Elon Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian Wilson, criticized the tech billionaire during a recent 90-minute interview on Hasan Piker’s YouTube stream, disputing claims that her gender transition influenced her father’s political shift to the right.
Vivian Wilson, 20, currently studying Japanese in Japan, referred to the Tesla, SpaceX, and X CEO as an “insecure buffoon” and a narcissist, suggesting that some people “deserve to feel impostor syndrome.” This appearance adds to the growing public rift between Musk and his eldest daughter with ex-wife Justine Wilson.
Musk and his first wife, Justine, became parents to twins, Griffin and Vivian, in April 2004 through in-vitro fertilization.
Wilson contested the narrative that Musk was ever politically progressive, stating he has been “right-wing since at least 2016” and labeling his supposed leftist stance as a “marketing scheme.”
“I cannot take credit for him becoming a f—ing loon… I am not the reason he’s a f—ing fascist,” Wilson told Piker during the interview. This directly contrasts with Musk’s previous comments that he lost his son to the “woke mind virus” and that his support for President Donald Trump was partly motivated by opposing it.
The Teen Vogue cover star noted that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Musk’s beliefs, considering his outspoken criticism of COVID-19 measures and vaccines.
Wilson shared unsettling insights into her childhood, particularly concerning her father’s management style. “Most of the time I saw him working, he was just yelling at employees in the car while we watched, horrified, like viscerally screaming,” she recounted. This account aligns with allegations from former SpaceX employees who filed a lawsuit last year claiming sexual harassment and retaliation, stating that Musk “runs his company in the dark ages.”
Wilson also criticized one of her father’s well-known ambitions: Mars colonization. She dismissed it as fantasy, telling viewers, “It’s not happening, people… It’s a marketing scheme that everyone somehow fell for despite being debunked by a f—ing Google search.”
Her skepticism is echoed by notable scientists. Britain’s chief astrophysicist, Lord Martin Rees, described Musk’s vision as a “dangerous delusion,” arguing that “Mars has a hostile environment. The idea of Elon Musk to have a million people settle on Mars is a dangerous delusion.” Rees further stated, “Living on Mars is no better than living on the South Pole or the tip of Mount Everest.”
Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has expressed similar doubts, stating, “If you want to call Mars home, you need to terraform Mars, turn it into Earth,” concluding that “It is so much easier to make Earth return to Earth again rather than terraforming Mars.”
Despite these scientific criticisms, Musk remains committed to his Mars vision. Earlier this month, he announced plans for the next-generation Starship spacecraft to head to Mars by the end of 2026, carrying a humanoid robot named Optimus. According to Musk, if these landings succeed, human missions could begin as early as 2029, though “2031 is more likely.”
The father-daughter relationship has deteriorated significantly in recent years. Wilson legally changed her name in 2022 to distance herself from her father and has consistently criticized his political views and public statements. In response, Musk has denied his daughter’s gender identity, recently tweeting that his “son Xavier” had died from the “woke mind virus.”
Wilson quickly countered this statement in a TikTok video, affirming that Xavier was indeed her former name and that she is very much alive. She has also previously described her father as a “pathetic man-child” and accused him of performing a Nazi-like salute at a Trump rally.
Musk’s political evolution has been substantial. Previously considered a technology visionary and environmental advocate through his work with Tesla, he has increasingly aligned himself with right-wing causes and figures globally. He has endorsed numerous far-right political parties and politicians across Europe and Latin America, including Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland, and has become President Trump’s prominent business ally.
The billionaire recently established America PAC, primarily supporting Republican candidates, and has become increasingly vocal about conservative viewpoints on his social media platform X. Under his ownership, X has evolved into what critics describe as a hub for right-wing content and conspiracy theories.
Wilson’s critique of her father extends beyond politics to his carefully cultivated public image. “It turns out if you lie and people believe it, people will think you’re f—ing Tony Stark,” she remarked during the interview, referencing the fictional Marvel superhero often compared to Musk.
Musk, who reportedly has fathered at least 14 children with various partners, has not publicly responded to his daughter’s latest comments.
