Vivian Jenna Wilson, the 21-year-old daughter of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and author Justine Wilson, has opened up about the unexpected dangers of being connected to one of the world’s most recognizable men. In a startling new interview with The Cut, she revealed that she now wears disguises when going out to bars—particularly gay bars—because of relentless harassment from strangers both online and in person.

“I’ve had to start disguising myself when I go out,” Vivian admitted. “A lot of people can be really creepy, especially about my body.” She described receiving disturbing comments from strangers, many of whom focus inappropriately on her appearance. “People say the most disgusting, unhinged things they would do to me,” she said, adding, “Don’t text people on the internet all the ways you’d [expletive] them. It makes me feel gross.”

The confession shines a light on the darker side of fame—how online trolling, public scrutiny, and the weight of her father’s global profile collide with her own life, leaving her to navigate young adulthood under an invasive spotlight.

A Complicated Family Legacy

Vivian Wilson is no stranger to attention. Born in 2004, she grew up in the shadow of Elon Musk’s meteoric rise to become one of the richest and most controversial figures on the planet. But unlike her father, who thrives in the limelight, Vivian has worked hard to distance herself from his orbit.

In 2020, she came out as transgender, and by 2022 she had legally changed her name to Vivian Jenna Wilson—removing Musk from her identity altogether. She has repeatedly spoken about her estrangement from him, contrasting his lack of support with her mother’s unconditional acceptance.

“My mom was very supportive of my transition,” Vivian told Teen Vogue earlier this year. “She was like, ‘Yeah, that figures.’ She kind of already knew.” Elon Musk, on the other hand, she said, was far less supportive, a wound that continues to shape her relationship—or lack thereof—with him.

Life in the Public Eye

For most 21-year-olds, college plans, roommates, and budgeting are the biggest concerns. For Vivian, those normal challenges come with an added burden: navigating constant public speculation.

“People assume I have a lot of money. I don’t,” she said. Despite being the daughter of one of the wealthiest men alive, she revealed she lives with three roommates to save money. “I can afford food. I have friends, a shelter, and some expendable income, which is nice and much more fortunate than most people my age in Los Angeles. But I don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars at my disposal.”

Her comments underscore the gap between perception and reality. While Musk is worth billions, Vivian insists she does not benefit from his wealth. Instead, she relies on her mother, Justine Wilson, a writer, for support—though even that is limited.

Harassment and Online Hate

Vivian’s decision to speak publicly about her father on social media has drawn a wave of hostility from Musk’s defenders. After she posted on Threads, trolls began targeting her with insults and lewd messages.

“A lot of people try to spin what I say into something I didn’t mean,” she explained. What worries her most is not just the misrepresentation but the invasion of her personal life. The harassment got so intense that she now feels unsafe going out without a disguise.

Her experience reflects a growing problem for children of high-profile figures. With social media blurring the boundaries between public and private, celebrity offspring often find themselves unfairly targeted for their parents’ controversies.

A Search for Normalcy

Despite the chaos, Vivian is trying to carve out a path of her own. She shared that she is considering returning to college this fall to pursue her passion for foreign languages. Still, the cost is daunting. “College is expensive,” she admitted. Without financial support from her father, she must weigh her dreams against practical realities.

Vivian’s statements reflect her desire for independence. “I don’t have a desire to be superrich,” she said. “I want stability, friends, and enough to live. That’s all I need.”

The Weight of the Musk Name

Whether she likes it or not, Vivian’s surname—one she has legally discarded—remains a magnet for attention. Elon Musk is not just a tech mogul; he is one of the most polarizing figures in modern culture. His comments on politics, gender identity, and social issues often ignite firestorms online.

For Vivian, that means her identity is constantly filtered through her father’s reputation. Every interview, every post, every public appearance is interpreted against the backdrop of Musk’s influence. The pressure, she admits, is overwhelming at times.

Public Reaction

Vivian’s revelations have sparked a flood of responses. Many sympathize with her struggle, noting the dangers of online harassment. On Twitter, one user wrote: “Imagine being 21 and already needing disguises just to go out for a drink. That’s terrifying.”

Others, however, remain critical, accusing her of capitalizing on her father’s fame while rejecting his legacy. The polarized reactions echo the larger cultural debates around Elon Musk himself, a figure who inspires both fierce loyalty and deep resentment.

What Comes Next

For now, Vivian seems focused on finding peace outside of her father’s shadow. She has expressed gratitude for her circle of friends, her roommates, and her relatively modest but stable lifestyle. Her story is a reminder that not all children of billionaires inherit endless privilege—some inherit only the burdens of a famous last name.

As she navigates adulthood, Vivian’s insistence on living authentically—whether that means cutting ties with her father, disguising herself in public, or pursuing higher education without his financial support—shows a determination to define her own path.

But the challenges remain. As long as Elon Musk dominates headlines, his daughter’s name will remain a target. And as Vivian herself has discovered, escaping the long shadow of one of the world’s most powerful men may require not just disguises in bars, but resilience in the face of relentless public scrutiny.

The Bigger Picture

Vivian Wilson’s story is not just about family drama. It is about what happens when private lives are forced into the glare of a digital age where fame brings both fascination and cruelty. For every child of a celebrity, especially those who dare to speak out, there is a risk: that their individuality will be lost in the noise.

Vivian’s choice to keep speaking, despite the harassment, may ultimately inspire others who feel silenced by association with powerful families. In her own words, she may not want to be “superrich,” but she does want to be free—and that, perhaps, is the boldest statement of all.