Eminent entrepreneur known for his significant wealth accumulation, Elon Musk, has been brought into the spotlight yet again, drawing comparisons with TV personality, Nick Cannon. This development comes hot on the heels of another announcement about Musk’s expanding family, which now includes a new addition thanks to Shivon Zilis. Zilis, also a reputed executive at two of Musk’s ventures, SpaceX and Neuralink, has been a close associate and now, the mother of four of his children. The newest member of the Musk-Zilis family, Seldon Lycurgus, was recently birthed, marking their fourth child together.
The birth announcement was made on Musk’s own platform, exuding warmth and intrigue. As mentioned by Zilis in the shared news, the couple decided to make the news public after the celebration of another child’s birthday. With zest and affection, Zilis described their youngest son as ‘a powerful character, carrying a heart as pure as gold.’ She further expressed her profound love for him and in doing so, revealed the name of their earlier-born child.
The 39-year-old Zilis, besides sharing a personal relationship with Musk, has been seen with him at notable events, such as the inauguration of President Donald Trump earlier this year. Intriguingly, at least a couple of Musk-Zilis children were reportedly conceived through the IVF procedure. This is noteworthy since many leaders from the conservative side of politics are advocating banning this fertility treatment.
With the arrival of Seldon, the count of Musk’s kids has allegedly reached a whopping 14, making him contend against Cannon for the title of ‘Most Prolific Celebrity Dad.’ The recent paternity claim by right-wing influencer Ashley St. Clair, supposing her five-month-old child to be heir to Musk’s lineage, if validated will solidify this number.
Nick Cannon, on the other hand, has reportedly decided to take a pause after 12 children. When quizzed about plans for more kids, Cannon humorously retorted back stating, ‘Aren’t dozen kids enough?’ Despite being rumored to shell out multi-million dollars annually for child support, Cannon is thought to be actively participating in his children’s upbringing, especially environs pertaining to sports and outdoor activities.
Cannon highlighted his dedication towards his children’s extracurricular activities, confessing that they prime his schedule. On the contrary, the nature of Musk’s involvement in his children’s lives appears to be ambiguous. Musk, reportedly, doesn’t maintain a well-anchored relationship with one of his daughters, Vivian Wilson, who distanced herself from Musk in 2022, even going as far as changing her legal name.
In addition, St. Clair’s legal pleadings allege that Musk hasn’t shown keen interest in their child’s life, never requesting pictures or inquiring about his welfare. A similar sentiment is echoed by music artist Grimes, the mother of three of Musk’s children. She claims Musk has been non-responsive to her attempts to communicate about their children, accusing him of ignoring messages concerning a child’s medical issue until they were posted publicly.
Op-ed writer James E. Causey probed into this issue, pointing out the ironic discrepancy in the way society stigmatizes different fathers, raising questions about the degree of scrutiny they face. Only one of the two is prominently criticized for being an absentee father.
Causey called out the double standards stating that, ‘If there’s merit in berating Cannon for his supposed shortcomings, shouldn’t similar judgment befall another man who sires numerous children with multiple women?’ He posed this question before the news about Musk’s fourteenth child was made public.
In summary, with the addition of Seldon Lycurgus to his family, Elon Musk’s role as a father has drawn increased interest and comparison to that of Nick Cannon. While every father’s interaction can be diverse, it’s the level of engagement and care that truly defines a parent-child relationship, not the number of children. The controversy opened up by Causey, analyzing societal double standards, only adds fuel to this heated discussion.
While Cannon is seen as heavily involved in his children’s lives, Musk’s relationship with his children seems less defined. Whether Musk will make efforts to modify this perception remains to be seen. Only time will ascertain the mysterious billionaire father’s relationship with his progenies.
As the story unfolds, it’s clear both of these prominent figures are navigating the complex world of parenthood under the intense glare of public scrutiny. And though their parenting styles may differ, as Causey has pointed out, they should be judged with the same yardstick.
Henceforth, the narrative culminating from Musk’s announcement subtly reminds us of the challenges that high-profile individuals face in their personal lives. Intriguingly, these individuals are subject to a different set of standards and it would be fitting to reassess our expectations.
It’s also a thought-provoking realization that fame and fortune don’t always facilitate an uncomplicated family dynamic. As the two pillars in the limelight, Elon Musk and Nick Cannon’s unique cases indeed offer opportunities to reassess the standards by which we judge parental involvement.
In essence, the contrast of Musk and Cannon’s paternal stories presents a compelling discourse on fatherhood amidst public position, and highlights the need for equal scrutiny, irrespective of their diverse backgrounds or the number of children they father.