Ashley St. Clair says she rejected an alleged $40 million non-disclosure agreement (NDA) linked to Elon Musk because, in her account, the money was effectively the price to stay silent. At the Venice Film Festival, she put it bluntly: 'I was offered the opportunity not to speak for $40 million.'
The former conservative influencer, who has a child with Musk, made the remarks while appearing at the Venice Film Festival for Alex Gibney's new documentary, Musk.
The complete terms of the alleged proposal have not been made public. Musk, however, has since denied St. Clair's account, writing on X on 9 September that she was 'never offered that.' He also accused St. Clair of having 'a history of making false claims.'
'$40M Offer Came With an NDA'
St. Clair said the alleged proposal prompted her to consider what remaining silent was worth and why such a large sum was allegedly being offered in exchange for it.
Her comments were not the first time she had discussed the alleged deal. During an appearance on The Don Lemon Show earlier in 2026, St. Clair said the proposed arrangement involved an upfront payment of about $15 million followed by monthly payments of $100,000 over roughly two decades, bringing the total value close to $40 million.
St. Clair alleged that discussions surrounding the financial arrangement took place through Signal and that Musk's wealth manager, Jared Birchall, handled negotiations over the proposed NDA.
St. Clair's account is consistent with earlier reporting by The Wall Street Journal, which reported in April 2025 that Musk offered her $15 million plus $100,000 a month in support in exchange for confidentiality. Musk has since denied that she was offered the $40 million arrangement. No executed NDA has been made public, and St. Clair says she refused to sign the proposed agreement.
The Associated Press reported that St. Clair described the NDA as being tied to financial support for their child.
Why Ashley St. Clair Chose to Speak
At Venice, St. Clair framed her decision as a question of personal principle rather than simply money.
She said the offer made her consider the value of being able to speak openly and the example she wanted to set for her children. St. Clair said people should not choose being 'materially comfortable over speaking the truth.'
The documentary uses a digitally generated version of Musk, including AI-generated speech based on statements he has previously made, to simulate an interview. Gibney said the filmmakers consulted lawyers before using the technique.
The film also examines Musk's acquisition of Twitter, now X, and allegations from interviewees that changes to the platform's algorithms amplified inflammatory content.
St. Clair herself accused Musk of encouraging deliberate social division through X. That remains her assessment rather than an independently established conclusion.
Musk Denies St. Clair's $40M NDA Claim
Musk did not participate in Gibney's documentary and had already criticised the project before its Venice screening, accusing Gibney of bias. Reuters reported that Gibney approached Musk for an interview when production began, but Musk declined.
Musk has since responded directly to St. Clair's $40 million allegation. Replying on X on 9 September to a TMZ post about her claim, Elon Musk wrote: 'She was never offered that and has a history of making false claims.'
His response puts the central allegation in direct dispute. St. Clair maintains that the offer was made, while earlier Wall Street Journal reporting described a proposed financial and confidentiality arrangement involving $15 million upfront and monthly payments.
What the $40M NDA Claim Actually Establishes
St. Clair's allegation is striking because of the amount involved, but the size of the proposed payment does not by itself prove wrongdoing or validate her wider criticisms of Musk.
What is established is narrower. St. Clair has publicly said on more than one occasion that she was offered a financial package worth roughly $40 million in connection with an NDA and that she rejected it.
The complete terms have not been made public, and the central claim is now directly disputed: St. Clair says the offer was made, while Musk says it was not.
In St. Clair's account, the decision came down to whether nearly $40 million was worth surrendering her ability to speak openly. She says it was not.
