Inside the Divorce Deal That Left Her Nearly Broke — and Him the Richest Man Alive

While Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife walked away with $36 billion, Elon Musk’s first wife, Justine Musk, left their marriage with a fraction of that — and a mountain of regret.

She gave birth to six of his children, stood by him through Silicon Valley’s early chaos, and even watched him wreck a $1 million McLaren — but when it came time to divide the fortune, Justine got little more than a Bel Air house and a monthly allowance.

“We were soulmates. We would never get divorced,” Justine once said — before losing her bid for a stake in Tesla and SpaceX, which would have made her worth over $17 billion today.

🧾 The Billion-Dollar Mistake

In 2000, Justine signed a postnuptial agreement that would later cost her everything. She thought it was just a formality. She was wrong.

By the time they divorced in 2008, Elon had already launched SpaceX, invested in Tesla, and was preparing for his meteoric rise. Justine asked for:

Their home

$6 million in cash

10% of Tesla

5% of SpaceX

A blue Tesla Roadster

Had she received even half of what she requested, she’d now rank among the world’s richest women.

Instead, she walked away with about $15–20 million after taxes — less than some lottery winners — while Musk’s net worth soared to $364 billion.

⚖️ She Fought in Court — and Lost

Justine tried to challenge the postnup in court, claiming Elon failed to disclose the upcoming merger that led to the birth of PayPal (sold to eBay for $1.5 billion). But even after a bruising legal battle that cost Elon $4 million in legal fees, the judge sided with him.

Today, Justine owns a house worth $8 million — decent, yes, but a far cry from what she once stood beside.

💬 “He Treats All His Baby Mamas the Same”

Insiders say Musk’s treatment of Justine set a pattern for his later relationships — generous child support, but tight legal control. One mother of his children was allegedly offered $15 million and $100K/month to stay silent. When she went public? The offer vanished.

With 14 known children and counting, Musk continues his personal crusade to “repopulate the Earth” — while keeping legal power firmly in his hands.

💍 The Other Women: What They Got

Talulah Riley (married twice): Reportedly received a similar settlement to Justine

Grimes: Shares three children, financial terms undisclosed

Shivon Zilis (Neuralink exec): Mother of four, now lives in a Texas mansion funded by Musk

Despite multiple breakups, Riley calls him “a perfect ex-husband.” Justine? Not so much.

🤯 What Could’ve Been…

If Justine had kept that 10% of Tesla or 5% of SpaceX?
She’d be worth over $17.3 billion — richer than Oprah, Rihanna, or Taylor Swift.

Instead, she gets $20,000/month and a “what if” that haunts Silicon Valley history.

📢 The Bigger Question

Is Elon Musk brilliant — or brutal?
A man building rockets, cars, and empires… while the women who helped him build it walk away with scraps?