Hey everybody. Welcome back to the Elon Musk
Podcast. This is a show where we discuss
the critical crossroads that shape SpaceX, Tesla X, The
Boring Company, and Neuralink. I'm your host, Will.
Walden Nicole Shanahan, a lawyer and the running mate for Robert
F Kennedy Junior in the 2024 presidential race, has been
involved in a controversial allegation involving Elon Musk.
According to reports from The New York Times, Shanahan claimed
she had a sexual encounter with Musk at a private party in Miami
in December 2021. This event allegedly contributed
to her separation from her then husband, Sergey Brin, Google Co
founder. Shanahan and Musk have both
denied having an affair. However, the New York Times
reported that Shanahan confided in Brin, her friends, family and
advisors about the encounter. The party, hosted by Musk's
brother Kimball in conjunction with the Our Basel festival, saw
Shanahan and Musk taking ketamine, a legal party drug,
when prescribed and disappearing together for several hours.
The alleged affair became a topic of intense scrutiny when
it was first reported by the Wall Street Journal in July
2022, suggesting it caused a rift between Brynn and Musk.
Shanahan and Musk vehemently denied the allegations, with
Musk calling the report total BS on social media, asserting he
had only seen Shanahan twice in three years and always in Group
settings. Two weeks after the party,
Shanahan and Bryn separated, with Brynn filing for divorce in
January 2022, citing irreconcilable differences.
This incident was not the first time Shanahan was linked to
infidelity. Reports indicate that she began
an affair with Brynn in 2014, shortly before her marriage to
tech investor Jeremy Kranz. Brynn and Shanahan's connection
deepened, overshadowing her commitment to Kranz.
Kranz discovered the affair through text messages between
Shanahan and Brynn, which he found on her phone.
This revelation came as a shock to Kranz, who just entered into
what he believed would be a lifelong partnership.
The discovery of these messages not only exposed Shanahan's
betrayal but also highlighted the immediate and intense nature
of her relationship with Brynn. The fallout from this discovery
was swift and severe. Just 27 days after their
wedding, Kranz filed for an annulment, citing fraud as the
basis for his claim. The annulment was a significant
legal move, highlighting the depth of Kranz's sense of
betrayal and the gravity of Shanahan's actions.
However, facing Shanahan's threats of self harm, Kranz
chose to finalize their separation through a divorce,
omitting the fraud claim. This decision marked the end of
their brief and tumultuous marriage, paving the way for
Shanahan's future with Brynn. During their marriage, Shanahan
launched her career as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
With Brynn's support and connections, she pursued various
initiatives, aiming to carve out a niche similar to that of
Mackenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Shanahan's ventures were diverse, reflecting her ambition
to make a substantial impact in both the tech and philanthropic
sectors. Her marriage to Brynn provided
not only financial security but also a platform to advance her
professional aspirations. However, the couple's seemingly
perfect life was not without its challenges.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought about significant
stress, particularly as the lockdowns forced them to spend
extended periods together. The strain from these lockdowns,
combined with the pressures of raising a child with autism,
began to take a toll on their relationship.
By 2021, the cracks were becoming evident, and Shanahan
started attending social events without Brynn, signaling a
growing distance between them. This period marked the beginning
of the end for their marriage, culminating in their separation
and eventual divorce. Shanahan and Brynn's
relationship began at a yoga festival in Lake Tahoe.
Despite her impending wedding to Kranz, she pursued a
relationship with Brynn, which Kranz discovered through text
messages on her phone. 27 days into their marriage, Kranz filed
for annulment citing fraud, but later agreed to a divorce,
omitting the fraud claim after Shanahan threatened self harm.
Shanahan's marriage to Bryn was marked by a luxurious lifestyle
and her entrance into Silicon Valley's elite circles.
They traveled extensively, enjoyed trips on Bryn's yachts,
and stayed at their various properties across the United
States. During this period, Shanahan
also launched her career as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
The couple's relationship began to strain during the COVID-19
lockdowns in 2020, leading to Shanahan attending events
without Bryn. At one party in Miami in early
20/21, she was reportedly so intoxicated by drugs and alcohol
that she needed an IV infusion. Shanahan social activities
included hosting a Studio 54, the midbirthday party in New
York City attended by Musk. The Wall Street Journal's report
of her alleged affair with Musk at the Miami party brought
renewed attention to her private life.
In an interview with People magazine in 2023, Shanahan
reiterated her denial of an affair with Musk.
She described Musk as a friend who had advised her on handling
her daughter's autism diagnosis. Musk had publicly disclosed his
own Asperger's syndrome during a Saturday Night Live appearance
in 2021. Shanahan also expressed
frustration with being labeled a gold digger, calling the
accusation sexist. Despite her divorce settlement
from Brynn, which significantly increased her wealth, she
emphasized her professional achievements and the impact of
the media's portrayal on her reputation.
My career has been based on academic and intellectual
credibility, and I was being shamed internationally for being
a cheater. Shanahan told PEOPLE.
To be known because of a sexual act is one of the most
humiliating things. It was utterly debilitating.
The New York Times provided further details on Shanahan's
life, revealing her use of recreational drugs like
ketamine, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms at elite
Silicon Valley parties. These revelations were based on
accounts from 8 people and documents reviewed by the
publication. The strain on Shanahan and
Bryn's marriage intensified due to the COVID-19 pandemic and
their daughter's autism diagnosis.
Shanahan began socializing without Brynn, leading to
increased tension between the couple.
Despite the denials from both Shanahan and Musk, the reports
of their alleged affair continued to circulate,
impacting their personal and professional lives.
Brynn's divorce from Shanahan was finalized in May 2023.
Shanahan's transition to politics as Robert F Kennedy
Junior's running mate was unexpected, given her lack of
public office experience and name recognition.
Her selection was partly due to her financial resources, which
were crucial for Kennedy. Zobrich Virtual Kennedy campaign
efforts. Shanahan's fortune, largely from
her divorce settlement with Brynn, played a significant role
in her political involvement. Her wealth, combined with her
connections in Silicon Valley, positioned her as a valuable
asset to Kennedy's campaign. The allegations of infidelity
and drug use have overshadowed Shanahan's professional
accomplishments and contributions to philanthropy.
Her attempts to clear her name and focus on her career have
been challenged by the ongoing scrutiny.
Shanahan's story, marked by personal and public challenges,
continues to unfold as she navigates her new role in the
political arena. Her experiences reflect the
complexities of life among the tech industry's elite and the
impact of public perception on personal relationships.
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