Shivon Zilis

Early Life and Education

Shivon Zilis was born in Markham, Ontario, to Richard and Sharda Zilis. Her mother is of Indian origin, while her father is Caucasian Canadian. She attended and graduated from Unionville High School in Markham before moving to the United States for her post-secondary education. Zilis enrolled at Yale University, where she pursued a double major in economics and philosophy, graduating in 2008. During her time at Yale, she was also a goaltender for the university's ice hockey team, where she set a school record for the all-time best goals-against average. This combination of academic rigour and athletic discipline provided an early foundation for her future career in the high-pressure environments of technology and finance.

Career in Finance and Venture Capital

After graduating from Yale in 2008, Zilis began her professional career at IBM in New York City. Her work at IBM focused on financial technologies for developing countries, with projects notably in Peru and Indonesia. This international experience gave her early exposure to the application of technology in diverse economic contexts. In 2012, she transitioned into venture capital, becoming one of the founding investors and a partner at Bloomberg Beta, a venture fund backed by Bloomberg L.P. Her investment thesis at Bloomberg Beta centred on what she termed "machine intelligence," an early articulation of the artificial intelligence and machine learning sector. During her six-year tenure there until 2018, she was instrumental in evaluating and funding startups in this emerging field.

One of her notable early investments at Bloomberg Beta was in the defence technology company Shield AI. In 2016, Zilis personally wrote the company's term sheet for its seed funding round. This early involvement later led to a formal board position, as she joined the board of Shield AI in September 2023. Her work at Bloomberg Beta earned her significant recognition within the venture capital community.

• Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Venture Capital category (2015)
• LinkedIn's 35 Under 35 list
• Wrote the seed term sheet for Shield AI (2016)
• Joined the board of Shield AI (September 2023)

Operational Roles in Technology

Zilis shifted from pure venture capital to hands-on operational roles within leading technology companies starting in 2017. From 2017 to 2019, she served as a project director for Tesla, Inc., specifically working on the Autopilot product and chip design team. This role placed her at the forefront of developing Tesla's advanced driver-assistance systems and the specialized hardware required to power them. Following her time at Tesla, Zilis took on the role of director of operations and special projects at Neuralink, the neurotechnology company co-founded by Elon Musk. In this capacity, she was involved in managing the company's ambitious projects aimed at developing brain-computer interfaces.

Her involvement with OpenAI, a research laboratory focused on artificial intelligence, was another significant chapter in her career. Zilis met Elon Musk through her non-profit work at OpenAI, where she eventually served as a board member. Her tenure on the board lasted until 2023 and later became a point of scrutiny in a lawsuit Musk filed against OpenAI. According to text messages disclosed during the legal discovery process, Zilis was described as acting as an agent for Musk while serving on the OpenAI board, with one message from her stating she was "keeping the info flowing" to him about internal matters. This period highlighted the complex intersections of her professional roles and personal relationships within the tech industry's upper echelons.

Personal Life and Family

Shivon Zilis's personal life became a matter of public record in July 2022 when court documents in Travis County, Texas, revealed she had twin children, a son and a daughter, with Elon Musk in November 2021. The twins were conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF), and a court petition to change their names listed Musk and Zilis at the same address in Austin, Texas. This revelation occurred shortly after Musk had a second child with Canadian musician Grimes via surrogate in December 2021. According to Walter Isaacson's biography of Musk, Grimes was unaware of the twins' existence at the time.

The family continued to grow in subsequent years. In June 2024, it was reported that Zilis had a third child with Musk. Later that same year, it was revealed Musk was also expecting a child with another partner. On February 28, 2025, Zilis announced the birth of her fourth child with Musk, a son also conceived via IVF. One of their children was given the middle name Sekhar, in honour of Nobel laureate astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. Zilis and Musk were seen together publicly at events such as the wedding of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino at Mar-a-Lago on February 1, 2026. However, in October 2026, Zilis announced that her relationship with Elon Musk had ended, describing the separation as sudden. She expressed a hope that they would remain friends and effective co-parents to their four children.

