Billionaire ex-wife of Google founder says Covid vaccine injury requires ongoing management

Nicole Shanahan, a billionaire and former wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, says she is suffering a disabling injury she attributes to a Covid-19 vaccine and has spent nearly five years managing its symptoms. She disclosed the information during a podcast interview with Annelise Barron, Associate Professor of Bioengineering at Stanford University, saying, "I'm in constant management of vaccine injury symptoms."

Shanahan described a comprehensive detox routine she follows to try to keep symptoms at bay, including sauna use, cold exposure, red light therapy, morning sunlight and direct daylight, vascular movement, and lymphatic drainage in sunlight. She said she uses "the total spike detox from The Wellness Company" and bathe in magnesium, supplement with organic elderberry syrup, and rely on calamansi to supplement vitamin C, noting the fruit is extremely sour and used with raw honey. "The spike protein, mine is in the thousands… it's hugely inflammatory," she said, adding that the regimen helps her manage flare ups even as they recur.

Shanahan’s public profile intersects with politics and technology. She was selected to be RFK Jr.’s running mate during his brief presidential campaign, a bid that ended without victory as RFK Jr. ultimately endorsed Donald Trump and later discussed health policy directions. The Wall Street Journal reported that Brin cited Shanahan’s brief affair with Elon Musk as a reason for the couple’s divorce, a claim both Shanahan and Musk deny. The two separated in January 2022, with a daughter born in 2018 who was diagnosed with autism in 2020, a development that Shanahan has said prompted questions about vaccine safety.

The former couple’s finances and public profiles amplify the attention around Shanahan’s account. Shanahan’s wealth is estimated at more than $1 billion, while Brin remains among the world’s wealthier individuals. According to The New York Times, Shanahan also donated to RFK Jr.’s campaign, including a $4 million contribution to a pro-RFK super PAC in 2024 and an additional $10 million donation thereafter.

The Daily Mail coverage describes Shanahan’s account as she portrays her experience and ongoing management of vaccine-related symptoms, alongside her relationship with Brin, her brief connection to Musk, and her political involvement. The report emphasizes the claims as Shanahan describes her personal health journey and timeline, rather than presenting independently verified medical conclusions.

In recounting her experience, Shanahan told Barron that she believes she was not fully informed about the risks associated with the vaccine, and she urged continued attention to vaccine safety and transparency. &&