Elon Musk partner Shivon Zilis announces their breakup on X

Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News on Oct 2, 2026

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Elon Musk’s partner Shivon Zilis announced the tech couple’s apparent split with a long message posted to the multi-billionaire’s social media platform on Friday.

“It’s hard to go from in love to let go in a week with no warning, but that’s just how it is sometimes,” Zilis wrote.

Her post includes what appears to be a text message from Musk sent last week stating he loves her and would’ve invited her to a dinner with tech leaders and dignitaries including China’s President Xi Jinping had he realized he could bring a date.

Zilis is the mother of four of Musk’s children. He’s believed to have fathered at least 14 kids with multiple women.

Zilis claims in her note that she takes pride in having showed Musk “how it feels to be deeply understood, nurtured, and peacefully loved with stability and gentleness.”

The 40-year-old Canadian was a project director for Musk’s Tesla car company before going to work for Open AI, then Neuralink, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Her breakup letter expresses empathy for Musk due to “the tumultuous nature of his early life” and “his often tortured soul.”

Zilis’s apparent farewell also credits Musk for being a champion for humanity who makes the world a better place. She says that the family she made with Musk served as a “safe space” for the mercurial businessman and right-wing activist.

Zilis describes their clan as “a needed break from the battlefield where he could recharge his heart and soul before heading back out.”

She added that she hopes that she and the SpaceX founder will continue to be close friends and dedicated parents.

“I’m hurting, but care deeply about E and will always be cheering for his happiness,” according to ZIlis.

Musk fans and critics alike weighed-in on social media to give their thoughts on Zilis’s open letter. That conversation included an Instagram response from Musk’s ex-girlfriend Ashley St. Claire.

She reposted Zilis’s message and added “You were warned girl. Hit me up sister wife.”

St. Claire, who speaks about her relationship with Musk in filmmaker Alex Gibney’s new documentary “Musk,” announced in February 2025 she gave birth to one of Musk’s children five months earlier. Her advise to Zilis on Friday paints a bleak picture.

“U got played girl,” she added. “He ain’t gonna say another word to u except through attorneys after you posted that text if i had to guess.”

It’s unclear what motivated ZIlis’ announcement. Musk didn’t immediately address his latest domestic dilemma on X.

Forbes puts the South African entrepreneur’s worth at just under $1 trillion.

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