Elon Musk’s work in electric vehicles, rockets, satellite communications, and artificial intelligence has repeatedly challenged convention. But a less frequently examined question is where his confidence, resilience, and determination came from.
Part of the answer may lie with his mother, Maye Musk.
Maye Musk was not simply the mother of a successful entrepreneur. Through her own life, she showed her children how to face hardship, rebuild, and keep moving forward.
Born in Canada in 1948, Maye Musk moved with her family to South Africa when she was a young child. She began modeling as a teenager while pursuing her education and eventually built careers in both modeling and nutrition.
In 1970, she married engineer Errol Musk. The couple had three children: Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca. But the marriage became deeply troubled, and Maye Musk has spoken publicly about enduring domestic abuse and controlling behavior before eventually leaving.
Starting over as a single mother was difficult. She worked to support her children while continuing her own education and professional career. At various points, she took on several jobs at once, including nutrition consulting, teaching, and modeling.
Money was often tight. Maye Musk has recalled periods when even ordinary expenses mattered greatly, and there was little room for waste. She cut her children’s hair herself and found inexpensive ways to meet the family’s needs while continuing to work.
Years later, after moving to Toronto with her children, Maye Musk once again had to rebuild her life. The family lived in a rent-controlled apartment and acquired furniture gradually as they could afford it.
During these years, Maye Musk also continued her education. She ultimately earned two master’s degrees related to nutrition and established herself as a dietitian and nutritionist.
Perhaps one of the most important lessons she passed on to her children was self-reliance.
She did not attempt to protect them from every difficulty. Instead, they saw their mother work, study, solve problems, make plans, and take responsibility for the direction of her own life.
That willingness to support her children also extended to their ambitions. When Elon and Kimbal were building their first company, Zip2, Maye Musk invested $10,000 — her savings at the time — to help them continue.
Her example suggested a simple principle: effort does not guarantee success, but hard work can create opportunities that otherwise would never appear.
Maye Musk’s own career continued to evolve as she grew older.
Rather than letting age push her out of modeling, she kept working and eventually earned some of the greatest recognition of her career later in life. At 69, she became CoverGirl’s oldest spokesmodel. At 74, she appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
She also published her memoir, A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success.
Her later success challenged the assumption that aging necessarily means withdrawing from new opportunities. For Maye Musk, growing older became another stage in which experience, confidence, and independence could open new doors.
Again and again, circumstances required her to rebuild. Rather than defining herself by hardship, she continued working, making plans, and moving forward.
The greatest gift she gave her children may not have been material wealth, but the example of someone who could stand on her own two feet, face adversity without surrendering to it, and remain responsible for the choices she made.
Her approach to life has consistently emphasized work, planning, and action. When circumstances change, the next step is to make a new plan and keep going.
That may be one of the most useful lessons of Maye Musk’s life.
No matter how difficult the present appears, circumstances can change. Falling behind, losing what we have built, or having to begin again does not mean the story is over. As long as we are willing to make another plan and take another step, there is still something we can do about what comes next.
20 lessons from Maye Musk
- Keep looking for the things that bring you joy. Even when earning a living, try to choose work that gives you a sense of interest and purpose.
- Work occupies a large part of our waking lives, so having work that you can care about and look forward to matters.
- The sooner you act, the sooner you can start moving beyond a difficult situation. Some things cannot be changed, and holding on to them only prolongs the pain.
- A good wardrobe can begin with a few useful basics. Looking prepared on the outside can also help you feel more confident.
- Confidence may be shaken many times over the course of a lifetime. Sometimes simply standing tall can help you begin rebuilding it.
- You can often find ways to reduce expenses. Avoid debt when possible, live within your means, do the best you can, and remain hopeful about the future.
- Everyone can find ways — and the confidence — to make positive changes that can lead to a happier life.
- No matter how dark circumstances may appear, there can still be light ahead.
- Children do not need to be protected from every difficulty. Too much protection can distance them from reality and from responsibility.
- One of the most valuable things parents can do is let their children see them working to become better themselves.
- Helping other people succeed can create relationships where support comes back when you need it.
- The harder you work, the more opportunities you create for what people often call luck.
- Ask for what you want. The answer may not be yes, but if you never ask, the answer is certain to be no.
- Take responsibility for your own life. Discovering new abilities and stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to unexpected opportunities.
- You don’t have to fear aging. Each decade can bring experiences and opportunities that were not available before.
- Growing older can bring greater wisdom and confidence.
- There is rarely a single solution that fixes everything at once. Work hard, remain optimistic, and treat people sincerely.
- Life has highs and lows. When you reach a low point, make a plan for how to move forward.
- Good health provides a foundation for everything else. Healthy eating and regular exercise can support both physical well-being and confidence.
- If you are preparing to start again, carry yourself with confidence: dress well, hold your head high, stand tall, and keep smiling.
Translated by Katy Liu
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