# "The Harem of Elon Musk" or Musk's Family Values **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** elon-musk\ **Created:** [April 18, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186 "2025-04-18T20:22:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/21 "2025-04-19T05:18:13Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > If you cannot attack the policies, attack the man. Classic propaganda technique. Oh, good, a Musk apologist. I thought they’d all gone into hiding after the fascist cosplay and meltdowns about how people weren’t treating him with respect after he told advertisers to fuck off and he had Trump do a car commercial for his failing car brand, but here you are to bear the mantle. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/22 "2025-04-19T05:42:43Z")
I’ve said it before. Thinks he’s real life Tony Stark, is actually real life Ted Faro. For those unfamiliar, Ted Faro is the primary villain of the Horizon:Zero Dawn video game franchise. He was the CEO of a Faro Automated Solutions, whose AI military robots cause a global apocalypse destroying all life centuries before the game’s setting. Oh, and he also sabotages the Zero Dawn project which attempts to preserve life by destroying the entire repository of human knowledge, just in order to prevent future peoples from knowing his role in what happened. And, as discovered in the sequel, built himself a bunker to escape the apocalypse, complete with harem. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/23 "2025-04-19T06:02:23Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > If you cannot attack the policies, attack the man. Classic propaganda technique. Which? The Harem Policy? I honestly cannot think of a policy of his that can withstand attack, but that has nothing to do with this discussion. Also don’t get where the “propaganda” comes in. I’m guessing this might lead to a hijack / spinoff. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/24 "2025-04-19T07:00:08Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > If you cannot attack the policies, attack the man. Classic propaganda technique. Neither the man _nor_ his policies can be defended. _Both_ are amply worthy of condemnation. Try to keep up. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/25 "2025-04-19T08:24:49Z")
Elon Musk has claimed on occasion that, unlike himself, rich people usually have less children. This isn’t true. In fact, rich people have the most children (although the difference between various income levels isn’t really that big). The people who have the most children are the ones who either grew up in rich families or who became rich fairly early in their professional life. The people who have the least children are the ones who grew up in working-class or middle-class families who decided to enter a job field in which you have to get a college degree and then another degree (a Ph.D., an M.D., a law degree, an M.B.A., or whatever) and then spend a few years having to impress your superiors before reaching a level where you are sufficiently established in your job. So the average number of children drops slowly from the poorest families to a level that’s just below the top 1.3% of all families in income. Then it jumps up. Look at the chart at the top of the webpage below. The average number of children for all income levels has been dropping all over the world for at least the past 75 years. And this is true for every country. Yes, some countries have clearly higher number of children per family than other countries, but the number of children per family has been dropping even in the countries with the largest average number of children. The population of the world will probably start to drop somewhere between 2060 and 2100, depending whose projections you look at. So the world population will be slowly decreasing for the next few centuries, which isn’t such a bad thing: > **[Reddit - The heart of the internet](https://www.reddit.com/r/Natalism/comments/1bwxsuj/total_us_fertility_rate_by_family_income/?rdt=53222)** ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/26 "2025-04-19T10:20:33Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > For whatever reason, that was not among the very many diagnoses I was given during yearly psychological testing beginning roughly in the second grade. It basically couldn’t have been. Asperger’s was only added as a diagnosis in 1992; before that an autism diagnosis required a deficit or at least a notable delay in speech and language, and generally symptoms were expected to be more severe. And psychiatrists didn’t go back and start diagnosing adults until more years later. Still today, many adults are only diagnosed with ASD after their child(ren) receive a diagnosis and they recognise the same symptoms in themselves. For the same reason, Musk couldn’t have been diagnosed as a child. I don’t know if he was diagnosed as an adult, but it’s plausible enough that he has it. > [@Chronos](#): > > Now? Probably not much. But it could have made a huge difference when you were in school. Well, maybe, at least. For a child now it would generally be helpful. Back in the 80s? Probably not. > [@DocCathode](#): > > Just to be clear, I absolutely and vehemently agree with this. I’ve known other people on the spectrum who could come across as jerks because they didn’t understand rules and expectations in social situations. Obviously, those people need gentle correction and guidance. Yeah. Not being able to read social cues and not understanding the rules can easily give this impression. There’s also the opposite issue that NT people may incorrectly interpret non-verbal communication of people with ASD and eg think it indicates boredom or dislike and get offended at that. And many social rules are in fact quite arbitrary and illogical, which means someone with ASD may not feel a need to follow them, particularly someone wealthy like Musk who can get away with it. (Though this is to some extent true of any wealthy person.) ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/27 "2025-04-19T11:48:31Z")
