided financial support.

The situation subsequently developed into a legal and public dispute involving parenting arrangements and financial responsibilities.

How Many Children Does Elon Musk Have?

As of October 2026, public reporting identifies at least 14 children born to Musk through relationships with four women.

His first wife, author Justine Wilson, had six children with him. Their first child, Nevada, died in infancy in 2002.

Musk also has three children with musician Grimes, whose legal name is Claire Boucher.

Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis has four children with Musk, while St. Clair is the mother of Romulus.

The publicly documented family relationships have attracted discussion because Musk frequently speaks about population decline and the importance of having children.

Reports suggesting that Musk may have additional children should not be presented as confirmed without reliable evidence.

The Custody Dispute Between Ashley St. Clair and Elon Musk

After publicly identifying Musk as Romulus's father, St. Clair initiated legal proceedings concerning custody and parental responsibilities.

Her legal position has involved questions about parenting arrangements, financial support and the child's welfare.

Musk has made public statements disputing elements of her account and discussing his own intentions regarding custody.

The case has attracted attention partly because of the substantial difference in financial resources between the parties.

However, a public disagreement does not establish the outcome of a custody proceeding or demonstrate that every allegation made by either parent is accurate.

Private family-law proceedings may also involve confidential information that is unavailable to the public.

As of October 11, 2026, the reporting reviewed does not establish a final, comprehensive resolution of every custody and support issue between St. Clair and Musk.

Why Elon Musk's Views on Having Children Are Part of the Documentary

Musk has repeatedly expressed concern about declining birth rates and population growth.

He has publicly argued that falling fertility could create long-term economic and demographic challenges for societies.

Those views are an established part of his public commentary and have been discussed in interviews and social media posts over several years.

St. Clair's testimony in Gibney's documentary connects those public statements to her recollections of Musk's private conversations about fatherhood.

In recent interviews, she has described Musk expressing interest in having numerous descendants and referring to historical figures associated with large families or dynasties.

The Wall Street Journal's 2025 investigation also examined how Musk's family arrangements were reportedly managed through a combination of personal negotiations and financial agreements.

These accounts are relevant to the documentary's broader examination of how Musk's personal beliefs intersect with his public influence.

What Is Alex Gibney's Musk Documentary About?

Musk is a feature-length investigative documentary directed by Alex Gibney, examining Elon Musk's development from a technology entrepreneur into an influential figure in business, communications and politics.

The film follows his early technology ventures, including Zip2 and X.com, and examines his later roles at Tesla, SpaceX and other companies.

It also addresses Musk's acquisition of Twitter in 2022, the platform's transformation into X and his involvement in political debates surrounding the 2024 presidential election.

The documentary's central question concerns how Musk accumulated influence across industries that affect transportation, communications, technology and government.

Gibney approaches these subjects critically, combining interviews, archival material, company history and public statements.

Documentary Production and Release Details

The film screened outside the main competition at Venice, where it attracted considerable press coverage and critical debate.

Its length reflects the scope of Gibney's investigation, which expanded beyond the initial project as Musk became more involved in American political life.

Why Ashley St. Clair Agreed to Participate in the Film

Gibney first met St. Clair in December 2025, according to his comments accompanying an October 2026 interview published by The New York Times.

St. Clair has said she was familiar with the director's earlier investigative work and believed his documentary approach would allow her to describe events in greater detail.

She specifically referenced Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, Gibney's examination of Scientology, when explaining why she was comfortable participating.

Her testimony provides an account of personal interactions that would not otherwise be available through business records or public statements.

Gibney has said that St. Clair also offered perspective on Musk's activities during the 2024 election campaign.

These recollections contribute to the film's narrative, but the director's inclusion of an allegation does not automatically make it an independently established fact.

Justine Wilson and Other Documentary Participants

St. Clair is not the only person connected to Musk's private life who appears in the documentary.

Justine Wilson, Musk's first wife, discusses their marriage and her experience of their relationship.

Wilson, a writer, was married to Musk from 2000 until their divorce in 2008.

In the documentary, she describes feeling diminished during their marriage and recounts experiences she interprets as emotionally manipulative.

Her testimony offers a separate personal perspective from St. Clair's account.

The film also features discussions involving people who have observed Musk's career in technology, philosophy, journalism and artificial intelligence.

Sam Harris and Geoffrey Hinton

Philosopher and neuroscientist Sam Harris is among the figures whose observations appear in the documentary.

Harris has previously discussed Musk's public behavior and the political consequences of influential technology platforms.

Geoffrey Hinton, the computer scientist widely recognized for foundational contributions to modern artificial intelligence, also contributes to the film's examination of technology and power.

Their perspectives differ from the personal testimonies of St. Clair and Wilson because they focus more heavily on public behavior, technology and institutional influence.

Bringing these distinct accounts together is part of Gibney's narrative method.

Why Does the Documentary Use an AI-Generated Elon Musk?

Musk did not sit for an interview with Gibney.

Instead, the film uses an animated digital representation of Musk that incorporates statements drawn from his public interviews and appearances.

Gibney has described the approach as a way of engaging with Musk's public record while acknowledging his absence from the production.

The technique also reflects the subject's own interest in artificial intelligence and simulation theory.

Viewers should distinguish the digital representation from an actual interview conducted for the documentary.

The avatar is a filmmaking device rather than a new firsthand account from Musk.

How Elon Musk Responded to the Film

Musk has criticized Gibney's documentary and the selection of interview participants.

He has suggested that the production relies on people who have personal grievances against him or lack sufficient firsthand knowledge of his activities.

