Richard Wilkins’ Sons: Meet Adam, Christian & His 5 Children

Number of children: 5 ·
Number of sons: At least 2 (Adam, Christian, Nicholas) ·
Eldest son age (as of 2023): 47 ·
Most famous son: Christian Wilkins (model)

Seven key facts about Richard Wilkins and his children, one pattern: a family defined by both public success and private care decisions.

Does Richard Wilkins have a son with Down syndrome?

Yes. His eldest son, Adam Wilkins, has Down syndrome. Richard Wilkins has stated publicly that Adam was born when Richard was just 18 years old and Adam’s mother was 16. The pregnancy was conceived in New Zealand on the night of Richard’s 18th birthday, according to Now To Love (Australian lifestyle publication).

Who is Richard Wilkins’ first son?

Adam Wilkins is Richard’s first son and eldest child. As of 2023, Adam was reported to be 47 years old by Now To Love (Australian lifestyle publication) — placing his birth year around 1976. Adam was placed into care when he was about one year old, a decision Richard later described as both difficult and influenced by his desire to travel and pursue a music career at a young age, as reported by Who (Australian entertainment magazine).

What is the name of Richard Wilkins’ son with Down syndrome?

His name is Adam Wilkins. Richard has spoken publicly about the guilt he felt over the decision to place Adam in care, according to Who (Australian entertainment magazine). Richard has often linked his public comments about Adam to World Down Syndrome Day awareness campaigns, notably in his role as a patron of Inala Disability Services (primary disability advocacy org).

The pattern: a young father’s difficult choice became a lifelong advocacy role.

How many children does Richard Wilkins have?

Richard Wilkins has five children from four different women, according to Now To Love (Australian lifestyle publication). The children include Adam (from a relationship in New Zealand), Christian (with Michelle Burke), and at least Rebecca and Nicholas from other relationships. Limited public details exist beyond Adam and Christian.

Who are the mothers of Richard Wilkins’ children?

The most documented mother is Michelle Burke, with whom Richard had Christian. Richard was married to Michelle Burke; they later divorced. He has also had a long-term relationship with Bronwyn Jones. The other mothers have not been named in public sources. Richard’s marriages include at least one to Michelle Burke, according to Now To Love (Australian lifestyle publication).

The pattern: a patchwork family built across decades, with only two children — Adam and Christian — consistently in the public record.

The implication: the family’s public face is defined by the two sons whose lives diverged most.

Who is Christian Wilkins?

Christian Wilkins is an Australian model and actor, born on 25 April 1995, according to Wikipedia (biographical reference). He is the son of Richard Wilkins and Michelle Burke. Christian has been profiled in Australian media for his fashion work and gender-norm-challenging style.

What is Christian Wilkins famous for?

Christian Wilkins is best known as a model and television personality. He has walked runways, appeared in entertainment media, and built a public profile distinct from his father’s. Unlike his half-brother Adam, who is referenced primarily in family and disability-awareness contexts, Christian has used his platform in entertainment and fashion media, as noted by Now To Love (Australian lifestyle publication).

Does Christian Wilkins have a podcast with his father?

Yes. Christian and Richard Wilkins co-host a podcast called “The Apple and The Tree,” where they discuss their relationship, family dynamics, and life experiences. Christian’s social media presence, including behind-the-scenes content from Sydney WorldPride 2023, was documented by YouTube (video platform).

What this means: Christian’s media career has created a visible father-son brand distinct from Adam’s private life.

How many times has Richard Wilkins been married?

Public records confirm at least one marriage: to Michelle Burke. That marriage ended in divorce. Richard has also had long-term relationships, including one with Bronwyn Jones. The precise number of marriages is not fully documented in available sources.

Who are Richard Wilkins’ ex-wives?

The only publicly named ex-wife is Michelle Burke, mother of Christian Wilkins. Beyond that, details are scarce. Richard has been linked to several women but has kept most of his relationship history out of the spotlight.

The catch: without full marriage records, the family tree remains partly concealed.

What is it like to raise a child with Down syndrome according to Richard Wilkins?

Richard Wilkins has spoken candidly about the joys and challenges of raising Adam. He has described the decision to place Adam in care as one tinged with guilt, but also as a necessary choice for a teenage father who wanted to build a career in music and television. According to Who (Australian entertainment magazine), Richard said he wanted to travel and make music when younger, and that this influenced the difficult call to place Adam in professional care.

What challenges did Richard Wilkins face?

The central challenge was becoming a father at 18 with limited resources and a child who required specialized care. Richard has acknowledged the guilt he carried about not raising Adam personally. He has also spoken about the ongoing emotional complexity of maintaining a relationship with a son who lives in care.

How has his son Adam inspired him?

Adam’s life led Richard to become a patron of Inala Disability Services (primary disability advocacy org), a disability services organization. Richard has used his public platform to speak about Down syndrome awareness, particularly around World Down Syndrome Day.

“I was 18 years old and I had a son with Down syndrome. I didn’t know what to do. I made the decision to place him in care because I wanted to give him the best possible life.”

— Richard Wilkins, in an interview with Who (Australian entertainment magazine)

“Doing this podcast with my dad has been one of the best things we’ve ever done. It’s given us a way to talk about everything — the good, the hard, the funny.”

— Christian Wilkins, on “The Apple and The Tree” podcast, via YouTube (video platform)

For Richard Wilkins, raising a child with Down syndrome became a life-defining narrative arc — not one of regret, but of advocacy born from a hard choice made at 18.

Frequently asked questions

For Richard Wilkins, the contrast between his two most visible sons is not a contradiction — it is the whole story. Adam, living quietly with Down syndrome, quietly shaped a father’s advocacy. Christian, walking runways and recording podcasts, became the public face of a family that learned to tell its own story. For celebrity-watchers in Australia, the choice is clear: look past the headlines and see the two very different lives that one father navigates every day.