Public curiosity around Elon Musk has grown after he revealed new information about his partner Shivon Zilis, her Indian heritage and the four children they share in the podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. Many want to understand how their relationship began, how their careers in artificial intelligence connected them, and how their family expanded over time. Zilis, a respected figure in the global technology sector, has worked closely with Musk through influential roles at OpenAI, Neuralink, Tesla, and other pioneering ventures. Her background, professional achievements, and personal journey have become central to public interest.
Shivon Zilis early career and rise in the technology sector
She joined OpenAI in 2016, a research organisation co founded by Musk to ensure that AI develops safely and beneficially. Their collaboration expanded when she joined Neuralink in 2017 as the director of operations and special projects. Zilis also worked at Tesla between 2017 and 2019, where she contributed to projects linked to automation and AI systems. In 2023, she joined the board of Shield AI, further strengthening her profile within the defence and AI technology landscape. In February 2025, Zilis announced the birth of their fourth child, a son named Seldon Lycurgus.
US-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Amazon Web Services ‘disrupted’ following drone attack in Bahrain; Saudi, UAE mull joining Iran war After graduating, Zilis began her professional life at IBM, one of the world’s oldest and largest technology companies. Her work there placed her at the intersection of data, systems and corporate innovation. She later joined Bloomberg Beta, the venture capital arm of Bloomberg LP, where she became one of the founding members. This role was pivotal, as she focused on investments linked to machine intelligence at a time when AI was beginning to reshape industries and attract significant global attention. Shivon Zilis’s relationship with Elon Musk began in professional circles, particularly in the fast-growing world of artificial intelligence. Her work was quickly recognised and she became the youngest member of the OpenAI board. Her involvement in OpenAI placed her at the centre of discussions about the future of artificial intelligence. Neuralink focuses on brain machine interfaces and pushes forward the idea of connecting human intelligence with computers. She described him as strong and warm natured in a post shared on X. Musk responded to her announcement, expressing support and acknowledgment. The name Seldon is widely recognised as a reference to Hari Seldon, a character from Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, which Musk has often cited as a personal favourite. Lycurgus is linked to ancient Greek history and law, reflecting a blend of scientific and cultural inspiration. The relationship between Musk and Zilis grew naturally from years of professional collaboration. They first connected through OpenAI, continued working closely at Neuralink, and gradually developed a personal partnership that led to the birth of their children. Their family represents a mix of cultural heritage, scientific ideas and shared values about innovation and the future.