Until recently, Shivon Zilis was a name known only to tech insiders. As an AI expert and Neuralink executive, she has been an integral part of Elon Musk¡¯s ambitious ventures. But in 2024, she¡¯s no longer just another brilliant mind in Musk¡¯s orbit, she¡¯s making headlines, and not just for her work.
Zilis, 38, has suddenly become a key figure in Musk¡¯s personal life, first with her three children with the billionaire and now with her latest bombshell, a previously undisclosed son, Seldon Lycurgus. While celebrating their daughter Arcadia¡¯s birthday, Zilis casually revealed the existence of another child, describing him as ¡°built like a juggernaut with a heart of gold.¡± And Musk? He simply responded with a heart emoji, adding fuel to an already fiery media frenzy.
The timing couldn¡¯t be more dramatic. Musk¡¯s ex, Canadian singer Grimes, had just made a desperate public plea, urging him to take responsibility for their child¡¯s medical condition. The internet immediately started speculating, was Zilis¡¯ post a strategic move, or just an innocent celebration gone viral?
As if that weren¡¯t enough, Zilis recently joined Musk for a high-profile meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Blair House in Washington. The meeting, which focused on electric mobility, space exploration, and India¡¯s growing role in global tech, also saw Musk¡¯s children in attendance. This marked Zilis¡¯ biggest public appearance alongside Musk, fueling speculation about her evolving role in his life, not just as a Neuralink executive but as a key figure in his inner circle.
Her presence at such a significant diplomatic event has raised eyebrows. Is she stepping into a more public-facing role in Musk¡¯s empire? And more importantly, how did she go from a behind-the-scenes tech powerhouse to a woman the world suddenly can¡¯t stop talking about?
Born in Canada, Zilis has a multicultural background, with an Indian mother and a Canadian father. A Yale graduate, she started her career at IBM, later moving to Bloomberg Beta and Tesla, before joining Neuralink. She was once listed on Forbes¡¯ ¡°30 Under 30¡± and LinkedIn¡¯s ¡°35 Under 35¡± lists, cementing her reputation as a top AI expert.
With her growing influence in Musk¡¯s personal and professional affairs, it¡¯s clear that Shivon Zilis is no longer just a name on Musk¡¯s executive team, she¡¯s a key player in the billionaire¡¯s ever-unfolding drama.