Shivon Zilis serves as Director of Operations and Special Projects at Neuralink, a neurotechnology company co-founded by Elon Musk.
She is a leader in the development of brain-computer interface technology, which aims to enhance human abilities and address neurological disorders.
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- Full name: Shivon Zilis
- Stage name: Shivon Zilis
- Date of birth: February 8, 1986
- Age: 38 years old
- Place of birth: Ontario, Canada
- Nationality: Canadian
- Occupation: Businesswoman
- Height: 1.71m
- Parents: Richard Zilis and Sharda N. Zilis
- Siblings: None
- Partner: Elon Musk
- Children: 3
- Relationship: Dating
- Net worth: $5 million to $15 million
Early life and education
Shivon Zilis was born in Ontario, Canada on February 8, 1986, into a culturally diverse family. Her father, Richard Zilis, is Canadian, while her mother, Sharda N. Zilis, is of Punjabi Indian descent.
Growing up as an only child, Shivon was exposed to a rich mix of cultures, which played a formative role in shaping her worldview. Zilis attended Unionville High School, where she excelled academically. Her dedication earned her a place at Yale University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world.
At Yale, she pursued a double major in economics and philosophy, graduating in 2008. Of mixed ethnicity, Zilis embraced the dual heritage of Canadian and Punjabi roots, reflecting an appreciation for cultural diversity. Raised with Christian values, she identifies as a Christian.
Career
Shivon Zilis began her career at IBM, where she worked from 2008 to 2011 on financial technologies designed to meet the needs of developing countries.
Her early work focused on leveraging technology to create effective solutions for underserved markets, demonstrating her ability to navigate complex global challenges.
This experience laid the foundation for her expertise in cutting-edge technologies and their practical applications, which became a career hallmark.
In 2011, Zilis transitioned into venture capital as a founding partner at Bloomberg Beta, a fund that invests in startups specializing in machine intelligence and data-driven technology.
Her keen eye for innovation and ability to identify transformative trends in AI have earned her widespread recognition, culminating in her inclusion on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2015.
During her tenure, she helped shape the future of the AI industry by supporting groundbreaking startups and solidifying her reputation as a thought leader in technology investing.
Zilis’ career trajectory accelerated when she joined Tesla as a project manager from 2017 to 2019. Here, she applied her deep artificial intelligence expertise to key projects, including Autopilot and chip design, helping to enhance Tesla’s leadership position in self-driving car technology.
She is the Director of Operations and Special Projects at Neuralink, overseeing the development of brain-computer interface technology.
Her work at Neuralink reflects her commitment to harnessing AI and neurotechnology to advance human potential, positioning her as a driving force at the intersection of innovation and social impact .
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @shivonzilis_official
- Facebook manager: Shivon Zilis
- Twitter name: @shivon
Personal life
Shivon Zilis is not married but shares three children with Elon Musk: twins Strider and Azure and a third child, born in 2024, whose name and gender have not been revealed.
The twins were conceived through IVF, reflecting Zilis’s openness to pursuing motherhood independent of marriage. She spoke about her desire to be a parent on her terms.
While Zilis and Musk maintain a close relationship, they lead separate lives. Each person manages his or her own household and shares parenting responsibilities with the other partners.
Both Zilis and Musk take a modern, tech-oriented perspective on parenting, combining traditional care with innovative tools and strategies to support their development.
Net worth
Shivon Zilis’s net worth is estimated to be between $5 million and $15 million, reflecting her success as a prominent figure in the field of technology and innovation. Her wealth comes from her influential roles as a technology executive, venture capitalist, and artificial intelligence (AI) expert.
