The public spat between technology billionaires Elon Musk and Vinod Khosla shows no signs of cooling down. The latest round of exchanges unfolded after Musk cited the Indian heritage of his partner, Shivon Zilis, in response to allegations of racism—prompting a sharp rebuttal from the Indian-American investor.
The confrontation stems from Khosla’s accusation that Musk has been attempting to normalise racially charged narratives, including what Khosla described as an effort to make “White America Great Again.” Musk rejected the charge, pointing to his personal life and family background as evidence against the allegation.
In his response, Khosla urged Musk to exercise greater restraint on Social Media. “Maybe try not tweeting ‘seemingly’ racist things next time instead of involving your family?” Khosla wrote on X. “Many would appreciate it if you acknowledge that you are not trying to establish a white society in America, are not WAGA, and that racism isn’t behind your repeated comments about white birth rates, declining population percentages, and similar concerns.”
Khosla’s remarks were a direct response to Musk’s assertion that his partner, Shivon Zilis, is half Indian and that their son is named after Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, the renowned Indian-American physicist and Nobel laureate. Musk argued that these personal details undermine accusations that he harbours racist views.
The Tesla and SpaceX chief also revived a long-running legal dispute involving Khosla and Martins Beach in California, accusing the investor of hypocrisy. Zilis’s mother is of Punjabi Indian origin, while her father is Canadian, a detail Musk highlighted to reinforce his defence.
“Vinod, you’ve gone completely insane, in addition to being such a haughty jerk that you tried to prevent people from accessing a public beach next to your house,” Musk wrote. “My partner, Shivon, is half Indian, and my eldest son with her is named in honour of the great Indian physicist Chandrasekhar.”
In his latest rebuttal, Khosla addressed the beach controversy directly, stating that Musk should commend him for defending private property rights rather than criticising him. He argued that multiple court rulings have consistently upheld his position.
“Every court ruling in the Friends of Martins Beach case, including all appeals, reaffirms there has never been free access to the beach through private property—only paid access for parking—though the beach itself is public property,” Khosla wrote. He added that opposing this principle amounted to “communism” and accused regulators of denying him due process.
Khosla purchased two coastal properties in California in 2008, including Martins Beach, which has since become the subject of prolonged legal battles over public access. Musk’s criticism was tied to Khosla’s lawsuits seeking to restrict access to the beach adjacent to his property.
The current exchange is the latest chapter in a months-long rivalry between the two tech leaders. In the run-up to the 2024 US presidential election, Musk publicly urged Khosla to back a political candidate. Musk was a visible supporter of Republican Donald Trump and appeared at several campaign events.
Khosla declined the suggestion, stating that he could not support any political figure he believed lacked values or displayed hostility towards immigrants. The disagreement further widened the ideological divide between the two billionaires.
Khosla has also weighed in on Musk’s ongoing legal battle with OpenAI, a company Musk co-founded before parting ways with it. The venture capitalist dismissed Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, suggesting it stemmed from frustration over losing control of the organisation’s direction.
As their dispute continues to play out online, the Musk–Khosla feud highlights how ideological differences, personal beliefs, and high-profile influence increasingly collide in the digital public square.
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