Maye Musk on Raising a Billionaire: “I Knew Elon Was a Genius at 3”

Model and dietitian Maye Musk, mother of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, shared in a recent interview how she recognized her son’s extraordinary intellect when he was just three years old — and how she raised three successful children while escaping a toxic marriage.

“My Son Was Different from the Start”

At 75, Maye Musk recalls vividly the moment she realized Elon was special. “When I sent Elon to preschool, I told the teachers he was a genius,” she said. “They were surprised — he was shy, so people didn’t see that side of him. But at home, he would talk to me using logic well beyond his age and remembered everything that happened around him.”

She was the only one he felt comfortable opening up to. As Elon grew older, he continued sharing his ambitious ideas — about solar energy, electric cars, rockets, and space — exclusively with his mom.

Maye admitted she often urged him to slow down and take breaks, worried about his health and stress levels. But Elon never listened — and as we now see, his relentless drive has made him one of the world’s richest and most influential figures.

The Role of Family

While Elon struggled with social interactions even as an adult, Maye credits his younger brother Kimbal for helping him communicate his ideas early on. In 1995, the two brothers co-founded a software company, which they sold in 1999 for $307 million. Elon received $22 million for his 7% stake.

“Kimbal always helped explain Elon’s vision to partners and investors,” she explained. That teamwork helped lay the foundation for Elon’s early business success.

Eventually, Elon had to step into the spotlight himself. “I remember calling him after reading his first interview. He said, ‘Nobody will sell me rocket parts if they don’t know who I am. I’ve always let Kimbal do the talking.’”

Escaping Abuse to Create a Better Life

Maye married engineer Errol Musk at 22 in South Africa. They had three children: Elon, Kimbal (now a successful restaurateur), and Tosca (a filmmaker). But the marriage was abusive. “There was constant yelling and fear,” she said. “I finally left to give my children a chance at a better life.”

Being a single mother wasn’t easy. “At first, I didn’t have enough money for food or clothes. I worked multiple jobs, sometimes far from home, in freezing weather without proper shoes. But I kept telling myself: things will get better.”

Despite the hardships, she never gave up. “I had three kids to feed and a future to build. I faced rejections, but I just kept going.”

Today, her determination has paid off — her children are thriving, and she continues to work as a model and nutritionist.

A Parenting Philosophy Built on Independence

Maye believes the key to raising capable kids is not shielding them from responsibility. “Parents often underestimate their children or try to overprotect them,” she said. “I never treated mine like they were too young.”

By age 8, Maye and her twin sister were working for their father, earning five cents an hour. At 12, they were running the front desk at his clinic. “Our parents treated us like trustworthy adults — and that shaped the way I raised my own children.”

Her kids followed a similar path. Tosca typed letters for Maye’s clients, Elon helped with paperwork, and Kimbal pitched in wherever he could. “When Tosca was 8, she taught modeling classes and helped run fashion shows with me,” Maye added.

“I Never Checked Their Homework”

“I raised my children to be kind, honest, and hardworking. I didn’t scold them or hover. I never checked their homework — that was their responsibility,” she said.

They made their own decisions, applied to colleges themselves, and figured out scholarships and student loans on their own. “Kids don’t need luxury or constant supervision to succeed. What they need is responsibility, support, and freedom.”

Even when the family lived in shared housing with mattresses on the floor, Maye knew her children would be okay. “If they’re not used to luxury, they can adapt. Just make sure they’re safe — and let them take charge.”

Maye has seen many parents push themselves to exhaustion trying to micromanage their kids’ futures. Her advice: stop. “Let your kids write their own applications, chase their own dreams. Support them, teach them good manners — and let them figure it out.”