One of billionaire Elon Musk's baby mama Ashley St. Clair says she was offered $40 million to stay out of a documentary about the father of one of her children, and she turned it down without hesitation. Instead, she sat down for Alex Gibney's new film Musk, saying she wants to show her kids that speaking the truth matters more than being materially comfortable.
The decision has turned a festival premiere into a genuine standoff. At its Venice press conference this week, Gibney said a real, almost existential fear of speaking out surrounded Musk long before St. Clair agreed to appear on screen, with many potential sources refusing to talk on camera when he approached them.
The film also includes claims that Musk made specific statements about the 2024 election before the result was even known.
@deadline Ashley St. Clair, mother to one of Elon Musk’s children, reveals that she was offered 40 million dollars by Musk to stop her from taking part in Alex Gibney’s ‘Musk’ documentary #Venezia83
♬ original sound - Deadline -
Why Ashley St. Clair Turned Down a $40M Offer to Stay Silent
St. Clair told reporters in Venice that being offered such a large sum, reportedly tied to staying out of the documentary altogether, made her question what her own voice was worth and why anyone would pay that much for her silence.
She chose to speak candidly to Gibney instead, describing Musk's most complicated relationship as the one he has with the truth.
Gibney called Musk dangerous to world democracy and said he found a tremendous, almost existential fear of talking among Musk's critics, colleagues and even his friends. Many people he approached declined to appear on camera, he said, leaving only a handful willing to speak. He added that the billionaire struggles badly with empathy.
What Are the Election Allegations in the Musk Documentary?
St. Clair alleges Musk showed unsettling certainty about the 2024 presidential election result before votes were counted, describing a plan he called an anomaly in the matrix.
The film shows a text exchange in which Musk reportedly states he had 'ten thousand lasers in space'. The documentary places these claims alongside Musk's political spending and his access to vast troves of data during the 2024 cycle, turning what began as a personal dispute into a story with real implications for democratic influence.
Who Is Jared Birchall and What Did the Alleged Offer Require?
St. Clair has also spoken about her dealings with Jared Birchall, widely described as Musk's fixer and the man who manages his personal and financial affairs, which adds weight to his alleged involvement.
According to St. Clair, an earlier deal offered after their son Romulus was born would have paid her $15 million for housing and expenses plus $100,000 a month until he turned 21, on the condition his birth was kept secret.
She alleges the paperwork would also have kept Musk's name off the birth certificate, guaranteed nothing if their son fell ill, and included no trust fund or life insurance payout should Musk die before Romulus turned 21.
How would you know? https://t.co/q6oNeEjo7T
— Alex Gibney (@alexgibneyfilm) March 7, 2023
How Has Musk Responded to the Allegations?
Musk dismissed the film on X as a hit piece even before it had screened. Gibney rejected the claim and questioned how Musk could evaluate a film he chose not to participate in.
Additionally, Musk has denied suggestions that the film demonstrates election interference, labelling it a politically motivated attack.
Musk arrives in cinemas on 16 October, and St. Clair's decision to speak, alongside the film's election allegations, looks set to reshape how the public views Musk's grip on both truth and democracy.
