Shivon Zilis, who has worked for Elon Musk at both Tesla and Neuralink, posted a lengthy message on X confirming that her relationship with the billionaire entrepreneur has ended. Zilis, the mother of four of Musk’s fourteen known children, described the split as sudden, saying it moved from “in love to let go in a week with no warning.”
Background of the partnership
Zilis’s professional ties to Musk began in 2016 when she joined his technology firm, Neuralink, after a stint at Tesla. The two’s romance, which started that same year, has largely been kept out of the public eye. Earlier in the year, Zilis testified during the OpenAI trial that after joining Neuralink she had a “one‑off” romantic encounter with Musk. Court records indicated that Musk offered to make a donation in a “platonic sperm donor” arrangement after Zilis expressed a desire to become a single mother; the arrangement later evolved into a romantic partnership.
According to People, Musk has fourteen children with four women. Zilis is the mother of four of those children: twins born in 2021, a third child in 2024 and a fourth in 2025. In her post, Zilis reflected on the role she and the children played in Musk’s life, saying they were “always his safe space” and a counterbalancing presence of calm and love.
Details of the announcement
In the X post, Zilis wrote, “It’s hard to go from in love to let go in a week with no warning, but that’s just how it is sometimes.” She added that she felt grateful for having shown Musk “deeply understood, nurtured, and peacefully loved” moments, hoping the experience would leave a lasting positive effect. She expressed a desire to remain friends and co‑parents, stating, “I do hope and pray he and I can be great friends and coparents.”
The announcement also included a screenshot of a text exchange from late September. Zilis messaged, “It was really wonderful to see you for breakfast. Love you very much,” to which Musk replied on September 24, “Love you too.” He later referenced a missed invitation to a White House dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping, prompting Zilis to reply with a heart emoji and gratitude.
Responses and next steps
The Independent reached out to Musk for comment, but he has not publicly responded to the breakup. Zilis’s post underscores the personal dimension of a relationship that has largely been shielded from media scrutiny, even as both individuals continue to occupy high‑profile positions in the technology and automotive sectors.
While the split marks the end of a partnership that began over seven years ago, Zilis emphasized her ongoing commitment to the four children they share, describing them as “four beautiful little loves of my life.” She concluded with well‑wishes for Musk, noting, “God speed, Elon, the world is lucky to have you.”
Norman Pearlstine is the Executive Editor and Co-Founder at News Raise. With over two decades of experience across financial journalism, corporate governance, and market analysis, Norman leads the editorial direction and ensures strict adherence to journalistic accuracy and ethics.
