Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink and the mother of four of Elon Musk's children, announced Friday that the billionaire abruptly ended their relationship. Zilis, 40, shared the news in an emotional post on X, revealing that the sudden split left her heartbroken and struggling to process the change. The revelation followed social media observations that Musk had unfollowed her on the platform.
"I’ve loved him more than life itself." Shivon Zilis, Neuralink Executive
The relationship between Zilis and Musk, 55, had largely remained private for years, only recently gaining renewed public attention. Zilis's post detailed the personal impact of the breakup, describing a rapid transition from being "in love to let go in a week." She emphasized her deep affection for Musk, stating, "I’ve loved him more than life itself," and credited him with teaching her "100 lifetimes of knowledge." Despite the pain, Zilis highlighted the profound joy brought by their children, expressing immense gratitude for them and noting they make "every single day the best day of my life!"
The Neuralink executive conveyed her desire to maintain a close relationship with Musk as co-parents. "I do hope and pray he and I can be great friends and coparents," she wrote. Her post also included a screenshot of affectionate text messages exchanged just days before the breakup, on September 24. In these messages, Zilis told Musk it had been "really wonderful" to see him for breakfast and expressed her love, to which Musk responded, "Love you too." He also mentioned wishing he had invited her to a dinner involving Chinese President Xi Jinping, believing significant others were not included.
Zilis further reflected on her role in Musk's life, describing him as a "tortured soul." She expressed satisfaction in having provided him with emotional support, stating, "I feel happy that I got to show Elon how it feels to be deeply understood, nurtured, and peacefully loved with stability and gentleness." She added, "I loved being that counterbalancing place of safety, sense of calm, and love," and shared that she would "miss him dearly."
Signs of a potential shift in their relationship emerged earlier in the week. On September 28, Zilis posted a cryptic message on X that read, "New day, new life." The subsequent report on Friday by an account tracking prominent technology figures confirmed that Musk, who follows approximately 1,400 accounts, had unfollowed Zilis. As of the source's publication, Musk had not publicly commented on Zilis's announcement or the breakup.
The couple's relationship history traces back to their connection through OpenAI, which Musk co-founded in 2015. Zilis testified earlier this year that their initial encounter was "a one-off" at a corporate event before evolving into a romantic relationship around 2016. When Zilis decided she wanted to become a mother, Musk offered to be a sperm donor. Their twins, Strider and Azure, were born via in vitro fertilization (IVF) in November 2021. Their third child, Arcadia, became publicly known in June 2024, followed by their son, Seldon Lycurgus, in February 2025. Zilis resides in Austin, Texas, in a home where Musk frequently stays to visit their children.
During his own testimony in legal proceedings, Musk referred to Zilis as his "partner." The couple was also seen together earlier this year, holding hands while attending the wedding of White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Zilis continues her professional career as an executive at Neuralink and previously worked on Tesla’s Autopilot team. The potential impact of the breakup on her professional roles within Musk-linked companies remains unclear.
Despite the profound personal pain, Zilis concluded her public statement by reaffirming her support for Musk. "I’m hurting, but care deeply about E and will always be cheering for his happiness," she wrote. "God speed, Elon, the world is lucky to have you." Her post underscored her commitment to their children and to fostering a positive co-parenting relationship moving forward, even as their romantic partnership concludes.
