Maye Musk—supermodel, author, and mother of Elon Musk—has won hearts not just with her elegance but with her humility. Despite her billionaire son’s global fame and fortune, Maye chooses to sleep in a garage when visiting Elon at his SpaceX site in Boca Chica, Texas.
Why? According to Maye, it’s practical. “You can’t have a fancy house near a rocket site,” she explained, embracing Elon’s minimalist approach to life. Even though Elon controls billions in assets and owns a massive stake in SpaceX, he lives in a modest $45,000 home near his work—proof that purpose trumps luxury in the Musk household.
Maye’s own life has been a story of grit and resilience. Raised in South Africa by adventurous parents, she grew up camping in the wild and learned to “live dangerously—but carefully.” That spirit helped her survive an abusive marriage and raise three children—Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca—as a single mom facing financial hardship.
While Elon was dreaming of rockets and teaching himself to code at age 12, Maye was quietly building her own legacy. She found global modeling success in her 60s, embracing her natural gray hair, landing deals with Dior Beauty, and gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in her 70s. Her bestselling memoir, A Woman Makes a Plan, has inspired readers around the world.
Now living in a modest NYC apartment, Maye remains close to her kids, regularly joining Elon at public events—from Saturday Night Live to tech conferences. Her life proves that real success isn’t measured in mansions or millions, but in values, perseverance, and staying grounded—no matter how high your family aims for the stars.