His public response has included specific criticism of St. Clair's $40 million allegation.

Reuters reported in September 2026 that Gibney encountered reluctance from potential interview subjects during production, with some concerned about the consequences of participating.

The director has defended the documentary as an investigation grounded in available evidence and testimony.

After the Venice premiere, Musk's attorney sent a warning letter related to the film, according to reporting by TheWrap.

Despite the dispute, the documentary proceeded toward theatrical release through Bleecker Street.

Another 2026 Dispute: Ashley St. Clair's Lawsuit Against xAI

St. Clair was also involved in a separate legal dispute involving Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI.

In early 2026, she filed a lawsuit alleging that the company's Grok chatbot generated harmful synthetic images of her, including sexually explicit deepfakes.

The Wall Street Journal reported that her legal team sought court intervention to prevent the generation and distribution of such material.

St. Clair also alleged that xAI failed to respond adequately to complaints about the images.

xAI contested the litigation and pursued separate legal arguments concerning applicable terms of service.

The proceedings raise questions about platform responsibility, consent and legal remedies for AI-generated impersonation.

However, the allegations in that lawsuit are separate from the disputed $40 million NDA and should not be treated as proof of the confidentiality claim.

How the Musk Documentary Has Been Received

The film's Venice premiere generated extensive coverage from entertainment publications and major newspapers.

Critics have focused on its unusually long runtime, use of a simulated Musk interview and emphasis on the relationship between personal conduct and institutional influence.

Some reviews described the documentary as a comprehensive examination of Musk's rise, particularly its treatment of his corporate and political activities.

Other commentary questioned whether the production provided sufficiently new information for viewers already familiar with extensive reporting about Musk.

WIRED's October 2026 coverage emphasized the significance of interviews with women who had been personally involved with Musk, including Wilson and St. Clair.

The Atlantic and Vulture also examined the film's portrayal of Musk's public identity and the broader debate about his influence.

These critical interpretations are distinct from the documentary's verifiable production facts and from the allegations made by individual interview subjects.

Timeline: Ashley St. Clair, Elon Musk and the Documentary

What Are the Broader Questions Raised by the NDA Dispute?

Nondisclosure agreements are common legal instruments used to protect confidential business information, private financial arrangements and other sensitive material.

They may also appear in personal settlements or agreements concerning family matters.

However, their enforceability depends on the law governing the agreement, its specific terms and the circumstances in which it was signed.

St. Clair's claim concerns a proposed arrangement that she says would have prevented her from publicly discussing her experiences.

Musk denies that arrangement existed.

Because the alleged agreement has not been publicly authenticated, it is not possible to assess its precise legal scope or determine whether its terms would have been enforceable.

The dispute nevertheless illustrates why confidentiality provisions can become controversial when they involve significant financial resources and unequal bargaining positions.

Where Can You Watch the Musk Documentary?

As of October 11, 2026, Musk has begun its limited theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles.

Bleecker Street has scheduled a broader United States release for October 16.

The documentary's substantial runtime means that theater schedules and the availability of intermissions may differ by venue.

A confirmed streaming premiere date has not been established in the reporting reviewed for this article.

Claims that the complete film is already available through an official subscription streaming platform should therefore be checked against the distributor's latest release information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Ashley St. Clair turn down $40 million from Elon Musk?

St. Clair says she rejected a $40 million nondisclosure agreement. Musk publicly denies that such an offer was ever made, and the alleged document has not been independently authenticated.

How much financial support was previously reported?

The Wall Street Journal reported in April 2025 that a proposed arrangement included $15 million and approximately $100,000 in monthly support. This was separate from the later disputed $40 million claim.

Is Elon Musk the father of Ashley St. Clair's son?

Yes. Public reporting on paternity testing identified Musk as the biological father of Romulus, who was born in 2024.

How many children does Elon Musk have in 2026?

As of October 2026, public reporting identifies at least 14 children with four women, including one child who died in infancy.

Why did Ashley St. Clair speak in the Musk documentary?

St. Clair says she wanted to describe her experiences freely and believed Gibney's investigative approach provided an appropriate setting for her account.

Did Elon Musk participate in Alex Gibney's documentary?

No. The film uses archival material, interviews with other people and a digital representation incorporating Musk's previously recorded public statements.

When does the Musk documentary come out?

The film opened in selected U.S. theaters on October 9, 2026. Its wider release is scheduled for October 16.

How long is the Musk documentary?

The documentary runs approximately 225 minutes, with a roughly 10-minute intermission associated with theatrical presentations.

Has the $40 million NDA been proven to exist?

No publicly authenticated version of the alleged agreement has been established in the reporting reviewed. St. Clair maintains that it was offered, while Musk disputes her claim.

Conclusion

Ashley St. Clair's participation in Alex Gibney's documentary has renewed scrutiny of her relationship with Elon Musk, their son and the financial arrangements reportedly discussed during their separation.

Her most widely circulated allegation is that she rejected a $40 million nondisclosure agreement in order to retain the freedom to speak publicly. Musk has directly denied that the offer existed, and the claim remains unresolved in the available public record.

Earlier reporting about a proposed $15 million payment and monthly support provides additional context, but it concerns a separately reported arrangement and should not be conflated with the later allegation.

The documentary expands the discussion beyond St. Clair's experiences, examining Musk's business activities, political influence and relationships through accounts from people who have known or worked with him.

With the film now reaching theaters, its interviews contribute to an ongoing public debate about wealth, privacy and accountability. The distinction between documented events, firsthand allegations and contested interpretations remains essential to understanding the story.