Elon Musk reveals partner Shivon Zilis is half-Indian. (Photo: X/Nikhil Kamath)
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has confirmed that his partner Shivon Zilis has Indian roots, saying she is half-Indian and was adopted as a baby. Appearing on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s podcast “WTF is?”, the Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive spoke about Zilis’ heritage, their children, and the influence of Indian talent in the United States.
He revealed during the conversation that the father of Zilis was an Indian exchange student, and she was given up for adoption shortly after her birth.
“I’m not sure you know this, but my partner Shivon is half Indian,” said Musk. “She grew up in Canada. She was given up for adoption when she was a baby,” he added.
Musk explained that, though he didn’t know all the details, Zilis grew up in Canada and later went to Yale University, graduating with majors in Economics and Philosophy.
The tech mogul also disclosed that one of his sons with Zilis has the middle name ‘Sekhar’, after the Indian-American astrophysicist and Nobel Prize winner Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
“One of my sons with her, his middle name is Sekhar, after Chandrasekhar,” Musk shared.
Zilis joined Neuralink in 2017 and is currently its Director of Operations and Special Projects. With Musk, she has four children: twins Strider and Azure, a daughter Arcadia, and son Seldon Lycurgus.
“America Has Benefitted from Indian Talent”
Musk also praised Indian professionals in the U.S.:
“America has been an immense beneficiary of talent from India, but that seems to be changing now.”
He linked it to the tightening of US visa regulations that have been affecting thousands of Indian workers seeking opportunities in foreign countries.
During the same podcast, Musk repeated his vision that in the next 10 to 20 years, rapid advancements in AI and automation will make working a choice.
“My prediction is that work will be optional… like a hobby,” Musk said, comparing the future of work to gardening or sports.
His comments follow the intense debate sparked over long working hours in India after recent statements from industry leaders advocating extended workweeks, like the 9-9-6 system followed in China.
Experts say India also still faces structural and cultural barriers due to inflexible work schedules, delayed wage compensation, and lack of access to opportunities created by automation. However, hybrid and remote work models are slowly expanding across sectors.
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
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