Elon Musk Urges Parents to Have Three Children to Prevent Population Collapse
Elon Musk Urges Parents to Have Three Children to Avert Population Collapse
June 26, 2025 — In a bold statement that has sparked widespread discussion, tech billionaire Elon Musk has called on parents to have at least three children each to combat declining global birth rates. The Tesla CEO’s comments come in response to a post on X (formerly Twitter) that highlighted the urgent need for increased birth rates to ensure the survival of humanity.
Musk reshared the post, which referenced a study indicating that women need to have an average of 2.7 children for the human race to thrive. He emphasized that, in his view, parents should aim for three children to offset the growing number of individuals choosing to remain childless. "People who have kids do need to have 3 kids to make up for those who have 0 or 1 kid, or population will collapse," Musk stated.
The billionaire, who has fathered 14 children with multiple partners, has long been vocal about his concerns regarding low birth rates. He pointed to historical precedents, claiming that the decline in population was a "primary factor" in the downfall of civilizations such as Rome, a notion he believes is often overlooked by historians.
Musk’s advocacy for larger families aligns with his personal life; he has previously expressed a desire to contribute to the underpopulation crisis. "I’m doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis. Good for big families. I want to have as many children as I can, to spend time and be a good father," he remarked in 2022.
In a controversial twist, Musk has also suggested that only "smart people" should have children, a sentiment echoed by Shivon Zilis, an executive at his brain-tech startup Neuralink, with whom he shares twins. This perspective has raised eyebrows and ignited debates about the implications of such views on family planning and societal norms.
As the world grapples with declining birth rates, Musk’s call to action has ignited conversations about the future of civilization and the role of influential figures in shaping societal values. Whether his message will resonate with parents remains to be seen, but it certainly adds a provocative layer to the ongoing discourse surrounding population dynamics.
