Fact Check: Did Elon Musk Have An Affair With Google Co-Founder’s Wife?

New York: Google co-founder Sergey Brin is divorcing Nicole Shanahan.

That’s not news which merits a screaming headline.

However, what is much more interesting is the apparent reason of the divorce, which has been a quiet affair.

According to a Page Six report, Sergey is splitting with his lawyer-entrepreneur over allegations that she had an affair with billionaire Elon Musk.

The couple’s divorce was confirmed on May 26, and they will now split legal and physical custody of their 4-year-old daughter.

Nicole did not contest the divorce, and asked the court to award her spousal support, according to court. Nicole and Sergey settled other issues like lawyer fees and division of assets in confidential arbitration.

Nicole and Sergey started dating in 2015, soon after the latter finalised his divorce from his first wife Anne Wojcicki, and they got married in 2018, Business Insider reported.

However, Nicole and Sergey split in 2021. A year later, Sergey filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable difference.”

According to New York Post, Sergey filed for divorce a month after Nicole allegedly had a brief affair with Musk. However, both Nicole and Musk – who have known each other for quite a few years — denied having a romantic relationship.

“Sergey and I are friends and were at a party together last night. I’ve only seen Nicole twice in three years, both times with many other people around. Nothing romantic,” Musk wrote on X (then Twitter) on July 25, 2022 after Wall Street Journal brought out an article titled ‘Elon Musk’s Friendship With Sergey Brin Ruptured by Alleged Affair’.

Nicole described the scandal as “utterly debilitating”, and insisted that she was never even more than friends with Musk.

“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,” Nicole claimed.

The Wall Street Journal stood by their story, saying they are confident in their sourcing.