Navigating a Split from Elon Musk Isn’t Easy

In a twist reminiscent of early internet drama, Shivon Zilis took to X to announce her split from Elon Musk, the father of her four children. She did this by quote-tweeting a post from an account that tracks social media followings, which noted that Musk had unfollowed her. The post was also sponsored, adding a layer of absurdity to the situation.

Zilis expressed her feelings in a heartfelt message, stating, “It’s hard to go from in love to let go in a week with no warning, but that’s just how it is sometimes.” Beyond their personal relationship, Zilis has had a professional connection with Musk, claiming she worked across his various AI ventures, including Tesla, Neuralink, and OpenAI. During a recent trial where Musk sued Sam Altman over donations to OpenAI, she testified about her demanding work schedule, claiming to put in 80 to 100 hours a week to identify and resolve issues.

Musk, however, had a different perspective on her role, suggesting she was his chief of staff, which drew laughter from those in the courtroom. Musk’s history with the mothers of his children is tumultuous; his first wife, Justine, has remained silent after writing about their relationship, while another ex, Ashley St. Clair, rejected a hefty NDA and is currently suing him over a chatbot incident. Grimes, another former partner, has publicly criticized the challenges of motherhood with Musk and has sought legal clarity regarding their parental relationship.

Zilis, who was on OpenAI’s board when she had twins, kept the identity of their father under wraps until a report revealed Musk’s involvement. At the time of her testimony, she seemed to hold Musk in high regard, and her breakup message echoed that sentiment. “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 wrote, reflecting on his challenging past and her desire to provide him with a sense of love and security.

Her post was so effusive that it could easily be mistaken for a passive-aggressive jab if one hadn’t seen her in court. “I’ve loved him more than life itself and he’s taught me 100 lifetimes of knowledge and made my cup overflow with life meaning, so there is a lot of loss, but luckily we created four beautiful little loves of my life,” she added.

Recently, Zilis shared her thoughts on a memoir by Maye Musk, Elon’s mother, highlighting the resilience she has shown through adversity. “During tough moments I think about the resilience she’s shown and realize she’s encountered 100x the difficulty I’ve faced and she made it through with grace! It gives me resolve,” she wrote, hinting at the challenges she has faced in her own life.