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Ashley St. Clair built her public profile as a young conservative influencer, author and political commentator, often appearing online and on right-wing media to criticize feminism, diversity initiatives and transgender rights. Now, she says she regrets much of it.
In a new interview with Don Lemon (1), St. Clair said she feels “disgust and remorse” watching clips of her past comments, including remarks about trans people, DEI and George Floyd. She told Lemon she was young, seeking belonging and financially dependent on the MAGA media world, a world she now describes as cult-like and difficult to leave.
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But the biggest revelation came when St. Clair discussed Elon Musk, with whom she says she shares a child.
St. Clair claimed Musk’s team offered her a non-disclosure agreement worth roughly $40 million: $15 million upfront, plus $100,000 a month for 21 years, in exchange for long-term silence about Musk, his employees, affiliates and related matters. Similar details were reported after the interview aired. She said she refused.
“I would rather go to a studio apartment with both my children than sign this,” St. Clair told Lemon.
Inside the alleged NDA offer
According to St. Clair, the offer began when Musk sent a message instructing his money manager, Jared Birchall, to “wire Ashley 15 million for a home and reserve capital.” She said Birchall later called her and told her there would need to be “some sort of NDA.”
St. Clair told Lemon she was willing to review it, but not sign it.
When the proposed agreement arrived, she said it included $15 million in cash and $100,000 a month for 21 years. That would come to $25.2 million in monthly payments, or about $40.2 million in total before taxes and any legal conditions.
The agreement, as St. Clair described it, would have barred her from disparaging Musk or speaking about him, his employees, affiliates or related matters “into eternity.”
Her stated reason for rejecting it was moral, not financial. St. Clair said she believed signing would have been wrong for her, her children and her ability to speak honestly. She also pushed back against critics who call her a “grifter” or “gold digger,” saying she had turned down more money than she could likely make by speaking publicly.
Whether she regrets it, at least publicly, the answer appears to be no. St. Clair framed the NDA as the moment that forced her to decide what kind of person she wanted to be.
Other public figures who chose to challenge silence agreements
St. Clair’s decision to reject what she described as a $40 million NDA offer would be unusual for almost anyone. But she is not the first public figure to argue that the ability to speak freely was worth more than the money attached to staying quiet.
One of the most prominent examples is former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who alleged she had an affair with Donald Trump. In 2016, American Media Inc. paid McDougal $150,000 for exclusive rights to her story in what later became known as a “catch-and-kill” arrangement (2) — a deal critics said was designed to prevent the story from becoming public. McDougal later sued to be released from the agreement, and the company eventually dissolved the contract, allowing her to speak publicly.
Another well-known example is Stormy Daniels (3). Shortly before the 2016 presidential election, Daniels received a $130,000 payment in exchange for signing a nondisclosure agreement regarding her alleged relationship with Trump.
The agreement became the subject of years of legal battles and public scrutiny after Daniels challenged its validity in court. She ultimately spoke publicly about the allegations, published a memoir and repeatedly argued that the NDA should not prevent her from telling her story.
Not every example involves celebrity relationships. Former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen became one of the most prominent corporate whistleblowers (4) in recent years after disclosing internal company documents and later testifying before Congress about concerns she said the company was prioritizing profits over public safety.
Haugen didn’t turn down a multimillion-dollar NDA payment, but she did risk a lucrative career in Silicon Valley to disclose information she believed the public needed to see.
These examples highlight a common trade-off: Large payouts can provide financial security, sometimes for life. Yet for some people, the ability to speak publicly, defend their reputation or disclose information they believe matters ultimately proves more valuable than the money.
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Article Sources
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Youtube (1); Theguardian (2); Factcheck (3); Commerce Senate (4)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
