Sophia Michaels
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is a father to 11 living children, while his first son, Nevada Alexander Musk, tragically passed away as an infant. Nevada, born to Elon and his then-wife Justine Musk, died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at just 10 weeks old. The New York Times reports that SIDS, described as the “unexplained death of a baby,” lacks a single known cause but can be related to factors such as low birth weight and respiratory issues, with boys being at higher risk.
Elon has rarely discussed his grief over Nevada’s death. However, he did mention it in an email in 2018 while corresponding with a father of a teen who died in a Tesla-related accident. He stated, “There is nothing worse than losing a child,” and shared that he held Nevada in his arms as he passed away, feeling his heartbeat fade. This exchange surfaced during another wrongful death lawsuit connected to the case.
Justine Musk, however, has a different recollection of their son’s final moments.
Justine Musk claims Elon distorted the story of their child’s passing
Justine Musk has stated that Elon did not hold Nevada as he died. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she clarified the circumstances surrounding their son’s death, indicating that he was placed on life support after a SIDS incident and was later declared brain-dead. “I was the one who was holding him,” she emphasized, sharing that this moment was sacred to her. Her remarks followed Elon’s mention of Nevada while responding to a controversy involving conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Elon has not publicly replied to Justine’s claims. In a personal essay, she reflected on the tragic event, saying, “Nevada went down for a nap… and stopped breathing.” She noted that by the time help arrived, he had suffered severe oxygen deprivation. They eventually decided to take him off life support, a moment she vividly remembers sharing. She also remarked that Elon avoided discussing their son’s death and labeled her feelings as “emotionally manipulative.”
Since then, Elon has welcomed more children, including several with Justine.
