Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis have welcomed their fourth child together, announcing the name Seldon Lycurgus, with Zilis sharing the news on social media as she celebrated their third child's first birthday. The couple, who have made headlines for their unusual names and complex family dynamics, shared this exciting news on February 28, 2025.
Shivon Zilis, who works as an executive at Musk’s company Neuralink, took to her X (formerly Twitter) account to express her joy. "Discussed with Elon and, in light of beautiful Arcadia’s birthday, we felt it was also right to just share directly about our wonderful and incredible son, Seldon Lycurgus. Built like a juggernaut, with a solid heart of gold. Love him so much," she wrote. Elon Musk responded to the announcement with a heart emoji, celebrating the latest addition to their family.
Zilis has become increasingly prominent not just as Musk's partner but also for her expertise as an AI specialist and venture capitalist. Born in Markham, Ontario, she graduated from Yale University with degrees in economics and philosophy, later moving to IBM and engaging with influential roles at companies like Tesla and OpenAI. She has earned recognition on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list for her insights and investments focused on AI, standing out as one of the rising stars within the industry.
Her ties with Musk deepened as she joined the board of OpenAI, the organization co-founded by Musk, and eventually worked at Tesla and Neuralink, contributing to significant projects including the Autopilot program and other technology initiatives. Zilis's passion for AI extends beyond her professional life; she shares Musk's enthusiasm for gaming, considering it as both entertainment and experimentation for AI advancements.
This latest announcement reveals the couple’s decision to keep their children's identities private until now. Along with Seldon, Zilis and Musk are parents to twins Strider and Azure and their third child, Arcadia, who was welcomed earlier this year. Musk’s family is diverse, with at least 12 children across multiple relationships, including twins and triplets from his marriage to Justine Wilson and additional children with musician Grimes.
While the announcement brought delight to fans, it also drew comments about the uniqueness of the name Seldon Lycurgus. Seldon might relate to Hari Seldon, the character from Isaac Asimov's Foundation series, known for popularizing the concept of psychohistory—an elaborate mathematical model forecasting societal trends. Meanwhile, Lycurgus was the reputed ancient lawgiver of Sparta, credited with establishing the military-oriented system and way of life there, adding notable weight to the child's name.
Elon Musk's parenting history has sparked much interest and speculation. He first became a father back in 2002 with his late son, Nevada Alexander Musk, with former wife Justine Wilson. Following this, they had twins and triplets through IVF, and Musk shares three children with Grimes, alongside numerous recent claims about the complex dynamics of their challenges as co-parents.
Just weeks before Zilis's announcement, there was public attention surrounding claims made by conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair, who asserted she gave birth to another of Musk's children. While these matters have added intrigue to Musk’s public persona, his focus has remained steadfastly on his expansive ventures across multiple businesses and technologies.
While Musk's life is undoubtedly colorful, shifting from business endeavors to personal milestones like welcoming new children, this latest announcement signifies yet another chapter. With Shivon Zilis at his side, the couple continues to navigate challenges as partners, innovators, and now, as parents to four young children. The level of public speculation surrounding their lives likely won't diminish, but this moment certainly highlights the joys they share as they expand their family.