The 40-year-old executive shared details of the split following reports that Musk had unfollowed her on the platform. In her post, Zilis acknowledged the difficulty of the transition, writing that it is challenging to move from being in love to being let go within a week, but added that she has accepted the situation.
Documentation of Recent Communication
To provide context regarding the timeline of their relationship, Zilis shared a screenshot of private text messages exchanged with Musk as recently as September 24. In the correspondence, Musk referred to Zilis as his significant other and affirmed his love for her. The exchange also touched upon a dinner Musk attended with President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which Musk noted he would have invited Zilis had he been aware that partners were included.
Zilis, who serves as the director of operations and special projects at the brain-chip startup Neuralink, reflected on their time together by describing her role in providing a stable and nurturing environment for Musk. She characterized their home life as a sanctuary intended to offer him a respite from his professional demands. She expressed that she took pride in serving as a source of calm and support, stating that she would miss him dearly while remaining focused on their four children: twins Strider and Azure, daughter Arcadia, and son Seldon Lycurgus.
Professional Background and Personal Outlook
Zilis, a graduate of Yale University with a background in economics and philosophy, has held various roles within Musk’s business ventures, including positions at Tesla and xAI. Her career began at IBM before she moved into venture capital with Bloomberg Beta. She later joined OpenAI, an organization co-founded by Musk and others.
Looking toward the future, Zilis emphasized her gratitude for their children and expressed a desire to maintain a positive relationship with Musk as a co-parent and friend. The announcement follows recent public commentary from Musk’s first wife, Justine Musk, who discussed her past marriage to the CEO in a documentary titled Musk, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. In that film, Justine Musk described her experience during their marriage, citing feelings of insignificance and noting that she learned the term gaslighting through the relationship.
