Elon Musk's appearance at Donald Trump's pre-inauguration dinner turned heads, not only for his presence but also for the woman by his side — Shivon Zilis. Their public appearance together has fueled speculation about their relationship, especially since Zilis is known to share three children with the billionaire. Musk’s evening at the event has already made headlines, from his controversial gestures to his son X’s stage appearance. However, it was his companion that sparked significant interest, as this marked the first high-profile outing where Zilis was seen prominently by Musk’s side.
Who Is Shivon Zilis?
Zilis, 38, has largely kept a low public profile despite her connection to Musk. Born in Ontario, Canada, she is of mixed heritage, with a Punjabi mother and a Canadian father. A Yale University alumna, Zilis has carved a remarkable career in the tech world.
She currently holds a senior position at Neuralink, Musk’s brain implant company, and also advises OpenAI, a leading organization in artificial intelligence. A founding member of Bloomberg Beta's investment team, she has been instrumental in shaping numerous ventures. Zilis also holds board memberships at prestigious institutions, including the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
Zilis' Love For Bollywood
It could be a lesser-known fact, but Zilis loves Bollywood - enough to make witty puns relating one of Hrithik Roshan's greatest hits and AI jargon.
On March 6 last year, she tweeted a clip from 'Dhoom 2' with this caption:
For those who didn't get the joke, P(dhoom) is a reference to P(doom), which stands for 'probability of doom' - a term used in the AI community to represent the likelihood that artificial intelligence could lead to a catastrophic event, like human extinction, essentially asking how likely you think AI is to cause a doomsday scenario. A higher "P(doom)" indicates a greater belief that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity.
Now, she clearly knew that this clip was from a movie called 'Dhoom' and hence connected the dots for her quip.
She even followed it up with another comment:
Musk & Zilis: A Private Partnership
Musk and Zilis share three children, including twins born in 2021. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, Zilis disclosed that Musk had encouraged her to consider having children, describing him as a strong advocate for "smart people" procreating. Initially planning to use an anonymous sperm donor, Zilis later agreed to Musk's suggestion of being the donor.
This isn’t the first time Zilis has attended a high-profile Musk-related event. She was previously spotted at a gala held at Mar-a-Lago following Trump’s re-election, although she stayed out of the limelight.
Musk’s Expanding Family
Musk, who is known for his large family, has five children with his first wife, Justine Wilson, and three with singer Grimes. His relationship with Grimes has been reportedly tumultuous, with an ongoing custody battle over their children.
Zilis, meanwhile, has remained mostly out of public scrutiny, focusing on her professional endeavours. Her recent public outing with Musk signals a shift in their otherwise private dynamic, leaving many wondering if this marks a new chapter in their relationship.