
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is widely recognized for his contributions to technology and space exploration. However, beyond his professional achievements, Musk is also known for having a large family. He is a father to 11 living children, but tragically, his firstborn son, Nevada Alexander Musk, passed away as an infant.
What Happened to Elon Musk’s first child, Nevada Alexander Musk?
Nevada was born during Elon Musk’s marriage to Justine Musk, his first wife. At just 10 weeks old, Nevada tragically died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). According to the Mayo Clinic, SIDS is defined as the unexplained death of an infant, with potential risk factors including low birth weight, respiratory infections, and brain abnormalities. Statistically, male infants are more vulnerable to SIDS.
As reported by the New York Times, Nevada’s passing was an incredibly painful chapter in Musk’s life. However, he has rarely spoken publicly about the loss. One of the few times he acknowledged it was in 2018, when he emailed James Riley, the father of a teenager who had died in a Tesla Model S crash. In the email, Musk expressed his condolences, saying:
“There is nothing worse than losing a child.”
He further revealed that he had been holding Nevada in his arms when the infant took his final breaths:
“My firstborn son died in my arms. I felt his heartbeat.”
However, Justine Musk disputes this version of events.
Did Elon Musk Hold Nevada in His Last Moments? Justine Musk Says No
In November 2022, Justine Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her account of what happened to Nevada. She contradicted Elon’s statement, writing:
“A SIDS-related incident put him on life support. He was declared brain-dead… And not that it matters to anyone except me, because it is one of the most sacred and defining moments of my life, but I was the one who was holding him.”
She also alleged that Elon Musk refused to discuss Nevada’s death and labeled her “emotionally manipulative” whenever she tried to talk about their loss.

Elon Musk’s Silence on Justine’s claims
Despite Justine Musk’s public statements, Elon Musk has never addressed or refuted her claims. While he has occasionally referenced Nevada’s passing—such as when he banned conspiracy theorist Alex Jones from X, citing his personal loss—he has largely kept his grief private.
The tragic loss of Nevada Alexander Musk remains a deeply personal and painful chapter in Elon Musk’s life. While his version of events differs from his ex-wife’s, both accounts highlight the profound sorrow of losing a child.