Who is Elon Musk’s Trans Daughter, Vivian Wilson?

South African-born Elon Musk is one of the most controversial and reviled figures in the world. Now, his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, is also making headlines thanks to her outspoken and defiant views.

In recent years, she has emerged as a vocal advocate for transgender rights and has spoken out against her powerful billionaire father’s harmful views on gender identity. Here’s what we know about her story.

Vivian Wilson’s Background

Born on April 15, 2004, Vivian Wilson is the eldest living child of Elon Musk and his first wife, Justine Musk, a fiction writer. She was conceived via in vitro fertilisation and is one of Musk’s 14 children.

Wilson began her gender transition at 16 and has described her childhood as difficult, marked by her father’s absence and his alleged discomfort with her femininity.

In a recent interview with Teen Vogue, Wilson recalled a pivotal moment in her journey: “There was one night, it was 11:00 p.m., and I was like, I know for a fact I am trans. I had known for a few months at that point, and I was like, I cannot f**king do this anymore.”

Her mother, Justine Musk, was supportive of her transition, while her father was not.

Since taking over X (formerly Twitter), Musk has become increasingly conservative in his views and has taken to sharing right-wing conspiracy theories and dangerous misinformation.

President Donald Trump appointed Musk as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) through which Musk has overseen devastating funding and staff cuts to US government agencies that have shut down programmes around the globe, especially those that support the LGBTQ+ community.

Estrangement from Her Father

When Wilson turned 18 in June 2022, she filed a petition in the Los Angeles County Superior Court to legally change her name and gender.

She also made a clear statement about her estrangement from Musk, declaring, “I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.” The petition was granted, and she took her mother’s maiden name.

Musk, on the other hand, blamed her transition and their strained relationship on “neo-Marxist” influences at her elite university, claiming that she had been “killed by the woke mind virus.”

In an interview with conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, he said that he “vowed to destroy the woke mind virus” in response to his daughter’s gender transition.

What She’s Said About Elon

Wilson has been outspoken about her father’s views and has refuted some of his public statements. She’s pointed out that she hasn’t spoken to him since 2020.

She’s rejected the narrative that she’s the reason for her father’s conservatism. “Him going further on the right, and I’m going to use the word ‘further’ — make sure you put ‘further’ in there — is not because of me. That’s insane.”

Wilson has criticised Musk for his role in spreading misinformation and fueling right-wing narratives against transgender people. She remains financially independent from him and has described him as “a pathetic man-child.”

When asked if she was afraid of her father as the richest man in the world, she replied: “Why should I be scared of this man? Because he’s rich? Oh, no, I’m trembling. Ooh, shivering in my boots here. I don’t give a f**k how much money anyone has. I don’t. I really don’t.”

Her Impact

Despite her father’s powerful influence, Wilson has carved out her own identity and voice. Politically, she describes herself as a leftist and supports universal healthcare, wealth redistribution, and social justice causes.

She has publicly criticised the increasing hostility toward transgender individuals in the US and has used her platform to advocate for trans rights.

“I do feel obligated to talk about trans issues,” she told Teen Vogue. “As someone who did transition as a minor, I feel like there’s so much villainisation of that, and I would really like to raise awareness of the fact that trans care for minors, especially puberty blockers, is really, really important.”

Wilson currently lives and studies in Tokyo. While her relationship with her father appears irreparable, she remains on good terms with her mother. Wilson is interested in pursuing Twitch streaming and modelling and said “It is my absolute dream to be on a reality show.”

Vivian Wilson’s story is one of resilience, self-determination, and defiance in the face of rejection from her father – one of the most powerful men in the world. As Musk continues his campaign against trans identities, his daughter stands as a stark contrast—an independent, outspoken young woman fighting for a world that embraces, rather than denies, the reality of transgender lives.