Ashley St. Clair Says She Rejected $40M To Speak Out but Critics Have One Question

Ashley St. Clair has said she gave up the chance to receive £29.8 million ($40 million) to remain silent about her relationship with Elon Musk. But after she explained why she rejected the alleged non-disclosure agreement (NDA), some critics questioned what exactly she means by 'fighting back'.

Speaking at the Venice Film Festival on Tuesday, 8 September, St Clair discussed her decision to appear in Alex Gibney's documentary Musk, which examines the billionaire's business empire, political influence and personal life.

She said the alleged offer made her consider the value of being able to speak publicly and why someone would pay such a large sum to prevent her from doing so.

Ashley St Clair Explains Why She Rejected Elon Musk's Alleged £29.8m NDA

St Clair stated that she was offered an arrangement valued at £29.8 million ($40 million) in exchange for her silence, but ultimately chose to prioritise telling the truth over financial security. She added that the offer made her question why so much money was being put forward to silence her.

IBTimes has not independently verified the terms of the alleged offer and has contacted representatives for Musk and his wealth manager, Jared Birchall, for comment.

St Clair said she believes refusing the NDA was ultimately about setting an example for her children. She also reflected on her previous political involvement, noting that she hoped speaking publicly would serve a wider purpose.

'I hope the risk that I'm taking now in speaking out and trying to fight back at least helps a little bit,' she said.

The renewed discussion comes months after St Clair first spoke publicly about the alleged NDA, describing how the proposed arrangement was presented to her. She alleged that Musk initially instructed Birchall to arrange $15 million for a home and reserve capital.

Following further discussions, St Clair said the proposal shifted into a restrictive NDA, which she was unwilling to sign. She recalled that the agreement would have prevented her from speaking about Musk, his employees and his affiliates.

The overall valuation of $40 million was later described as $15 million upfront, followed by $100,000 a month over 20 years, an arrangement she rejected.

Critics Question What Ashley St Clair Means by 'Fight Back'

St Clair's comments quickly prompted scepticism on social media, with several users questioning what she was 'fighting back' against. Another recurring response questioned what 'risk' St Clair believes she is taking by speaking publicly.

'Fight back against what?' one user asked. Another commented, 'What risk? Fight what?'

Others mocked the American political commentator for her past choices and questioned why she framed the situation as a battle. 'She's fighting back against her own decision to turn down 40 million dollars,' one critic claimed, while another added that she was 'fighting back against her choices.'

Other reactions focused specifically on the alleged £29.8 million ($40 million) offer, with some arguing she should not complain after voluntarily rejecting such a payment. The reaction reflects the wider public discussion surrounding St Clair's relationship with Musk, which has involved disputes over finances, privacy, custody and public statements.

Ashley St Clair and Elon Musk Share a Child Amid Public Dispute

St Clair and Musk were romantically involved and share a son, born in 2024. St Clair publicly identified Musk as the child's father in February 2025, after which the pair became embroiled in a contentious legal dispute over custody and parenting arrangements.

Their conflict has since extended to Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI.

St Clair has alleged that its Grok platform generated sexually explicit deepfake imagery of her, which she says was produced without her consent.

She subsequently initiated legal action against xAI regarding the AI-generated images.

The allegations have placed St Clair at the centre of a broader debate over AI deepfakes, personal consent and the legal responsibilities of technology platforms.

Her decision to discuss the alleged NDA is featured in Gibney's Musk documentary, which premiered in Venice, giving her a platform to present her version of events. The documentary is expected to be released later this year.