Power Players with Brian Sozzi Maye Musk talks bankrolling Elon's first tech startup
Sep 21, 2026
Maye Musk, a model, dietitian, author, and mother of Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca Musk, shares her remarkable journey from escaping abuse to building a thriving career. She recalls raising three children, funding Elon and Kimbal’s first startup, recognizing the promise of internet mapping, and reinventing her modeling career after 50. She also discusses family, resilience, and Elon’s bold vision for space and technology.
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Maye Musk Built A Career Across Every Age
- Maye Musk supported her family through dietetics and part-time modeling, continuing even as traditional modeling opportunities changed with age.
- Clients eventually hired her as a mother of the bride and grandmother, while major fashion opportunities arrived in her seventies.
Maye Musk Escaped With Three Children
- Maye Musk left an abusive marriage after her mother confronted the violence and she realized she could support herself.
- After her ex-husband took her savings, she fed three children with economical staples including bean stews, brown bread, and subsidized milk.
A Knife Chase Marked The Breaking Point
- Maye Musk described her ex-husband chasing her through the street with a knife after threatening to mutilate her and harm the children.
- A divorced neighbor sheltered her while other people were present, preventing the confrontation from becoming more dangerous.
