Elon Musk and Ashley St. Clair may be one step closer to resolving their long-running legal dispute. A new report claims the former couple skipped a scheduled court hearing as their legal teams worked toward a possible settlement in the ongoing custody dispute over their 2-year-old son, Romulus. According to sources, both sides left the hearing cautiously optimistic after settlement talks continued behind closed doors.
Elon Musk and Ashley St. Clair were reportedly absent as their lawyers negotiated in Manhattan court
According to Page Six, neither Elon Musk nor Ashley St. Clair appeared in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday. Instead, three attorneys representing Musk met with three lawyers for St. Clair to negotiate child support and custody terms.
A source familiar with the case told the New York Post that discussions were progressing. “I’m just being cautiously optimistic. The judge himself is very gracious,” the insider said. The source also claimed St. Clair was seeking an “astronomical” financial settlement. The legal teams are expected to return to court next week in an effort to finalize an agreement.
Musk and St. Clair have been involved in a legal battle since early 2025. St. Clair previously filed for sole custody of Romulus and later alleged that Musk had significantly reduced his child support payments.
She also claimed the billionaire offered her millions of dollars to keep their child private. According to St. Clair, she declined multiple offers, including a reported non-disclosure agreement worth $40 million and payments spread over several years. She later said on The Don Lemon Show that she rejected the proposal because she believed it was the right decision for her children.
Meanwhile, Musk sought full custody of Romulus earlier this year. The Tesla CEO has 14 children from several relationships, including with former wife Justine Wilson, singer Grimes, and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.
Although neither side has announced a final deal, the latest court negotiations signal major progress. Both parties now appear closer to settling their highly publicized custody dispute.
