The reports described Elon Musk seeking nearby Austin residences for some of his children and their mothers—not a confirmed move by the whole family. The phrase “strange compound” came from Futurism’s October 29, 2024 headline; the underlying accounts described a proposed property arrangement, and later coverage said Musk denied the report.
What the first report said
Futurism summarized a New York Times report as saying Musk wanted his children and two of their mothers to move into two properties near his own Austin mansion. The account put the combined purchases at about $35 million and described the homes as being in a relatively dense, non-gated part of town. That figure is a reported purchase total, not an independently verified deed tally or valuation. The Times article was not directly accessible for this account, so these details are best understood as claims relayed by Futurism, not independently confirmed facts. Futurism’s October 2024 report
What later reporting added
In an April 15, 2025 investigation, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk adviser Jared Birchall was involved in acquiring Austin property for a compound where Musk imagined the mothers and children living among multiple residences. The Journal attributed this account to a person familiar with the matter. Its reporting described a gated community, a distinct description from Futurism’s account of the two nearby homes in a non-gated area. The available accounts do not establish that these descriptions refer to the same properties or that the broader plan was carried out. The Wall Street Journal’s investigation
Reported positions of the mothers
- The Journal reported that Shivon Zilis lived in the gated community and that Musk came and went there.
- It reported that Musk tried to get Grimes to move there, but she refused.
- It also reported that Musk urged Ashley St. Clair to spend time in Austin.
These are claims attributed to the Journal and its sources, not confirmation that everyone named lived at the properties. The Journal also quoted Birchall telling St. Clair: “Privacy and confidentiality is the top of the list in every aspect of his life, every aspect, and his entire world is set up to be, like, a meritocracy.” The Wall Street Journal’s investigation
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What is known about the plan’s status
Realtor.com reported on October 2, 2026 that Musk denied the compound report after it emerged. Its retrospective said there was no indication Zilis planned to leave the Austin community after a reported relationship split, and noted that she had not publicly addressed a change to her or her children’s living arrangement. The accessible reporting does not establish that every intended resident moved, that the wider arrangement was completed, or what the current occupancy is. Realtor.com’s October 2026 account
Why accounts give different family counts
Family-size figures depend on when they were reported. Futurism’s 2024 story referred to 11 known children. Axios, summarizing The Wall Street Journal’s 2025 investigation, described Musk as having at least 14 children with at least four women. Those dated accounts should not be collapsed into one timeless count. Axios’s April 2025 summary Futurism’s October 2024 report
Axios also attributed this statement to Musk at an investor conference in Saudi Arabia in 2024: “If you don’t make new humans, there’s no humanity, and all the policies in the world don’t matter.” It helps explain the public discussion of Musk’s views on having children, but does not independently establish the details or status of the Austin property plan. Axios’s account
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What “strange compound” does—and does not—mean
“Strange compound” was Futurism’s headline wording, not an established description of a completed residential complex. The reporting concerned a proposed arrangement involving several nearby Austin homes or a gated community. It does not establish a formal compound, a completed collective move, or anything beyond the property and family claims attributed to the cited outlets.
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