In a revealing interview with The Wall Street Journal, conservative commentator Ashley St. Clair has opened up about her legal and personal battle with Elon Musk, including the billionaire’s offer of a multimillion-dollar deal in exchange for silence regarding the paternity of their son, Romulus.
A Secret Offer with Strings Attached
According to documents and statements reviewed by WSJ, Musk—via his close confidant and “fixer” Jared Birchall—offered St. Clair a $15 million lump sum and $100,000 in monthly child support until their child turned 21. In return, she would agree not to publicly acknowledge Musk as the father or disclose details of their relationship.
The proposed agreement also came with a controversial clause: while St. Clair would be legally barred from speaking publicly or negatively about Musk, Musk would retain the right to speak about her. Breaking the agreement would require her to repay the full $15 million sum.
St. Clair ultimately rejected the offer, stating that it would make her son feel “illegitimate.” She also declined to name Musk on the birth certificate at the time, reportedly out of concern for her child’s privacy and safety.
Public Acknowledgement
On Valentine’s Day, St. Clair took to social media to publicly confirm Musk’s paternity.
“Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father,” she wrote. “I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child’s privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause.”
Despite her request for privacy, the story gained national attention, especially given Musk’s history of fathering multiple children through similar confidential arrangements.
“Punished for Disobedience”
In a follow-up statement and recent interview, St. Clair claims that Musk slashed the financial support after she went public, cutting her child’s monthly support by 60%. To compensate, she recently sold her $100,000 Tesla Model S.
“Do you feel like he was sort of, like, vindictive against you in some way?” a reporter asked.
“Yeah, that’s his modus operandi when women speak out,” she replied.
She also pointed out the irony of Musk allegedly attempting to impose a gag order through legal channels, while using X (formerly Twitter), a platform he owns, to share derogatory remarks about her and their son.
Musk’s Silence and Control Narrative
St. Clair maintains that she hasn’t spoken with Musk since February 13 and alleges he refused a paternity test prior to their son’s birth—despite ultimately naming the child himself.
“You weren’t sending me money. You were sending support for your child that you thought was necessary… until you withdrew most of it to maintain control and punish me for ‘disobedience,’” she said in a public statement.
The drama unfolding between Musk and St. Clair has fueled conversations around power dynamics, parental rights, and non-disclosure arrangements in high-profile paternity cases. It also casts new light on Musk’s increasingly complex family life—marked by secrecy, legal maneuvering, and accusations of manipulation.
As St. Clair puts it: “It’s all about control with you, and everyone can see it.”
