Musk's Biggest Loyalist Became His Biggest Liability

Shivon Zilis, a high-ranking executive who had previously been closely aligned with Elon Musk, testified that her relationship with him began with a brief, romantic encounter in 2017. As the chief of staff to Musk’s AI portfolio, which includes companies such as Tesla, Neuralink, and OpenAI, Zilis was tasked with managing Musk’s various ventures. The two had developed a close working relationship, but their personal connection remained private until it became public. Under scrutiny, Zilis acknowledged that she had been referred to the court as a “chief of staff” in some contexts, although she disputes this characterization. She maintains that her role was more comprehensive, encompassing Musk’s entire AI portfolio and involving direct involvement with his high-level decision-making processes. Shivon Zilis testified about her relationship with Elon Musk at the trial, detailing their first meeting through OpenAI in 2017 and how it progressed into a romantic connection before she became his chief of staff.