Who is Shivon Zilis? Punjabi-Origin Executive Linked to Musk, in OpenAI Trial

Shivon Zilis, a Canadian technology executive of Punjabi origin, has emerged as a key figure in the court case between Elon Musk and Sam Altman over the control and direction of OpenAI.

Her name came up early in the US trial, where Musk initially described her as his chief of staff but later clarified that she lives with him and is the mother of his four children. Her close ties to both Musk and OpenAI have placed her at the centre of the legal dispute.

Zilis was born in Canada to a Punjabi-origin mother and a Canadian father. She studied at Yale University and worked at IBM before moving into venture capital with Bloomberg Beta, where she was included in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in 2015.

She joined OpenAI around 2016 as an adviser and later served on its board until 2023. At the same time, she held senior roles within Musk’s companies, including Tesla and Neuralink.

Court records show that Zilis stayed in contact with both Musk and OpenAI even after he left the OpenAI board in 2018. Messages presented in court suggest she helped maintain communication between the two sides during periods of disagreement.

In one exchange shown during the trial, Zilis asked Musk whether she should remain close to OpenAI to keep information flowing. Musk reportedly told her to stay connected and continue engagement.

Because of her position between both sides, Zilis is now expected to be an important witness in the ongoing trial. Her testimony may help clarify communication and decision-making during the disputed period at OpenAI.