Ashley St. Clair has alleged that Elon Musk’s representatives offered her a $40.2 million confidentiality arrangement to remain silent about their relationship. Musk denied the claim as the controversy draws attention to a new documentary examining his personal life.
Ashley St. Clair, the mother of one of billionaire Elon Musk’s children, has alleged that she was offered a financial arrangement worth approximately $40.2 million in exchange for remaining silent about their relationship, a claim the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive has publicly denied, according to US media reports.
In an interview published by The New York Times on Friday, St. Clair, a former conservative social media influencer, said she rejected a proposed nondisclosure agreement (NDA) because its conditions would have prevented her from discussing Musk and their relationship indefinitely.
According to St. Clair, the proposed arrangement included a $15 million lump-sum payment and monthly payments of $100,000 for 21 years. Combined, the payments would amount to $40.2 million over the specified period.
Musk disputed the allegation following an earlier report about the proposed agreement. “She was never offered that and has a history of making false claims,” Musk wrote on X, according to the newspaper.
St. Clair said the proposed confidentiality agreement was sent to her approximately two months after she gave birth to a child in 2024. She alleged that Jared Birchall, Musk’s financial manager, transmitted the document through Signal, an encrypted messaging application.
According to her account, the proposed restrictions would have prevented her from discussing the relationship not only publicly but also with members of her family. She further claimed that the confidentiality provisions would have extended to her heirs.
St. Clair said she rejected the arrangement because she considered its conditions unacceptable, particularly the restrictions affecting her children. The allegations concern the proposed agreement described by St. Clair; the available account does not establish that Musk personally authorised the terms. The newspaper reported that Musk did not respond to its requests for comment on the interview.
Documentary Examines Musk’s Personal Life
The allegations have emerged as St. Clair appears in Musk, a nearly four-hour documentary directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney. The documentary examines the technology entrepreneur’s personal life, business interests and public influence.
St. Clair told The New York Times that her decision to participate in the documentary was partly driven by concerns about the relationship between wealth, power and public accountability. She said she had become increasingly uncomfortable with the expectation that powerful individuals should automatically be trusted because of their financial success.
Musk has criticised Gibney’s documentary, accusing the filmmaker of relying on people who hold grievances against him or have limited personal knowledge of him. The competing accounts have added another dimension to the public debate surrounding Musk’s private life and his influence in business and politics.
St. Clair Describes Their Relationship
St. Clair said she first met Musk in 2023 after he contacted her through Twitter, which was subsequently renamed X. At the time, she had built a following by promoting conservative political positions and was working for the conservative satirical publication The Babylon Bee. She was also raising a child from an earlier relationship.
According to her account, the two began communicating regularly and eventually developed a personal relationship. During a trip to St. Barts in January 2024, Musk raised the possibility of having a child together, she said.
St. Clair said she initially viewed the relationship positively but later became concerned after learning more about Musk’s custody dispute with musician Grimes, with whom he shares three children.
Her interview also addressed changes in her political outlook. St. Clair said she had become increasingly disillusioned with the political movement surrounding US President Donald Trump, which she had previously supported.
She acknowledged promoting political positions and rhetoric that she now regrets, including commentary concerning race, gender and transgender people. According to St. Clair, her changing views developed gradually and were not solely the result of her personal dispute with Musk.
Allegations Remain Disputed
The reported $40.2 million confidentiality arrangement has drawn attention because of the significant sums involved and the alleged scope of the proposed restrictions. However, St. Clair’s account and Musk’s public denial remain conflicting versions of events, and the claims have not been independently established by the interview alone.
The allegations also raise questions about confidentiality agreements involving individuals with substantial differences in wealth and public influence. Nevertheless, the specific terms described by St. Clair should not be treated as a confirmed offer from Musk personally without further evidence.
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Musk is the chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX and the owner of X. His business interests include electric vehicles, space exploration, artificial intelligence and digital communications, placing him among the most influential figures in the American technology industry.
As attention grows around the documentary and St. Clair’s allegations, the proposed agreement remains disputed. Musk has denied that the offer was made, while St. Clair maintains that she rejected the arrangement because of its restrictions on discussing their relationship and its potential implications for her children.
