Nicole Shanahan, the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, has vehemently denied rumors of an affair with Elon Musk, describing their relationship as “collegial.” Shanahan clarified that she sought advice from the Tesla founder regarding her 4-year-old daughter Echo’s autism treatments, but their interactions did not go beyond that.
Addressing the speculation in an interview with People magazine, Shanahan stated, “Did Elon and I have sex, like it was a moment of passion, and then it was over? No. Did we have a romantic relationship? No. We didn’t have an affair.” Shanahan, a 37-year-old California attorney, sought guidance from Musk due to his involvement with Neuralink, his neurotechnology company. She explained that their conversations were meaningful discussions about life and how people support one another.
Shanahan expressed her frustration at being unfairly judged and said, “To be painted with such a massive scarlet letter for it just seems so unfair.” Her connection with Musk developed after Brin, aged 49, provided funding for Tesla, the electric car company founded by Musk, now 52.
The attorney emphasized that there is a community of friendship within the tech world, involving not only Sergey Brin and Elon Musk but also other investors, founders, and visionaries. Shanahan clarified that her relationship with Musk was not as close as her friendships with other women, which she likened to sisterhood. She stated, “My girlfriends that I’ve known for 10, 15 years that we’re like sisters to each other? No, it’s not that relationship — but I would call it a collegial environment.”
Elon Musk himself has denied any romantic involvement with Shanahan. As her divorce from Brin was finalized, Shanahan moved on and is now in a relationship with Jacob Strumwasser, the Vice President of Lightning Labs. The couple celebrated their love with a commitment ceremony on the beach in May, opting for a non-traditional wedding.
Shanahan expressed her happiness at being seen for who she truly is, beyond the way search results may portray her. She stated, “It’s lovely to be seen for who I am, and not how search results show me.”
In summary, Nicole Shanahan, Sergey Brin’s ex-wife, has categorically denied any affair with Elon Musk. She emphasized that their relationship was centered around seeking advice for her daughter’s autism treatments and described their connection as “collegial.” Shanahan has since moved on and is now in a committed relationship with Jacob Strumwasser.
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