Tesla executive faces intense scrutiny in high-profile custody battle

Shivon Zilis, a top aide to Elon Musk, took the stand today in a Los Angeles court where the billionaire is fighting for custody of his four children with her. As one of Musk’s closest confidantes and a key figure in his AI-driven business empire, Zilis’ testimony has raised eyebrows among lawyers and observers alike. Zilis, who has worked closely with Musk since 2017 on various projects including Tesla, Neuralink, and OpenAI, described their initial meeting as a “one off” encounter that blossomed into a close professional and personal relationship. She denied being the chief of staff to Musk, but confirmed she had served in an advisory capacity for his entire AI portfolio. The court is also examining whether Zilis’ relationships with Musk’s children, whom she claims are her own via surrogacy arrangements, are sufficient grounds for her to be granted primary custody of them. Musk has disputed the paternity of at least one child, sparking a heated battle over who should have decision-making authority in the lives of his four children. As Zilis testified under oath about her time working alongside Musk and their personal dynamics, it became clear that her role in his inner circle is both highly valued and intensely scrutinized.