Many people now recognize Maye Musk, not just as the mother of Elon Musk, the world's richest man, but also as a model, dietitian and woman who overcame serious struggles. Today, she continues to shine in the spotlight, even gracing the covers of magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and breaking records as the oldest CoverGirl model. However, her life wasn't always so glamorous.
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In a 2018 interview, Maye reflected on her early days, when life was far from easy. After divorcing her husband, Errol Musk, she was left to raise three children independently, including a young Elon, who would later revolutionize industries through companies like Tesla and SpaceX. "I had to pay the rent. I needed the roof over our head and food for us to eat," Maye told CBS News. Financial security was elusive and she often worked up to five jobs at a time to make ends meet. "Anyone who knows me says they don't envy my life. I've just been through very hard times," she admitted.
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Maye took on multiple roles to survive, from a research officer to a part-time model and nutritionist. She also taught evening classes at a college and gave lectures on diet and health. Her modeling career, which began when she was just 15, continued well into her later years, even when she became a plus-size model after gaining over 50 pounds due to stress. “Ice cream, chocolate, fries, burgers, I loved it!” she said. At one point, her weight exceeded 200 pounds. It was only when she recognized the health risks that she decided to lose weight, drawing on her expertise in nutrition.
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Life wasn't much easier after the family moved to Canada. Maye recalled living in a small rent-controlled apartment with her two children, Tosca and Elon, where they struggled to afford even the basics. In a 2015 interview with HuffPost, she recounted a moment many can relate to: "I remember crying when one of my kids spilled milk. The saying goes, ‘Don't cry over spilled milk.' I cried because I couldn't buy another milk that day."
Despite these hardships, Maye instilled a strong work ethic in her children. Elon, who later became known for his innovative ventures, lived on just $1 a day while attending college. His mother's resourcefulness and determination influenced his approach to risk-taking and perseverance. "My threshold for existing is pretty low," Elon once said, explaining how he could live simply in pursuit of his goals.
Though their early years were tough, Maye's sacrifices paid off. Her children – Elon, Kimbal and Tosca – have succeeded in their respective fields. Kimbal became a leader in sustainable agriculture, while Tosca built her streaming service, PassionFlix, catering to romance film fans.
Maye says her motivation was simple: "People asked, why was I motivated? I would say, I wanted to survive." Now, with her children thriving in their respective fields, it's safe to say that her hard work did more than keep the family afloat – it set them on a path to success.
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