Elton John’s Children at a Glance
Sir Elton John has two children, both sons: Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John and Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John. He shares both boys with his husband, Canadian filmmaker and producer David Furnish.
Zachary was born on 25 December 2010, while Elijah was born on 11 January 2013. Both boys were born in California through the same surrogate and with the same anonymous egg donor.
As of September 2026, Zachary is 15 and Elijah is 13.
The family has generally protected the boys’ privacy, so there is considerably less public information about their everyday lives than there is about their famous father. In 2026, however, the family attracted attention after a formal portrait of Elton, David and their two sons went on display at London’s National Portrait Gallery.
Who Are Elton John’s Children?
1. Zachary Furnish-John
Full name: Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John
Born: 25 December 2010
Age in 2026: 15
Parents: Elton John and David Furnish
Birth: Via surrogate in California
Zachary is Elton John and David Furnish’s first child. His arrival on Christmas Day in 2010 marked a major change in Elton’s life, with the singer later describing fatherhood as one of the most important parts of his life.
Contemporary reports said the couple were determined to be hands-on parents rather than leaving the majority of childcare to staff. Elton has also spoken repeatedly about how much he values ordinary family time.
Zachary has occasionally appeared publicly with his father and brother, but Elton and David have generally avoided turning their children’s private lives into a public spectacle.
2. Elijah Furnish-John
Full name: Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John
Born: 11 January 2013
Age in 2026: 13
Parents: Elton John and David Furnish
Birth: Via the same surrogate used for Zachary
Elijah is Elton and David’s younger son. He was born just over two years after his brother.
When Elijah was born, Elton and David again used the same surrogate and the same anonymous egg donor. The couple described his arrival as completing their family.
Like Zachary, Elijah has appeared publicly on only a limited number of occasions. The boys have attended selected events with their parents, including an Elton John AIDS Foundation event in 2025.
How Old Are Elton John’s Children in 2026?
For readers searching for Elton John children ages now, their ages in September 2026 are:
| Child | Date of birth | Age in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Zachary Furnish-John | 25 December 2010 | 15 |
| Elijah Furnish-John | 11 January 2013 | 13 |
Zachary will turn 16 on Christmas Day 2026. Elijah turned 13 in January 2026.
Some older articles give different ages because they were published in previous years. For example, coverage from 2024 described Zachary as 13 and Elijah as 11.
Are Elton John’s Children Biological?
This is one of the most frequently searched questions about Elton John’s family.
The short answer is that Zachary and Elijah are biological children of the family created by Elton John and David Furnish through IVF and surrogacy, but the public does not know which of the two men is the biological father of which child.
Elton and David used sperm from both men and the same anonymous egg donor for their two sons. David Furnish explained in a 2013 interview that they deliberately did not try to establish which man was the biological father of each boy.
That distinction matters because some older reports claimed that Elton was specifically identified as Zachary’s biological father. Those reports were based on early media accounts and should not be treated as the definitive answer for both children. Later, David Furnish publicly explained that the couple had chosen not to determine which man was the biological father.
So, if the question is “Who is the biological father of Elton John’s children?”, the most accurate answer is:
Elton John and David Furnish both contributed sperm, but the family has not publicly identified which father is genetically connected to which son.
Who Is Elton John’s Children’s Mother?
Zachary and Elijah were both carried by a surrogate mother in California.
The identity of the surrogate has been kept private. Elton and David have spoken warmly about her and have emphasised their desire to protect her anonymity. When Elijah was born, Sky News reported that the same surrogate had carried both boys.
The egg donor was also anonymous. The boys therefore share the same egg donor and the same surrogate, making them biological half-siblings through the egg donor, while their genetic connection to Elton or David has not been publicly assigned to either child.
It is therefore misleading to describe the surrogate as simply “Elton John’s children’s mother”. She carried the pregnancies, but the family’s publicly described parental relationship is with Elton John and David Furnish.
Who Is the Father of Elton John’s Children?
Both Elton John and David Furnish are their fathers.
Elton and David have been partners since 1993 and entered into a civil partnership in the UK in 2005. They later married in 2014 after same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales.
The boys call Elton Daddy and David Papa, according to an interview David gave to The Guardian.
The question of biological paternity is different from the question of parenthood. Genetically, the public does not know which man is the biological father of each boy. As parents, however, Elton John and David Furnish are both their fathers.
Where Do Elton John’s Children Go to School?
The family has kept details of the boys’ education relatively private.
That means readers should be cautious about websites claiming to know their exact current school, timetable or day-to-day routine unless the information comes from a reliable and recent source.
Public reporting has occasionally shown the boys in school uniforms, and recent coverage has included photographs associated with school milestones. However, Elton and David have generally prioritised their sons’ privacy rather than publicising every aspect of their education.
