In a notable address at a conference in Saudi Arabia last year, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk made headlines by asserting that the declining birthrate represents the most pressing issue humanity faces. He urged his audience to consider, "If you dont make new humans, theres no humanity, and all the policies in the world dont matter." This statement highlights Musk's staunch commitment to the pronatalist movement, which advocates for increased birth rates in response to falling fertility levels globally. Moreover, Musk made it clear that he practices what he preaches, stating, "I mean, you know, youve got to walk the talk. So, I do have a lot of kids, and I encourage others to have lots of kids."

Indeed, recent revelations reported by The Wall Street Journal indicate that Musk has fathered at least 14 children with four different women, utilizing both traditional conception and in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques. His unconventional family model, which some are referring to as 'high-tech polygamy,' has attracted attention and even admiration from certain circles. Following news of Musk's latest child with Ashley St. Clair, former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz expressed his approval on social media platform X, saying, "This child has incredible genetics. Much love to this wonderful family."

Musk's approach to family building presents a striking departure from historical norms, blending polygamy with cutting-edge reproductive technology. As a vocal advocate for pronatalism, and with advancements in reproductive tech, Musk's family dynamics have taken on a larger-than-life context. In fact, some commentators, like right-wing thinker Richard Hanania, have hailed Musk as the one billionaire acting in accordance with evolutionary theory. This rhetoric suggests that the future of family lifeand perhaps civilization itselfcould depend on the acceptance of such models.

However, as birth rates continue to drop worldwide, Musks techno-polygamous lifestyle raises important questions. Research has consistently shown that financial wealth and favorable genetics are not the sole determinants of a child's success. Studies indicate that children raised in single-parent households often fail to reach their full potential, regardless of their parents' affluence. While it might be assumed that children of the world's richest man would thrive, evidence suggests that the absence of one parent can negatively impact a child's development.

Demographic research reveals that among families in the upper income bracket, children who grow up in homes with both parents are significantly more likely to complete higher education. Specifically, data from the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth shows that these children are 15 percentage points more likely to graduate from college than those from non-intact families. Furthermore, children from stable family environments typically achieve higher income levels as adults, with a noted increase of over 10 percentage points in income rank for those raised in intact homes compared to their counterparts.

Although Musk's children are unlikely to face financial challenges, the complexities and potential discord within his family may mirror the experiences of many children from non-intact households. Recent analyses by the Institute for Family Studies using data from the National Survey of Childrens Health (202123) indicated that even affluent children from broken families face significant emotional and social difficulties. For instance, these children were found to be 58% more prone to depression, 67% more likely to encounter behavioral or educational issues, and 30% more likely to suffer from anxiety compared to their peers from stable family backgrounds.

The increasing prevalence of surrogacy and IVF, while offering new avenues for parenthood, also raises concerns regarding the well-being of children and societal stability. Reports suggest that Musk has fathered 12 children through IVF, with a notably skewed gender ratio of nine males to three females. Such a disproportionate ratio raises questions about genetic selection practices, as statistics indicate that there are typically about 104 boys for every 100 girls born in the U.S., even in cases where parents explicitly select embryos based on sex.

This trend of sex selection could lead to serious demographic consequences, including a surplus of males, which may foster social conflict due to the inability of males to reproduce independently. Additionally, among IVF births, the majority are singletons, but less than half of Musks IVF offspring are single births, indicating a preference for maximizing offspring despite the potential health risks associated with multiple births.

Family scholars have long recognized that children with fathers who have children with multiple partners often experience poorer outcomes due to less stable family dynamics and diminished paternal engagement. Compounding this are the conflicts that can arise among the mothers of these children. Recent media coverage has highlighted the ongoing legal and social disputes involving Musk and two of his children's mothers, Grimes and Ashley St. Clair, illustrating the challenges inherent in such a family structure.

Ultimately, Musks family composition averages between 1.4 and 2.3 children per woman, contingent on whether he utilized the same surrogates multiple times or different ones each time. This statistic aligns closely with the U.S. average fertility rate of 2.2 for similar demographics, prompting reflection on the effectiveness of his approach to family life.

In conclusion, while Musk's vision for family and pronatalism is bold, it raises critical questions about the viability and consequences of techno-polygamy. Even among proponents of increased birth rates, there exists a shared concern about the risks associated with maternal health, the fundamental well-being of children, and the overall integrity of family structures in modern society.