Ashley St Clair has alleged that Elon Musk told her he wanted to have a child because he believed he needed “a legion of children before the civil war,” according to a new documentary about the billionaire.
The claim features in filmmaker Alex Gibney’s Musk, a four-hour documentary examining the life, business empire and political influence of the Tesla and SpaceX chief. St Clair, who has a son with Musk, discussed the allegation publicly during the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
Her comments have added another personal dimension to a documentary that explores Musk’s extraordinary rise from technology entrepreneur to one of the world’s most politically influential business figures.
Ashley St Clair details her claim about Musk
St Clair says Musk expressed his desire to have a child with her in a text message, linking the decision to his fears about a potential civil conflict.
According to her account in the documentary, Musk told her he needed “a legion of children before the civil war.”
The allegation has not been independently established by the documentary as fact, and Musk’s representatives have not been presented as confirming the specific wording.
St Clair and Musk had a son in 2024. Their relationship later ended, and the circumstances surrounding their separation have subsequently received significant public attention.
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St Clair has also alleged that Musk’s representatives proposed a $40 million lump-sum payment and a monthly payment of $100,000 in exchange for her signing a non-disclosure agreement. She says the offer was withdrawn after she declined to sign.
Those claims form part of St Clair’s account of her relationship with Musk and should be understood in that context.
St Clair criticises Musk’s influence on X
The former conservative influencer also used her appearance at the Venice premiere to discuss Musk’s role as owner of X, formerly known as Twitter.
St Clair argued that the billionaire’s use of the platform has consequences beyond online arguments, accusing him of contributing to political polarisation.
“What he’s doing with this platform on X cannot be ignored,” she said at the festival, arguing that activity on the platform can produce real-world consequences.
She went further, describing what she sees as deliberate political division and calling for greater efforts to limit what she considers harmful effects.
St Clair’s position is notable partly because she previously supported former US President Donald Trump and was active within conservative online circles. She has since said that she regrets aspects of her earlier political activism.
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What Alex Gibney’s Musk explores
Gibney’s documentary takes a much broader look at Musk than the allegations involving St Clair.
Known for documentaries examining powerful individuals and institutions, Gibney spent approximately three years working on the project.
The film follows Musk’s transformation from a young technology entrepreneur into the leader of companies including Tesla and SpaceX, while also examining his growing political involvement and influence over X.
The documentary arrives at a particularly consequential period for Musk, whose business interests, political activity and social-media presence have increasingly overlapped.
Rather than treating Musk simply as a technology success story, Gibney frames his career as part of a larger story about wealth, power, influence and the modern information economy.
Gibney connects Musk’s worldview to his childhood
At the Venice premiere, Gibney also discussed what he believes may lie behind Musk’s recurring concerns about societal and civilisational collapse.
The filmmaker pointed to Musk’s childhood in South Africa and described it as difficult and traumatic.
Gibney suggested that some of Musk’s present-day behaviour could potentially be understood through that history, while acknowledging that such an interpretation is inherently psychological.
The documentary therefore moves beyond Musk’s companies and public controversies to examine the personal experiences and beliefs that may have shaped his worldview.
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Musk’s political influence has expanded
Since purchasing Twitter in 2022 and subsequently rebranding it as X, Musk has become an increasingly prominent participant in political debate.
He has used the platform to comment directly on elections, political parties and public figures across several countries.
That influence has generated both support and criticism. Supporters argue that Musk has promoted freer political discussion on X, while critics contend that his ownership and use of the platform have helped amplify polarising content.
The debate has become central to Musk’s public identity, making his political influence almost as significant to his profile as his role in technology and business.
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A documentary arriving amid intense scrutiny
Musk arrives at a moment when the billionaire’s public profile extends far beyond Silicon Valley.
His companies have major roles in electric vehicles, space technology, artificial intelligence and social media, while his political interventions have made him a recurring figure in international political debate.
St Clair’s allegations add a deeply personal element to Gibney’s examination of that power.
For now, the claims about the alleged text message and proposed financial settlement remain St Clair’s account. Musk’s position on those specific allegations is essential context for readers and should be considered alongside any future response from him or his representatives.
Gibney’s film ultimately attempts to answer a much broader question: how did a technology entrepreneur become a figure whose decisions and public statements can influence business, politics, culture and the global information ecosystem?
That question sits at the centre of Musk as the documentary begins its wider release following its Venice premiere.
