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A casual remark by Tesla, SpaceX and X CEO Elon Musk during a recent podcast has exploded across social media, triggering a wave of memes, debates and curiosity. Appearing on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s podcast WTF is?, Musk spoke candidly about his family, partner Shivon Zilis, and the impact of Indian talent on the United States. But it was one specific statement, “My partner Shivon is half Indian”, that set the internet buzzing. 

In the podcast, Musk shared personal details about his partner Shivon Zilis, surprising many who were unaware of her background. “My partner Shivon is half Indian,” he said, adding that one of their sons carries the middle name “Shekhar,” inspired by legendary Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, a Nobel laureate known for pioneering work in stellar evolution.

Who Is Shivon Zilis?

Shivon Zilis (38), often known for her leadership role in Neuralink, has a distinguished professional background. Born in Canada to a Canadian father and an Indian-origin mother, Sharda N., Zilis built an impressive academic and professional track record long before becoming publicly associated with Musk.

A Yale graduate with degrees in economics and philosophy, she has held key roles across leading AI institutions. Before joining Neuralink in 2017, she worked with OpenAI as a board member and advisor and served as a Project Director at Tesla. She has also contributed to institutions such as the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute and the Vector Institute.

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Zilis was featured in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 (2015) for venture capital and was later named in LinkedIn’s 35 Under 35 list, reflecting her growing influence in the tech world.

Musk also revealed that Zilis was adopted as a baby in Canada, saying, “I don’t know all the details, but it seems her father was an exchange student at a university.” Musk and Zilis share four children: twins Strider and Azure, daughter Arcadia, and son Seldon Lycurgus. The revelation about their children’s names, particularly the homage to Chandrasekhar, further fascinated listeners.

Musk Praises Indian Talent

During the conversation, Nikhil Kamath pointed out that many Indians refer to the migration of skilled professionals to the US as “brain drain.” Musk responded by praising Indian-origin talent, saying, “The United States has benefited greatly from the talented Indian people who have come over the years.”

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He noted that Indian professionals have contributed enormously to American technology, innovation and leadership across sectors.

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