Maye Musk, mother of billionaire Elon Musk, overcame 15 years of hardship, raising her children alone and ultimately achieving supermodel status in her 70s.
At 76, Maye was featured on the cover of *Taler China’s* January issue, where she donned a striking red silk cape dress with a matching feathered hat. Although she began her modeling career at 15, she reached global acclaim later in life, appearing on the covers of *Vogue* and *Time*, starring in Beyoncé’s music videos, becoming a Revlon ambassador, and publishing her first lifestyle guide—all while holding qualifications as a dietitian.
Promoting her memoir in 2019, which reflected on seven decades of her life, Maye shared, “I once accepted misfortune, but I eventually overcame adversity and found happiness again. I want to share my story to inspire others who feel lost.” Her life was marked by prolonged hardship.
She married Erroll Musk in 1970 and had three children: Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca. In a 2019 *Harper’s Bazaar* interview, both she and Elon accused Erroll of emotional abuse. Maye recalled being belittled in public and called names like “stupid” and “ugly,” while Elon noted their father’s extreme frugality despite his wealth, saying he often refused to buy clothing for them.
After divorcing Erroll nine years into the marriage—when Elon was eight—Maye and her children faced financial ruin and relocated from South Africa to Toronto, Canada. She often described those 15 years as pure survival. In a *Vogue* interview, she recalled the emotional toll, saying she cried over spilled milk because she couldn’t afford to replace it.
During this time, Maye worked five jobs to support her family. She accepted a lab assistant role at the University of Toronto so her children could access free education. Her first paycheck went toward buying a rug for their bare apartment. She later purchased a computer for Elon, which he used while sitting on that rug. Without a man in the house, Maye also handled all household repairs herself.
She raised her children to be self-reliant, helping them apply for jobs—securing Elon a position at Microsoft and Kimbal a part-time bank job. In a 2019 interview with CNBC, Maye explained that she prioritized teaching her kids essential life values such as self-care, kindness, and empathy. She didn’t scold them for failure or force academic routines. Elon, she said, was self-motivated and focused only on subjects that fascinated him.
Despite their financial struggles, her children’s gestures were always meaningful. During one difficult birthday, Elon and Kimbal gave her a toy house and a model car, promising to one day give her the real thing. “That toy house still means the world to me,” Maye told *Tatler*.
In recent years, Maye has continued to speak out—often criticizing the Biden administration for ignoring Tesla’s pivotal role in the electric vehicle industry. Through it all, she remains an enduring symbol of strength, independence, and unwavering resilience.