Elon Musk is directly disputing Ashley St. Clair’s claim that she rejected a financial arrangement worth $40 million because it would have restricted her ability to speak publicly about him.
St. Clair said at the Venice Film Festival on September 8 that she had been offered the opportunity to remain silent for $40 million. Musk responded the following day underneath a TMZ post about her comments, writing, “She was never offered that and has a history of making false claims.”
His denial followed St. Clair’s appearance in Venice alongside filmmaker Alex Gibney for the world premiere of Musk. St. Clair, who shares son Romulus with Musk, appears extensively in the nearly four-hour documentary and told reporters that retaining the ability to speak publicly was more important to her than accepting the money she says was proposed.
St. Clair has been describing an alleged nondisclosure arrangement since June, but Musk’s new response rejects her account that a $40 million offer existed. The reporting from TMZ, PEOPLE and The Associated Press does not include a copy of an NDA or written offer establishing those terms.
Musk Says St. Clair Was Never Offered $40 Million
Musk’s response did not challenge only the size of the alleged agreement. He rejected the offer itself, telling TMZ that St. Clair “was never offered that.” He also accused her of having a history of making false claims, although he did not identify additional statements he was disputing in that response.
St. Clair had said one day earlier that turning down the alleged agreement allowed her to speak openly and participate in Gibney’s documentary. PEOPLE reported that she told reporters in Venice she had been offered $40 million not to speak and said the proposal forced her to consider how much she valued the ability to tell her version of events.
She connected that decision to her children, saying she wanted them to see that material comfort should not take priority over speaking what she believes to be true. St. Clair had not publicly responded to Musk’s September 9 denial when the initial reports about his statement were published.
St. Clair First Described the Alleged Arrangement in June
The $40 million figure did not first appear during the Venice promotional tour. St. Clair discussed the alleged negotiations during a June appearance on The Don Lemon Show, where she described communications involving Musk and his longtime adviser Jared Birchall after the birth of her son.
According to St. Clair, Musk initially sent instructions for $15 million to be wired for a home and reserve capital. She said Birchall later spent roughly two hours on the phone with her discussing an arrangement that would require some form of nondisclosure agreement. St. Clair said she told him she could not sign it “in good conscience.”
PEOPLE reported that the broader package St. Clair described would have reached approximately $40 million. She has characterized the money and nondisclosure requirement as connected parts of the arrangement she rejected. Musk’s September statement disputes that she was ever offered the $40 million deal she has described.
St. Clair also said in the June interview that she never ultimately signed an NDA, prenup or similar agreement connected to her relationship with Musk. TMZ reported at the time that she claimed even some friends visiting Musk’s home had been required to sign paperwork.
The Dispute Now Follows the Release of Alex Gibney’s ‘Musk’
St. Clair repeated the allegation while promoting Musk with Gibney at the Venice Film Festival. The Associated Press reported that she appears in the documentary discussing her relationship with Musk and the nondisclosure agreement she says she was asked to sign in connection with financial support.
Gibney’s film runs nearly four hours and examines Musk’s personal life, business career, political influence and ownership of X. Musk did not sit for an interview. Instead, the filmmakers created a CGI version of him using past public statements and AI voice syncing as part of the documentary.
Musk criticized Gibney before the premiere, calling him biased and describing the project as a hit piece. Gibney told AP that he initially approached the film as an admirer of Musk and wanted him to participate, but said his view changed as he continued reporting after Musk declined an interview.
Musk had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 8. Bleecker Street is scheduled to release the documentary in U.S. theaters on October 16, leaving St. Clair’s account of the alleged $40 million arrangement and Musk’s categorical denial as competing versions of an increasingly public dispute.