Shivon Zilis, a former OpenAI board member and mother to four of Elon Musk's children, testified in a US court on Wednesday that Musk offered to donate his sperm to her. The 40-year-old venture capitalist provided a detailed account of how their relationship evolved from professional to personal.
Musk's Offer to Donate Sperm
Zilis stated that in 2020, Musk offered to donate sperm after noticing she wanted to become a mother. 'He was encouraging everyone around him at that time to have kids, and he'd noticed I did not,' she said. 'He offered to make a donation.' The pair now have four children together, though Zilis initially concealed the father's identity due to 'fears for their safety' given Musk's high-profile status.
Courtroom Revelations
The testimony was part of a high-stakes Silicon Valley legal battle. Zilis admitted she only informed the OpenAI board after the relationship was exposed by the press in 2022. She has faced accusations of spying on OpenAI while involved with Musk, which she denies.
Questioning briefly turned to corporate strategy, with Zilis addressing a text exchange about 'keeping info flowing' from OpenAI. She explained that Musk and OpenAI were 'going through a weird half-breakup' and she aimed to 'maintain max alignment.'
Musk's Personal Life in Focus
Musk's personal life has been central to the proceedings. Last week, he testified that he lives with Zilis and publicly refers to her as his 'partner.' Musk has fathered at least 14 children with four women and often jokes about being a 'sperm donor' online, but the court heard a more domestic account of their relationship.
