From Hardship to Supermodel at 76
Maye Musk, mother of billionaire Elon Musk, overcame 15 years of adversity. She raised her children alone and became a supermodel after 70.
In January, Tatler China featured Maye on its cover. On January 23, she showcased a bold red silk cape dress and a matching feathered hat for the magazine.
Despite starting her modeling career at 15, Maye gained global recognition much later. At 76, she walked runways and landed covers for Vogue and Time. She starred in Beyoncé’s music videos and became a Revlon ambassador. Beyond modeling, she’s a certified nutritionist and the author of a lifestyle guide.
Sharing Her Journey
While promoting her 2019 memoir, A Woman Makes a Plan, Maye reflected on her struggles.
“I used to accept misfortune,” she said. “But I overcame fate and found joy again. Now I want to inspire those who feel lost.”
Escaping Abuse and Facing Poverty
Maye married Errol Musk in 1970 and had three children: Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca.
In a 2019 Harper’s Bazaar interview, Maye and Elon spoke openly about Errol’s emotional abuse.
“People called him a pig because of how he treated me,” Maye said. “He’d insult me in public—calling me stupid, ugly, and boring.”
Despite his wealth, Errol rarely bought clothes for the children. The couple split after nine years, leaving Maye and the kids in poverty. Elon was just eight.
They moved from South Africa to Toronto, Canada, where survival became the daily goal. “I cried when milk spilled—I couldn’t afford to replace it,” she told Vogue.
Raising Her Children Alone
To make ends meet, Maye worked five jobs. She became a lab assistant at the University of Toronto so her children could take free classes there.
With her first paycheck, she bought a rug. “Next, I got Elon a computer. He sat on the rug and used it,” she said in a 2015 Vogue interview.
With no men in the house, she did all repairs herself. “Tosca remembers the day I hurt my hand hammering a nail,” Maye recalled.
Instilling Strength and Independence
Maye raised her children to be independent. She helped Elon apply for a Microsoft position and guided Kimbal in finding a part-time job at a bank.
In a 2019 CNBC interview, she explained her parenting philosophy. She focused on life skills—kindness, compassion, and self-care.
She never scolded her kids for failure, forced them to study, or checked their homework. Elon, she said, only studied subjects he cared about.
A Mother’s Legacy
Maye supported her children emotionally as well. During tough times, Elon and Kimbal gave her a toy house and a tiny car for her birthday, promising to buy her real ones someday.
“That toy house means the most to me,” she told Tatler.
Even now, Maye remains vocal. She often challenges the Biden administration for downplaying Tesla’s contributions to electric vehicles.