• Twin son and daughter born (November 2021)
• Third child born (2024)
• Fourth child, a son, born (February 28, 2025)
• Attended Dan Scavino's wedding with Musk (February 1, 2026)
• Announced end of relationship with Musk (October 2026)

Board Memberships and Current Role

Beyond her operational work, Zilis maintains an active role in corporate governance through board positions. Her most prominent current directorship is with Shield AI, a defence technology company specializing in autonomous systems for military applications. She formally joined the Shield AI board in September 2023, building on her long-standing relationship with the company that began when she wrote its seed term sheet in 2016. This position allows her to guide a company at the forefront of applying artificial intelligence to national security challenges. Her board experience, particularly her contentious tenure at OpenAI, has given her a unique perspective on the governance of AI companies amidst rapid technological change and intense commercial competition.

Recognition and Industry Profile

Shivon Zilis's career has been marked by several high-profile recognitions that highlight her influence in technology and finance. Her inclusion on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for venture capital in 2015 arrived early in her tenure at Bloomberg Beta, identifying her as a standout investor in a competitive field. Similarly, her selection for LinkedIn's 35 Under 35 list recognized her professional impact and network within the business community. These accolades, achieved while she was still in her twenties, signalled her rapid ascent and the industry's acknowledgment of her expertise in machine intelligence.

• Forbes 30 Under 30, Venture Capital (2015)
• LinkedIn 35 Under 35
• Yale University all-time leader in goals-against average (ice hockey)
• Board member, OpenAI (until 2023)
• Board member, Shield AI (2023 to present)

Questions about Shivon Zilis

Where is Shivon Zilis from in Canada?

Shivon Zilis is from Markham, Ontario. She was born there on February 8, 1986, and attended Unionville High School in Markham. Her parents are Richard and Sharda Zilis, with her mother being of Indian origin and her father being Caucasian Canadian. After high school, she left Canada to attend Yale University in the United States.

What is Shivon Zilis known for in her career?

Shivon Zilis is known as a technology executive and venture capitalist. She was a founding partner at Bloomberg Beta, a venture fund focused on machine intelligence. She later held operational roles as a project director for Tesla's Autopilot team and as director of operations at Neuralink. She also served on the board of OpenAI until 2023 and currently serves on the board of defence tech company Shield AI.

How many children does Shivon Zilis have with Elon Musk?

Shivon Zilis has four children with Elon Musk. They had twins, a son and a daughter, in November 2021. She had a third child in 2024 and a fourth child, a son, in February 2025. All children were conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF). Zilis announced the end of her relationship with Musk in October 2026, stating they would co-parent their children.

What was Shivon Zilis's role at OpenAI?

Shivon Zilis served as a board member at OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research lab. She met Elon Musk through her work there. Her tenure ended in 2023 and later became part of the evidence in a lawsuit Musk filed against OpenAI. Text messages from the legal discovery indicated Zilis acted as an intermediary, relaying internal information to Musk while she was on the board.

What awards has Shivon Zilis won?

Shivon Zilis has received two major early-career awards. In 2015, she was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the venture capital category. She was also selected for LinkedIn's 35 Under 35 list, which recognizes influential young professionals. These awards were conferred during her time as a partner at Bloomberg Beta.

What is Shivon Zilis's current professional position?

As of September 2023, Shivon Zilis holds a board position at Shield AI, a defence technology company. She first engaged with the company in 2016 by writing its seed term sheet while she was a partner at Bloomberg Beta. Her career includes significant roles such as a project director for Tesla's Autopilot team and director of operations at Neuralink. She also served on the board of OpenAI until 2023. Her professional focus has consistently been on technology ventures, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine intelligence.

Sources and further reading

• Shivon Zilis (Wikipedia)
• Shivon Zilis Posts That Elon Musk Relationship Ended ' ... (businessinsider.com)
• Shivon Zilis, Neuralink (siliconvalleyinvestclub.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-18.