A light emitting element (semiconductor laser element) includes a multilayer structure in which a substrate, semiconductor layers to, an insulating layer, and a metal layer are stacked in order. The light emitting element includes a plurality of light emitting portions each of which emits a laser beam. The plurality of light emitting portions each include a ridge (ridge waveguide). The distance from a specific position in an active region in at least one of the light emitting portions to an inner surface of the metal layer is different from that in another of the light emitting portions.