Elon Musk, Dad of 14, Says Kids Make You Happier ‘99% of the Time’ — ‘Kids Are Really Great’

Elon Musk has built rockets, electric cars, brain implants, and artificial intelligence companies. But when it comes to what makes him happiest, the billionaire says the answer is much simpler—his kids.

“I always try to reserve time for my kids because I love hanging out with them. Kids are really great. I mean, 99% of the time, they make you happier.”

Musk, who has 14 children with four women, has repeatedly spoken about the role fatherhood plays in his life. He has said spending time with his children is something he deliberately makes room for despite running several companies.

“Of anything in my life, I would say kids by far make me the happiest,” Musk has said in other comments.

He has also put it even more bluntly.

“Kids are awesome. Nothing will make you happier.”

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Musk’s Family Has Grown Across Four Relationships

Musk has six children with author Justine Wilson, three with musician Grimes, four with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, and one with author and influencer Ashley St. Clair.

His remarks about fatherhood come against the backdrop of an unusually busy professional life. Musk leads or is closely associated with Tesla (TSLA), SpaceX (SPCX), Neuralink, The Boring Company, and xAI, spanning electric vehicles, spaceflight, brain-computer interfaces, infrastructure, and artificial intelligence.

Yet he has said time with his children remains a priority.

Musk has described spending time with them while they play, traveling with them, and making a point of being present rather than allowing work to consume every available hour.

For someone whose companies operate in industries where the stakes can run into the billions of dollars, Musk’s stated source of happiness isn’t another business milestone. It’s family.

Musk Connects Fatherhood With Humanity’s Future

His views on children also extend well beyond his own family.

Musk has repeatedly warned about declining birth rates, arguing that a shrinking population could create serious long-term problems for civilization. On X, he has described a collapsing birth rate as the “biggest danger civilization faces by far.”

He has also argued that having children is inherently optimistic because it reflects a belief that the future is worth investing in.

“Having children is the most optimistic thing somebody could do. It means you care about and believe in the future,” Musk has written.

That puts his remarks about fatherhood in a broader context. For Musk, children aren’t simply a source of personal happiness. He has also framed growing families as part of a larger argument about the future of humanity.

And after becoming a father 14 times, Musk’s personal verdict is remarkably consistent—kids are great, and most of the time, he says, they make life happier.

On the date of publication, Caleb Naysmith did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.