Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis have ended their relationship, with Zilis saying the separation happened so suddenly that she went from being “in love to let go in a week with no warning.”
Zilis, a Neuralink executive and the mother of four of Musk’s children, disclosed the breakup in a lengthy post on X on Friday. While she said the split had left her hurting, she also expressed gratitude for their relationship and said she hoped the two could remain friends and work together as co-parents.
Her announcement came after a period that, based on messages she shared publicly, appeared to have been affectionate. Zilis posted a screenshot of a conversation in which she told Musk she had enjoyed seeing him for breakfast and said she loved him. Musk replied on September 24, “Love you too.”
The exchange also included a reference to a White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping. Musk told Zilis that he had not realised he could have invited her as a significant other. Zilis responded warmly to the message.
The apparent closeness of the exchange has drawn attention because Zilis announced the relationship had ended only days later. On September 27, she had posted “New day, new life” on X without explaining what prompted the message.
Zilis’s breakup announcement followed reports that Musk had unfollowed her on X. Neither the unfollow nor the timing of the social media activity provides a public explanation for why the relationship ended.
In her statement, Zilis said she continued to care deeply about Musk and would remain supportive of him. She described their home and family as a source of stability and affection for him, while acknowledging the personal loss she felt following the separation.
The couple have four children together. They welcomed twins, Strider and Azure, in 2021, followed by daughter Arcadia in 2024 and son Seldon, whose birth was announced in 2025.
Zilis said her children were the most important part of what the relationship had given her and expressed hope that she and Musk could maintain a strong relationship as parents.
The relationship between Zilis and Musk had also been intertwined with their professional lives. Zilis has held senior positions within Musk’s business network, including her role at Neuralink, and previously served on the board of OpenAI.
Musk has not publicly explained the circumstances surrounding the breakup or responded publicly to Zilis’s account. As a result, the reason for the sudden separation remains undisclosed.
For now, Zilis’s statement provides the principal public account of the split, while the details behind Musk’s decision remain private.
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