Ashley St. Clair justifies refusing $40 million in deal with Elon Musk due to moral motivation
Ashley St. Clair, Elon Musk’s former partner, went public to inform that she refused a proposal for a non-disclosure agreement valued at US$40 million. The decision was made by the model after she gave birth to the billionaire’s thirteenth heir.
The 27-year-old digital influencer described the situation as “shocking”, detailing the way in which the confidentiality pact was offered. She mentioned the disappearance of conversations on the Signal app, which would have been sent by Musk’s financial manager. The statement came during the Tuesday, June 16, episode of the “Don Lemon Show” podcast.
In the chat with Don Lemon, St. Clair detailed how the secrecy proposal was initially presented to her. According to the model, the agreement was brokered by Jared Birchall, who manages the technology businessman’s fortune.
“Elon initially sent me a message, as well as Jared, instructing, ‘Transfer $15 million to Ashley for a residence and reserve fund,’ and nothing else was mentioned,” he reported. “A few days later, Jared called me in a two-hour conversation where he essentially stated that some sort of confidentiality agreement would be necessary.”
Ashley St. Clair’s refusal sparked controversy and discussions about her role as a single mother
St. Clair recalled that he informed Birchall, 51, of his decision not to sign the pact. She stood firm on her stance even as Musk, 54, raised the offer to “$15 million and $100,000 monthly for a period of 20 years.”
“I could not, in any way, criticize Elon, nor address any topic related to him, his collaborators or his affiliated companies,” he declared. “My response to Jared was clear: ‘In good conscience, I cannot sign a document like this.'”
The influencer explained to Lemon, 60, that she rejected signing the confidentiality agreement because she believed that the measure would not be beneficial for her children. Ashley St. Clair is the mother of two children, one of whom is older and from a previous relationship.
“My choice was guided by morality”, he reiterated. “I made it clear that I would rather live in a modest apartment with my two children than sign such a document.”
Leia Também
Messi reaches 19 goals in FIFA World Cups with great free kick for Argentina in clash with Jordan
Cristiano Ronaldo shines beyond the pitch at the 2026 World Cup with business empire and family luxury
At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo reaffirms his historic legacy and prepares to shine in the 2026 World Cup
In February 2025, the former conservative activist publicly revealed that Musk was the father of a child she had given birth to five months earlier. A few weeks after this announcement, Musk himself confirmed the birth of his 14th child, a boy, with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, highlighting the pattern of his complex and frequently reported personal life, as he is the father of a total of 14 children, with four different women.
The parental partnership between St. Clair and Musk, however, quickly deteriorated. She said she refused an offer of US$15 million in cash, in addition to US$100,000 a month until the child reached 21, on the condition that the relationship be kept confidential. Musk, in March 2025, contested, claiming that he had already paid US$2.5 million to St. Clair and that he sent her US$500,000 annually, even without certainty about the child’s paternity. Since then, both have been involved in legal disputes.
During the second leg of his appearance on the “Don Lemon Show,” St. Clair reaffirmed that he has not been in contact with Musk since refusing the confidentiality agreement.
St. Clair chose not to “speculate” about the reasons for offering the non-disclosure agreement, arguing that Musk should be the person to provide such clarifications.
“That would be an excellent question for him, but I doubt he’ll ever talk to you again,” St. Clair quipped to journalist Lemon.
Don Lemon himself is also involved in litigation against Musk and his company, X. The journalist sued them for fraud, breach of implied contract and misuse of name and image. The former CNN anchor filed the lawsuit after Musk abruptly canceled a partnership between Platform X and “The Don Lemon Show,” reportedly following a controversial interview in March 2024.
The Us Weekly magazine team tried to contact Elon Musk to get a position on the case.
