Who Is Shivon Zilis? The Woman Seen With Elon Musk During His Meeting With PM Modi
Tech billionaire Elon Musk recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter’s visit to the United States. However, what caught attention was the presence of a lesser-known figure accompanying Musk—Shivon Zilis. The Neuralink executive was seen alongside Musk with two of their three children, Azure and Strider. This marks her second public appearance with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO in the last six months.
Who is Shivon Zilis?
Shivon Zilis, 39, is a Canadian-born technology executive with deep roots in the venture capital and artificial intelligence sectors. She is a Yale University graduate, and her background is a blend of Indian and Canadian heritage—her mother, Sharda N, is of Indian origin, while her father, Richard Zilis, is Canadian.
Zilis currently serves as the director of operations and special projects at Neuralink, Musk’s brain-chip startup that aims to develop advanced brain-computer interfaces. Before joining Neuralink, she worked at Tesla as a project director from 2017 to 2019. She has also advised OpenAI, where she worked closely with Sam Altman, and played a key role at Bloomberg Beta, a venture capital firm where she led multiple investments.
Her professional achievements have not gone unnoticed. In 2015, she was featured on Forbes' "30 Under 30" list in the venture capital category. She was also recognized in LinkedIn’s "35 Under 35" for her contributions to AI and technology investments.
Shivon Zilis and Elon Musk’s Relationship
Shivon Zilis and Elon Musk share a unique relationship. While neither has officially confirmed the nature of their partnership, reports suggest that Zilis and Musk have three children together. In 2021, the couple welcomed twins, Azure and Strider, the same year Musk had his second child with musician Grimes. In 2024, Zilis gave birth to their third child.
Their relationship has remained largely private, but it is believed that Zilis moved into Musk’s Texas compound, which he built to house his 11 children from different relationships. Despite their low-key approach, the couple made headlines when they attended a gala at former US President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago estate in November 2024. While Musk posed for pictures, Zilis stayed in the background with their daughter Azure.
PM Modi’s Meeting with Elon Musk
During his visit to Washington, PM Modi met with Elon Musk at Blair House to discuss key areas of collaboration between India and the US. Their conversation focused on space exploration, artificial intelligence, mobility, and sustainable development. The discussion also included potential partnerships between Indian and American technology firms.
As a gesture of goodwill, PM Modi presented Musk’s children with three books—The Crescent Moon by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, The Great RK Narayan Collection, and Panchatantra by Pandit Vishnu Sharma. The Indian Prime Minister later shared photos from the meeting on social media, where Musk’s children could be seen reading the gifted books.
Elon Musk’s Association with PM Modi
Musk and PM Modi have met multiple times over the years. In 2015, during Modi’s visit to the US, he toured the Tesla facility in San Jose, where Musk personally showed him around. Their latest meeting marks another step in strengthening India-US collaboration in emerging technologies.
Additionally, Musk currently oversees the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration, making his role even more significant in global tech and policy discussions.
As Musk continues to expand his ventures, Shivon Zilis remains a key figure in his business and personal life. Her role at Neuralink, her background in AI, and her connection with Musk make her an important personality in the evolving tech landscape.