A new Elon Musk documentary is putting the billionaire’s personal life, family relationships and extraordinary influence under a fresh spotlight. Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, Musk premiered at the 2026 Venice Film Festival on September 8 and is scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release on October 16.
The nearly four-hour film looks beyond Musk’s public image as a technology entrepreneur. It examines his business career, political influence and relationships with people who have known him personally.
Among those interviewed is Musk’s first wife, Justine Musk, who was married to him from 2000 to 2008. The documentary also features his father, Errol Musk; former partner Ashley St. Clair; and several figures from Musk’s professional circle.
What the Elon Musk Documentary Reveals About His First Marriage
Justine Musk provides one of the documentary’s most personal perspectives.
According to reports about the film, she discusses her marriage to Musk and describes experiences that she says changed the way she understood their relationship. She also says that her marriage introduced her to the concept of gaslighting.
Justine and Musk married in 2000. They had six children together, although their first child, Nevada Alexander, died as an infant from sudden infant death syndrome.
The couple later welcomed twins Vivian and Griffin, followed by triplets Kai, Saxon and Damian.
Their marriage ended in divorce in 2008. Justine had previously written publicly about the relationship, including her account of an incident at their wedding reception in which Musk allegedly described himself as the “alpha” in their marriage.
Justine Musk Discusses Their Son Nevada’s Death
The documentary also revisits the devastating death of Nevada Alexander.
Nevada died at around 10 weeks old from SIDS. The tragedy has previously been discussed publicly by both Justine and Elon Musk.
According to recent coverage of Gibney’s film, Justine challenges aspects of Musk’s public recollection of the event. Her comments add another perspective to a deeply personal family tragedy.
Because the accounts come from individuals recalling events from the past, they should be understood as personal accounts rather than independently established findings.
Elon Musk’s Response to the Documentary
Musk did not participate in the documentary.
Instead, Gibney relied on interviews with people connected to Musk and archival material. The filmmaker also used an AI-generated representation of Musk based on his previous public statements.
Musk has strongly criticised the project.
On X, he described the documentary as a “hit piece” and questioned the credibility of the people involved. He also criticised the film’s length, arguing that it was unnecessarily long.
Reuters reported that Gibney said the project grew considerably as Musk’s role in politics and his relationship with Donald Trump became increasingly important to the story.
The Film Looks at Musk’s Expanding Family
Musk’s family life is another major part of the documentary’s broader discussion.
Over the years, Musk has become the father of children with several women. Publicly reported family relationships include his six children with Justine Musk, three children with musician Grimes, four with Shivon Zilis and one child with Ashley St. Clair, although some aspects of the relationships and family arrangements remain private.
The documentary examines Musk’s views about population growth and his publicly expressed concern over declining birth rates.
Musk has previously said on X that he believes falling birth rates pose a major threat to civilisation. His large family has therefore become part of the broader public discussion surrounding those views.
Ashley St Clair Also Speaks in the Film
Ashley St Clair, who has publicly identified Musk as the father of her son Romulus, is another prominent voice in the documentary.
St Clair has previously discussed her relationship with Musk and disputes surrounding their child. Musk has said publicly that he was uncertain whether the child was his and said he was open to establishing paternity.
She also claims she rejected a proposed $40 million nondisclosure agreement before speaking publicly. That claim is presented as her account, rather than an independently established fact. Variety reported that St Clair discussed the alleged offer during the documentary’s Venice press events.
Vivian Wilson’s Relationship With Elon Musk
The documentary also touches on Musk’s strained relationship with his daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson.
Vivian, who is Musk’s daughter with Justine Musk, publicly separated herself from her father and legally changed her name in 2022. She has subsequently spoken publicly about their relationship and criticised some of his statements about her.
Her comments have become an important part of the wider public discussion about Musk’s family life.
Recent coverage of the documentary says Justine also discusses the difficult relationship between Musk and Vivian. However, accounts from family members represent their individual experiences and should not be treated as a complete record of a private family relationship.
Who Is Alex Gibney?
Alex Gibney is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker known for investigative films covering influential people, institutions and controversial subjects.
His previous work includes documentaries such as Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room and Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief.
For Musk, Gibney initially planned a shorter project. However, according to reporting from the Venice Film Festival, the story expanded as Musk became increasingly connected to politics and broader questions about power and influence.
When Will the Elon Musk Documentary Be Released?
Musk premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 8, 2026.
The documentary is scheduled to receive a U.S. theatrical release on October 16, 2026. A later streaming release on HBO Max has also been reported.
The film’s unusually long runtime has already attracted attention. At almost four hours, Musk is considerably more expansive than a typical feature documentary.
Why the Documentary Is Getting Attention
The interest surrounding Musk goes beyond celebrity curiosity.
Musk is one of the world’s most influential technology executives, with major interests spanning Tesla, SpaceX, X and artificial intelligence. His political activity has also increased his visibility far beyond the technology industry.
That combination makes his personal and professional life a subject of significant public interest.
At the same time, the documentary has generated debate over its approach. Musk declined to participate, while Gibney has defended the film as an investigative examination of a powerful public figure.
Ultimately, viewers will have to assess the documentary’s claims alongside Musk’s own public statements and reporting from independent sources.