Elon Musk is one of the most famous people in the world. His success story is quite atypical, so everything related to the family of the world’s richest man is of great interest. Read our article to learn how Elon and his siblings were raised by their eccentric mother, Maye Musk—her advice is very different from that of educational gurus!
Maye Musk has three children and thirteen grandchildren, so she knows a thing or two about raising children. She became a mother quite early, and at 31, after divorcing her abusive husband, she found herself caring for them alone. She handled it admirably—we’re well aware of Elon’s success, but Kimbal and Tosca are also quite successful. Perhaps the secret lies in their special upbringing? We’ve compiled the top tips from the mother of the world’s richest man.
Don’t treat children like babies and don’t scold them
At any age! May never allowed herself to bully children, impose her opinions on them, or ridicule them for doing something differently from what was accepted or expected of them.
Don’t spoil children
This isn’t about emotions: May believes that an abundance of love, close contact, and any form of support are crucial for both children and parents. But the mother of the world’s richest man considers comfort and all manner of extravagance to be secondary: when she and her children fled her abusive husband, they were forced to live very modestly, sleeping on bare mattresses on the floor and eating endless amounts of bean soup.
As you can imagine, neither Elon, nor Kimbal, nor Toska were deterred. True, Elon Musk, after growing up on a mattress in a single room with four other family members, spares no expense on his children—they live in luxury.
The main thing is good manners, with them it’s easier to achieve anything
Maye is convinced that it’s important to work hard and do good things, and she also knows that the most important thing a parent should teach a child is politeness, tact, and respect for others. “Teach your children good manners. But let them decide for themselves what they want,” is Maye Musk’s advice to all parents. By saying hello to your grandmothers at the entrance to your building, you could one day fly to Mars!
Don’t check homework or tell children what to study.
“I cultivated in my children the same qualities that my parents strove to instill in me and my siblings: independence, hard work, and compassion,” says Maye Musk. “I think my siblings and I, and my children, benefited from being taught responsibility from an early age.”
Maye never checked the children’s homework, and perhaps sometimes they didn’t even do it. However, from an early age, they had to deal with the consequences of their decisions on their own. Their mother also had no input when Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca chose their courses, colleges, and universities; they also completed all the paperwork themselves.
Teach children to ask for what they want (instead of waiting for someone else to figure it out)
“If you remain silent, you’ll likely get nothing. But if you ask, you’ll either get a no, or, quite possibly, a yes,” May instructed her children. She taught them to speak directly, without beating around the bush, about their needs and desires.
Children are always the most important thing: spend time with them, even when they grow up
“I endured my marriage for the sake of my children, and then I divorced for their sake,” says Maye. She believes that families need to feel connected, and therefore always organizes family get-togethers. Her very important and busy children attend, dropping everything else. “Part of the reason we’re so happy together is because everyone can do what they want. You’re surrounded by people who love you, but you’re also free to do what you love. There’s no pressure,” explains Elon Musk’s mother.
