Behind the empire built by Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, lies not a thirst for wealth but a deep desire to transform humanity’s future. This is what Shivon Zilis, mother of three of his children and an executive at Neuralink, has publicly emphasized, defending Musk’s motivations as far beyond financial gain.
“When I met Elon, I was surprised that he never did anything for money; he always asked himself whether what he was doing mattered for humanity,” Zilis shared in a recent post on X (formerly Twitter). Her words reinforce the idea that although Musk is one of the richest men in the world, his main goal is not to grow his fortune but to push the boundaries of technology and innovation.
A Bond Between the Professional and the Personal
The relationship between Musk and Zilis began in the professional sphere. With a strong background in artificial intelligence and venture capital, Zilis joined Neuralink in 2017, convinced of the importance of developing brain-machine interfaces. During a university conference in 2021, she described her work at the company as “the most challenging yet fascinating” she had ever done.
But her connection with Musk soon extended beyond work. In 2021, the pair quietly welcomed twins, and in 2024, they had their third child together. While they have kept the details of their personal life private, Zilis has revealed how Musk’s vision even influenced her decision to start a family. She had considered using an anonymous donor until Musk offered, believing that intelligence and creativity should be passed on to future generations. “He wants smart people to have kids,” she said in Walter Isaacson’s biography.
A Tireless Advocate for Humanity’s Future
Musk’s initiatives — from launching reusable rockets with SpaceX to developing brain implants with Neuralink — reflect a constant concern: how to advance technology to secure a better future for humanity. For Zilis, this is the real reason behind every decision Musk makes.
Her loyalty to him is also clear. In 2020, when Musk called California’s COVID-19 restrictions “fascist,” Zilis defended him: “No one is perfect, but I’ve never seen anyone fight so hard for a better future for humanity.”
Musk himself has addressed perceptions of his wealth with humor. “If someone wants to ‘buy me,’ how would they pay for it? I’m too expensive,” he wrote on social media, making it clear that his fortune is merely a means to achieve his technological and social ambitions.
Thus, beyond the astronomical figures tied to his name, the guiding question behind every step Elon Musk takes seems simple yet powerful: Will this change the future of humanity?
