AUSTIN, Tx. (Diya TV) — Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed new details about his partner Shivon Zilis’ Indian heritage, their children, and his views on Indian immigration to the United States. Musk shared the information during an appearance on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, People by WTF, where he spoke openly about Zilis’ background, her career, and the growing challenges for Indians seeking opportunities in America.

Musk said Zilis, a Canadian tech executive and a key leader at his company Neuralink, is “half Indian.” He explained that her connection to India comes from her biological father, who had come to Canada as an exchange student. Zilis was given up for adoption shortly after her birth and grew up in Ontario.

“She grew up in Canada. She was given up for adoption when she was a baby,” Musk said during the interview. “I think her father was like an exchange student at the university or something like that.” He added that Zilis never lived in India but maintains ancestral roots through her father.

Zilis has built a strong career in technology and artificial intelligence. She joined Neuralink in 2017 and serves as the director of operations and special projects. She previously worked at IBM, Bloomberg, and later Bloomberg Beta, where she focused on early-stage tech investments. She also served on OpenAI’s board before stepping down in 2023. Zilis earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and philosophy from Yale University, where she also played goalie for the women’s ice hockey team.

Musk also revealed that one of his sons with Zilis carries an Indian middle name: “Sekhar.” The name is a tribute to Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, the Indian American astrophysicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983 for his groundbreaking work on stellar evolution.

“One of my sons is with her, his middle name is Sekhar after Chandrasekhar,” Musk said. He did not identify which child carries the name, but he discussed how the choice reflects admiration for the scientist’s contributions to astrophysics.

Musk and Zilis welcomed twins, Strider and Azure, in 2021. Their daughter, Arcadia, was born in February 2024. Zilis confirmed the birth of a fourth child, Seldon Lycurgus, later that year. Musk has multiple children from previous relationships as well.

During the podcast, Musk also spoke about the important contributions Indian professionals make to the United States, especially in the technology sector. He described India as a source of exceptional talent and said the U.S. has long benefited from Indian immigrants.

“America has benefited immensely from talented Indians who have come to America,” Musk said. He added that this trend appears to be slowing because of stricter visa policies and increasing uncertainty around U.S. immigration rules.

Musk said the U.S. once offered a clear path to education, stable jobs, and upward mobility, drawing thousands of Indian students and skilled workers. He noted that tightening visa norms now make it harder for many Indians to achieve what he called the “American dream.”

The comments have renewed public interest in Musk’s personal life and Zilis’ rising profile in the global tech landscape. Neuralink, where Zilis helps oversee operations, continues to draw attention for its work in brain–computer interfaces. Zilis has described the company’s mission as the most “complicated but also fascinating” work she has ever done.

Musk’s discussion about heritage, family, and immigration adds new context to his growing ties to India. The remarks also come at a time when Musk is expanding Tesla’s presence in international markets and engaging in ongoing talks about entering the Indian electric vehicle sector.

This interview marked one of Musk’s most detailed public statements about Zilis’ heritage and their children, offering a rare look into the family life of one of the world’s most influential tech leaders.