This privacy is particularly understandable now that Zachary and Elijah are teenagers. Their parents can discuss family life publicly without needing to reveal private information about their children’s schooling.
Elton John’s Children and Lady Gaga
One of the more unusual details about Elton John’s family is the boys’ relationship with Lady Gaga.
Elton and David chose Lady Gaga as Zachary’s godmother, and she was later also chosen as Elijah’s godmother. Elton has spoken affectionately about her role in the boys’ early lives.
In a 2024 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Elton recalled that Gaga used to help with bedtime routines when the boys were younger, including bathing them and singing to them.
The connection is hardly surprising: Elton and Gaga have worked together musically and have maintained a close friendship for years.
What Are Elton John’s Children Doing Now?
Because Zachary and Elijah are still minors, there is no reliable reason to expect a detailed public account of their everyday activities.
What is clear is that the two brothers continue to live largely outside the celebrity spotlight. They have made occasional public appearances with Elton and David, but the family generally keeps their personal lives private.
That approach has not stopped the boys from occasionally being seen at important family events.
In March 2026, a portrait of Elton John, David Furnish, Zachary and Elijah was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Photographer Catherine Opie created the family portrait inside the family’s home in Old Windsor.
The portrait provided an unusually current glimpse of the family and showed just how much the boys have grown since their earlier public appearances.
Elton John’s Relationship With His Sons
Fatherhood has become a central part of Elton John’s life.
In a 2024 interview with Good Morning America, Elton said that his most important legacy was not his enormous music career but being a good husband and father. He explained that his priority was making sure his children were happy and had a wonderful life.
That attitude has appeared consistently in Elton’s comments over the years.
He became a father relatively late in life, welcoming Zachary at the age of 63 and Elijah at 65. Before having children, he had reportedly questioned whether his demanding career would allow him to be a good parent. David Furnish has described how their plans changed after the couple decided they wanted a family.
The result has been a family life that Elton has repeatedly described as one of his greatest sources of happiness.
Do Elton John’s Children Follow Him Into Music?
There is no reliable evidence that either Zachary or Elijah has committed to a professional music career.
Growing up with one of Britain’s most successful musicians naturally gives the boys access to music, but Elton and David have consistently emphasised allowing their children to develop their own interests.
Elton has also spoken about wanting his children to understand that their privileged upbringing comes with responsibilities. David Furnish previously discussed the importance of ensuring the boys understood the value of work rather than simply receiving everything because of their parents’ wealth.
Whether either son eventually enters music, sport, film or another profession remains their decision.
Elton John Children Pictures: Why Are They Rare?
Searches for Elton John children pictures often lead to older photographs because Elton and David have deliberately limited their sons’ exposure.
The family has shared selected images over the years, and the boys have attended occasional public events. One notable recent appearance came through the Catherine Opie family portrait unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in 2026.
Their relative absence from social media and entertainment coverage should not be confused with secrecy about the family itself. Rather, Elton and David appear to have drawn a clear boundary between their public careers and their children’s private lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children does Elton John have?
Elton John has two children, both sons: Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John and Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John.
How old are Elton John’s children in 2026?
Zachary is 15 and Elijah is 13 in September 2026.
What are Elton John’s children’s names?
His sons are Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John and Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John.
Are Elton John’s children biological?
They were conceived through IVF using sperm from Elton John and David Furnish, with the same anonymous egg donor and surrogate. The family has not publicly identified which man is the biological father of each child.
Who is Elton John’s children’s mother?
Both boys were carried by the same surrogate mother, whose identity has been kept private. The egg donor was also anonymous.
Who is the father of Elton John’s children?
Elton John and David Furnish are both their fathers. The identity of the biological father of each individual child has not been publicly established.
Who is the godmother of Elton John’s children?
Lady Gaga is the godmother of both Zachary and Elijah.
Where do Elton John’s children live?
The family has maintained homes in different places over the years, but public reporting has associated the family with their home in Old Windsor, England. The family’s 2025 portrait by Catherine Opie was photographed there.
Final Thoughts
Elton John’s children, Zachary and Elijah Furnish-John, have grown from babies who occasionally appeared in family interviews into teenagers who largely live outside the celebrity spotlight.
Zachary, born in December 2010, is 15 in 2026, while Elijah, born in January 2013, is 13. Both were born through the same surrogate using the same anonymous egg donor, with Elton John and David Furnish both contributing to the conception process.
Although fans remain curious about their ages, school, biological parentage and family life, the most consistent feature of their story is the privacy their parents have tried to preserve. For Elton John, fatherhood has become far more than a footnote to an extraordinary music career: he has repeatedly described being a good father as one of the most meaningful parts of his life.
