Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and visionary behind Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), has recently revealed the name of his 11th child. According to a leaked review of his upcoming biography by Walter Isaacson, the child’s name is Techno Mechanicus, with the nickname Tau. The child is the third one that Musk has fathered with the Canadian singer Grimes, whose real name is Claire Elise Boucher.
The name Techno Mechanicus is a reference to a faction in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, a popular sci-fi tabletop game and media franchise. The Techno Mechanicus are a group of human cyborgs who worship technology and machines as divine entities. They are also known for their advanced scientific and engineering skills, as well as their eccentric and secretive culture.
The name fits well with Musk’s and Grimes’ fascination with futuristic and transhumanist themes, as well as their penchant for unconventional and creative naming choices. Their first child, born in May 2020, was named X Æ A-12, which was later changed to X Æ A-Xii due to legal reasons. Their second child, born via surrogate in December 2021, was named Exa Dark Sideræl, with the nickname Y.
How did the name leak?
The name of Musk’s 11th child was not officially announced by him or Grimes, but rather leaked in a review of his forthcoming biography by Walter Isaacson, the author of best-selling books on Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Leonardo da Vinci. The review was published by the New York Times on Saturday, September 10, 2023.
The review briefly mentions the child’s name in a paragraph that describes Musk’s personal life and family. It reads:
He has 11 children with three women. His first son with his first wife, Justine Wilson, died of sudden infant death syndrome at 10 weeks old. He had five more sons with her through in vitro fertilization — one set of twins and one set of triplets — before they divorced in 2008. He then married and divorced twice the British actress Talulah Riley. He had two sons with Shivon Zilis, who worked at Tesla and his artificial intelligence research firm OpenAI. And he had three children with the Canadian singer Grimes: X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl (nicknamed Y) and Techno Mechanicus (nicknamed Tau).
The review also praises Isaacson’s biography as a “riveting” and “nuanced” portrait of Musk’s life and achievements, as well as his challenges and controversies. The biography is expected to be released on September 14, 2023.
What is the status of Musk’s and Grimes’ relationship?
Musk and Grimes began dating in May 2018, after they met online over a joke about artificial intelligence. They made their public debut as a couple at the Met Gala later that month. They have been one of the most talked-about and eccentric celebrity couples in recent years, attracting both admiration and criticism for their unconventional lifestyle and opinions.
However, their relationship has also been turbulent and complicated. In September 2021, Grimes announced on Twitter that they had broken up “again”, but added that he was her “best friend” and the “love of her life”. She also said that her life and art were “forever dedicated to The Mission now”, referring to Musk’s vision of colonizing Mars and advancing humanity.
Since then, there have been rumors and speculations that they have reconciled or remained on good terms. In July 2023, they were both spotted in Portofino, Italy, with their son X Æ A-Xii. Although they were not photographed together, a source told the Daily Mail that they were staying at the same hotel. Musk’s son Saxon, 17 — whom he shares with ex Justine Wilson — was also present during the vacation.
Musk has not publicly commented on his relationship status with Grimes or the birth of his 11th child. He has been busy with his various business ventures and projects, such as launching Starlink satellites into orbit, developing Neuralink brain implants, hosting Saturday Night Live, and acquiring Twitter.