A Modest Life Despite Wealth
Although Maye Musk is the mother of one of the wealthiest men in the world, she didn’t grow up with luxury. From a young age, she learned to live without — and she still does.
When visiting her son Elon Musk, she sleeps wherever there’s space — even in the garage.
A Global Name, Yet Down-to-Earth
Maye Musk has modeled for global brands, appeared on magazine covers, and became a best-selling author in her seventies. Yet, her name often gets linked to her eldest son, Elon Musk.
Despite Elon’s billionaire status, Maye once revealed she sleeps in his garage when visiting him. She shared this detail without complaint, simply as a reflection of his lifestyle.
Elon’s Simple Living Choices
Elon Musk is famously frugal when it comes to his personal life. His modest lifestyle matches the choices he’s made about housing.
The Immense Scale of Elon Musk’s Wealth
Elon is one of the richest people on Earth. He built his fortune through companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI.
By late 2024, he owned around 12% of Tesla, though over half of those shares were pledged as collateral for personal loans worth up to $3.5 billion. Earlier that year, a judge voided his 2018 compensation deal, which would have added more Tesla stock.
Despite these setbacks, he retained massive stakes elsewhere. SpaceX, valued at $350 billion in December 2024, is 42% owned by Elon. In 2022, he bought Twitter for $44 billion and renamed it X. By August 2024, Forbes estimated X’s value had dropped nearly 70%.
His latest venture, xAI, launched in 2023. By November 2024, it was worth $50 billion. Elon owns roughly 54%.
Still, Elon often insists he doesn’t measure his life in material terms.
Maye and Elon Musk at Wallis Annenberg Center on February 26, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images
Elon’s Public Commitment to Minimalism
In May 2020, Elon tweeted he was selling most of his possessions. “Will own no house,” he wrote. A follow-up added, “Possessions just weigh you down.”
By June 2021, he said he lived in a $50,000 house near SpaceX’s Boca Chica site. He rented it from SpaceX and called it “awesome.”
His only other property was an events house in the Bay Area, which he said wasn’t practical for daily living.
Why Maye Musk Sleeps in a Garage
On the Full Send podcast in 2022, Elon described his Texas home as “very small.” Originally a two-bedroom house, he converted the garage into an extra room.
He liked the location: “I can literally walk to the rocket factory,” he said. He also had a Boxabl unit as a guesthouse.
Even close friends were shocked at his living conditions. “They can’t believe I’m staying here,” he laughed.
That same year, Maye told The Times, “I sleep in the garage.” Her reasoning was simple: “You can’t have a fancy house near a rocket site.”
She added, “He’s not interested in possessions. Not at all.” And she doesn’t mind. She’s used to living with less.
Childhood Adventures in the Kalahari
Maye was born in Canada but raised in South Africa. Her childhood was filled with adventure. Her father, a single-propeller pilot, took the family flying in search of the “lost city of the Kalahari.”
They often slept outdoors — sometimes with lions or hyenas nearby. Her father’s motto was, “Live dangerously, carefully.”
Maye believes the phrase suits Elon just as well.
Maye Musk and Elon Musk attend The Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” on May 2, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
An Abusive Marriage and Single Motherhood
Maye married South African engineer Errol Musk. The relationship turned abusive.
In her interview with The Times, she described daily insults and physical attacks. “He would scream, ‘You’re ugly. You’re stupid. You’re boring,’” she recalled.
“I’d think, ‘I can’t be that ugly — I’m modeling.’ But then he would beat me, so you don’t argue back.”
She left the marriage after having three children — Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca. Though she didn’t mention Errol’s name, she acknowledged his skills. “He was a good engineer,” she said.
Constant Moves and Daily Sacrifices
After the divorce, Maye moved often with her kids — between South Africa, Canada, and the U.S. Money was tight.
During a move to Canada, their luggage was lost for five months. “I had to wear Elon’s and Tosca’s clothes. I couldn’t afford new ones,” she said.
That time was hard. “It’s horrifying when you look back,” she admitted. Still, she taught her kids to be self-reliant.
“When they asked for advice, I gave it. But I never told them what to do.” She supported their choices, even when she didn’t agree.
Spotting Elon’s Genius
Maye noticed Elon’s intelligence early. At age three, he showed signs of exceptional memory. By 12, he created his own computer game.
Maye shared it with university students studying computer science. They were stunned. “They were in their second and third year — and impressed,” she said.
She called him “Genius Boy” and noted he always had answers, even before the internet. “Now, we’d call him the internet,” she joked.
Kimbal played a key role in their first business, Zip2. He helped explain the software to non-tech users.
Eventually, the company sold — and Elon made $22 million.
Maye’s Second Act: Modeling Fame in Her 70s
Maye’s modeling career took off again in her late fifties. She let her hair go gray and cut it short. From then on, bookings poured in.
She never used Botox and said clients never asked her to change her appearance. In her seventies, she became a global ambassador for Dior Beauty and graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.
At first, she felt uneasy about the swimsuit shoot. “I was never that kind of model,” she said. But she embraced the moment — just like she has with every other challenge in her life.
