SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has shared new personal details about his family, revealing that his partner Shivon Zilis, a senior executive at Neuralink, has half-Indian heritage. Speaking during an interview with investor and entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath on the podcast People by WTF, Musk discussed Zilis' background, their family, and the inspiration behind their children's names.
During the conversation, Musk noted that one of his sons with Zilis carries the middle name 'Sekhar,' chosen as a tribute to the legendary Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
Chandrasekar, a towering figure in astrophysics, was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking theoretical work on stellar structure and evolution, particularly the processes governing the life cycles of stars.
His contributions have shaped modern astrophysics, from the understanding of white dwarfs to the Chandrasekhar limit, which defines the mass threshold beyond which stars collapse into neutron stars or black holes.
Musk explained that the decision to name their son after Chandrasekhar reflects both admiration for the scientist’s contributions and a personal connection to Zilis’ cultural roots. Although Zilis did not grow up in India, Musk said she was born to an Indian father who was likely studying abroad at the time.
“I think her father was like an exchange student at the university, or something like that,” Musk said, emphasizing that he did not know all the precise details. He added that Zilis had been given up for adoption as a baby and subsequently raised in Canada, where she developed her academic and professional interests before eventually joining Neuralink.
The couple shares four children: twins Strider and Azure, daughter Arcadia, and son Seldon Lycurgus. In keeping with Musk’s well-known penchant for symbolic and unconventional names, each of their children’s names carries a distinct meaning or literary, scientific, or cultural references.
The name Sekhar, embedded as the middle name of one of the boys, is one such example, linking the child to one of the most celebrated scientific minds of the 20th century.
Zilis serves as the director of operations and special projects at Neuralink, Musk’s neural technology company focused on developing advanced brain–computer interfaces.
Widely regarded as a rising star in the tech world, she has played a key role in shaping Neuralink’s long-term strategic initiatives. Her background spans technology, artificial intelligence, and venture investment, and she has been closely associated with Musk’s ventures for several years.
Musk’s revelation about Zilis’ heritage and their family’s connection to Chandrasekhar adds a new layer to the public understanding of his private life.
The interview offered a glimpse into the personal inspirations and cultural histories that inform some of the naming choices within his family.
