Elon Musk has opened up about the personal history of his partner, Shivon Zilis, revealing that she has Indian roots. The Tesla and SpaceX chief spoke about her background during a conversation with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, where he mentioned that Zilis is “half Indian” and was adopted as an infant before being raised in Canada. This rare insight into Zilis’ early life highlighted a part of her identity that has not often been discussed publicly.
Musk and Zilis are parents to four children—twins Strider and Azure, daughter Arcadia, and son Seldon Lycurgus. While speaking on the podcast, Musk also shared the significance behind one of their children’s names. He explained that one of their sons carries the middle name “Sekhar,” chosen as a nod to Nobel Prize-winning Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. Musk noted that the tribute was meaningful to them because of Chandrasekhar’s immense contribution to the world of astrophysics.
Shivon Zilis’ own story is equally compelling. Born in Canada to an Indian mother, Sharda N, and a Canadian father, Richard Zilis, she holds citizenship in both Canada and the United States. An alumna of Yale University, she graduated with degrees in economics and philosophy before making her way into the rapidly growing world of tech, artificial intelligence, and venture capital.
Her professional journey includes significant milestones across some of the most influential tech organizations. Between 2017 and 2019, she served as Project Director at Tesla. Today, she plays a crucial role at Neuralink—Musk’s brain-interface venture—where she oversees operations and special projects.
Zilis was recognized early for her potential in the AI sector. In 2015, she earned a place on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in the venture capital category. Her early work included a close association with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and she was part of the founding team at Bloomberg Beta, Bloomberg LP’s venture capital arm, where she led multiple early-stage investments.
Industry insiders believe she first crossed paths with Musk in San Francisco through AI networks, especially during her involvement with OpenAI, which Musk co-founded. What began as a professional overlap gradually evolved into a personal partnership that continues today.
Through Musk’s recent revelations, Zilis’ Indian lineage and her remarkable career trajectory have once again drawn attention, offering a deeper glimpse into the life of one of the tech world’s most influential yet private figures.
