Billionaire Elon Musk has run into several obstacles on the road to bringing his children and their mothers together under one roof.
The cornerstone of Musk’s family compound is a 14,400-square-foot villa, set on a quiet, leafy street amid multimillion-dollar properties outside of Austin, the New York Times reported. Behind the villa, Musk also owns a six-bedroom mansion, forming part of a larger, unconventional family setup. The combined cost of the properties is estimated at $35 million.
Musk previously said he doesn’t own a home, and the family compound was described as “secret” by the outlet. His plans for an estate owned by himself and his family outside Austin hit a major setback following a Justice Department investigation regarding Tesla resources potentially being used on a glass house for Musk’s personal use — which he denied on social media last year, claiming he was “not building a house of any kind.”
Undeterred, Musk began searching Austin for properties suitable for his large family, reportedly making substantial offers to local homeowners. Some were offered 20 to 70 percent above market value, with many required to sign nondisclosure agreements simply to review Musk’s offers, the outlet reported.
Although Musk intended to expand his existing home into a compound to accommodate his family, the plans were further complicated by personal changes. Grimes (Claire Boucher), the mother of three of Musk’s children, left Austin last year amid a custody dispute, altering his residential plans.
Musk’s properties are surrounded by high security, with nearby residents reporting increased activity whenever he’s in town.
“With that much money, he’s probably got lots of whims, and he’ll do something else soon,” said Jim Lewis, a retired rancher who lives nearby.
Musk has 11 children by three women, “obsesses about declining birthrates” and has offered his own sperm to friends and acquaintances for in vitro fertilization, the outlet reported.
Only Shivon Zilis, the mother of Musk’s twins, who were born in 2021, resides in Austin permanently, sometimes appearing at city events. Meanwhile, Musk’s adult daughter Vivian Wilson is estranged from him and often criticizes him publicly.
Musk continues to expand his presence throughout Central Texas. Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas, located just outside the city, serves as a key production site for the Model Y, employing thousands of people and boosting local economic development.
Alongside Tesla, Musk’s Boring Company is working on an underground transit system aimed at improving commuting and enhancing public transportation options. And Neuralink, his brain-computer interface startup, recently established offices in Austin, with SpaceX soon to follow suit.
— Andrew Terrell
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