Shivon Zilis, Elon Musk's Partner, Who Is Half-Indian

Shivon-Zilis

 

The world is buzzing with a fresh revelation about Elon Musk’s personal life, and this time, the connection points directly to India.

In a recent and candid interview on the People by WTF podcast with Nikhil Kamath, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO dropped a surprising detail about his partner, Shivon Zilis. It turns out the top Neuralink executive and mother of three of Musk’s children has a significant Indian connection.

Here is everything we know about Shivon Zilis, her heritage, and her life with the world's richest man.

The "Half-Indian" Revelation

For years, Shivon Zilis has been recognized as a brilliant mind in the artificial intelligence space, but her heritage was rarely a topic of public discussion. That changed when Musk told Kamath:

"I’m not sure if you know this, but my partner Shivon is half-Indian."

Musk elaborated on her background, sharing that Zilis was given up for adoption as a baby in Canada. He revealed that he believes her biological father was likely an Indian exchange student, although the exact details remain a bit of a mystery even to them. This genetic link adds a fascinating layer to the identity of one of Silicon Valley's most influential women.

A Tribute to Indian Science: "Sekhar"

The Indian connection doesn't stop at genetics. Musk also revealed that they have honored this heritage in the naming of one of their twin sons.

One of their sons, Strider, carries the middle name "Sekhar."

Musk explained that this is a tribute to Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, the legendary Indian-American astrophysicist and Nobel Laureate. "Sekhar" is a nod to brilliance and the stars—fitting for a family obsessed with space exploration and physics.

Who Is Shivon Zilis?

Beyond the headlines about her DNA, Zilis is a powerhouse in the tech world.

  • Education: She is a graduate of Yale University, where she studied economics and philosophy and was a star goalie on the women's ice hockey team.
  • Career: She has held leadership roles at Tesla, OpenAI, and Bloomberg Beta. Currently, she serves as the Director of Operations and Special Projects at Neuralink, Musk’s company developing implantable brain-machine interfaces.
  • Achievement: She was listed on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for venture capital, cementing her status as a leader in the AI revolution long before her personal life made news.

Her Family with Elon Musk

Shivon Zilis and Elon Musk share a unique co-parenting relationship. Together, they have four children:

  • Strider Sekhar Sirius (Twin boy, born 2021)
  • Azure Astra Alice (Twin girl, born 2021)
  • Arcadia (Daughter, born Feb 2024)
  • Seldon Lycurgus (Son, born early 2025)

The couple has kept their family life relatively private, residing in Austin, Texas, but this recent interview has shed a warm light on the cultural history they are passing down to their children.


What do you think about this new revelation? Let us know in the comments below!


Why this video is relevant:

This video is the full interview where Elon Musk explicitly reveals Shivon Zilis's Indian heritage and explains the "Sekhar" middle name to host Nikhil Kamath.

Elon Musk on Nikhil Kamath's Podcast

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