Elon Musk Makes Court Appearance in Custody Battle with Ashley St. Clair in NYC following DOGE Resignation

NEW YORK, NY – May 29, 2025 – Just one day after announcing his resignation from his high-profile role as a special government employee leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk appeared virtually in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday to address a contentious paternity and custody dispute with conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair. The hearing, held in Manhattan Civil Court, centers on the custody of St. Clair’s infant son, whom she claims is Musk’s 13th child.

According to court documents and reports from the New York Daily News, St. Clair, 26, is seeking sole custody of her son, referred to as “R.S.C.” in legal filings, and has requested a paternity test to confirm Musk as the father. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that a paternity test showed Musk’s “probability of paternity” at 99.9999%. Despite this, Musk has publicly questioned the child’s paternity, stating on X in March, “I don’t know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed.”

The custody battle has drawn significant attention due to the public feud between Musk and St. Clair, which has played out on social media. Posts on X from March 31 show the two exchanging heated messages, with Musk claiming he provided St. Clair with $2.5 million and pledged $500,000 annually, while St. Clair accused him of attempting to “gag” her and cutting child support by 60%. She was filmed selling her Tesla in March, citing reduced support payments.

The Daily Mail reported that Thursday’s hearing focused on whether Musk should be compelled to grant St. Clair sole custody, take a paternity test, or pay child support. Musk’s legal team argued against these demands, while St. Clair’s attorneys pressed for financial support and legal recognition of Musk’s paternity. The case has been further complicated by allegations that Musk offered St. Clair $15 million and $100,000 monthly to keep the child’s existence a secret, an offer she declined, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Musk’s court appearance comes on the heels of his abrupt exit from DOGE, a Trump administration initiative aimed at slashing federal bureaucracy. The Daily Mail noted that Musk announced his resignation on X Wednesday night, stating, “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President

@realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.” His tenure at DOGE was marked by ambitious cost-cutting goals, though the New York Times reported that the department’s claimed savings of $160 billion were offset by $135 billion in costs to taxpayers, according to a nonpartisan analysis.

The timing of Musk’s resignation and the custody hearing has fueled speculation about his priorities. A post on X by user @molcranenewman claimed Musk was a “no-show” in court, though reports confirm he appeared virtually. The case remains ongoing, with no immediate resolution reported.

St. Clair, a prominent right-wing influencer, has leveraged her platform to publicize the dispute, drawing both support and criticism. A February post on X by @itslinklauren

 criticized her for sharing private conversations, arguing it turned the child into a “spectacle.” Meanwhile, St. Clair has maintained that her actions are to secure her son’s future.

As the legal battle unfolds, it adds another chapter to Musk’s complex personal life, which includes 14 children with four women, according to Axios. The outcome of the case could set a precedent for how Musk navigates future custody disputes, while his DOGE exit signals a shift back to his business ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX.

17GEN4.com

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