This is almost worth a Straight Dope column. Investigate why Musk can’t have kids the normal way. There were rumors about his organ. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/28 "2025-04-19T14:39:26Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > He basically started claiming to be autistic when people started criticizing him for being such a jerk IIRC about 10-15-ish years ago there was a fad on various message boards of self-diagnosing with Asperger’s syndrome as a way of saying, “I’m smart and quirky, and also am allowed to be a dick”. Someone as terminally online as Elon would probably know about it/participated. I mean, [Cartman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=p5Rd3UX3q1A) did it. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/29 "2025-04-19T14:53:43Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > I’ve seen suggestions that this sex selection was one of the clauses in his contracts Not at all, not in any way, supporting my fellow South African country-douche, without whom we have become a happier nation (thanks, USA), but… Math is one way to obtain the sex (if not the gender) of the zygote you fertilize. Similar to the rhythm method of “cross my fingers” contraception. It is possible to calculate ideal impregnation date by studying menstural cycles. My wife and I wanted a child. We had random sex. A girl was the result. I wanted a boy, math got involved and some serious romance around the perfect date, coinciding with “date night” got us a son. I’m not sure if Elon follows the scientific method, or if he just offers to artificially inseminate his lady of choice du jour. Either way, an arguement can be made for vasectomy in his case. He can (but doesn’t necessarily) support his many children, but he is in every case an absent father. What a horrible, horrible person he is. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/30 "2025-04-19T15:28:27Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > Math is one way to obtain the sex (if not the gender) of the zygote you fertilize. Similar to the rhythm method of “cross my fingers” contraception. It is possible to calculate ideal impregnation date by studying menstural cycles. Maybe, but that’s going to be a matter of a few percent. And of course, it’s also possible that almost all of his progeny are male simply by random chance. But given that he’s using artificial insemination anyway, it’s far more likely that he’s paying some lab to specifically select the Y sperm. Or requiring abortions and retries for any female fetuses. I’m pretty sure that a contract for a woman to bear a child for a man would already be counter to public policy and thus void, and even more so for one that required selective abortions, but if it ever comes to trial, you can bet that the judges will find that contracts mandating abortions are all fine and dandy by good Christian principles. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/31 "2025-04-19T16:08:37Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Maybe, but that’s going to be a matter of a few percent. Suprisingly, not. Our doctor suggested we try the “Shettles Method” and for my required sample size of one, it worked - it could be random chance too, so I’m not going to write a thesis on this, but it is interesting. > **[Can You Choose the Sex of Your Baby? Understanding the Shettles Method](https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/shettles-method)** > > We're examining the theory and the science behind the Shettles method, which claims you can choose the sex of your future child. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/32 "2025-04-19T16:12:51Z")
I’m seeing a notable lack of any numbers in that article. The only figures I’m finding come from the author of the book selling the method, and his sources for its effectiveness are papers that he himself published. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/33 "2025-04-19T16:16:32Z")
I have had a vasectomy since. Two children are sufficient for me. I can only hope Elon gets one too, as soon as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/34 "2025-04-19T16:19:25Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > I can only hope Elon gets one too, as soon as possible. Or has it given to him. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/35 "2025-04-19T16:28:46Z")
> [@TeroSunbear](#): > > This is almost worth a Straight Dope column. Investigate why Musk can’t have kids the normal way. Because no living human woman wants to be in the same room with him, let along have any of her body parts touch his. Ewww. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/36 "2025-04-19T16:31:52Z")
Now you made me wonder whether he is into necrophilia as well. As if he did not generate enough repulsion already. But more to your point: I fear you severely underestimate how perverse people can be. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/37 "2025-04-19T16:45:18Z")
Moderating: This was barely P&E material to start with, and as the thread has evolved, it seems more Pit-like than P&E. @ThelmaLou, please let me know if you would like it reopened in the Pit. For now, this is closed. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/38 "2025-04-19T16:45:28Z")
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**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/39 "2025-04-19T17:35:29Z")
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**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186/40 "2025-04-19T17:35:52Z")
Moderating: With the agreement of the OP, this is reopened in the Pit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-harem-of-elon-musk-or-musks-family-values/1017186.md?page=3)