In a rare and heartfelt revelation, Maye Musk, the mother of billionaire Elon Musk, has opened up about the family’s humble beginnings, painting a vivid picture of their early struggles in a rent-controlled apartment in Toronto, Canada. Speaking on April 1, 2025, during an interview with The Sunday Times to promote her memoir A Woman Makes a Plan, the 76-year-old dietitian and model shared how she and her three children—Kimbal, Tosca, and Elon—lived in modest circumstances, with Elon often sleeping on the couch and the family saving up for $5 bed sheets. The story offers a stark contrast to Elon Musk’s current status as the world’s richest person, with a net worth of $342 billion, and highlights the resilience that shaped his extraordinary journey.
Maye Musk’s reflections take us back to the early 1980s, after she moved her family from Pretoria, South Africa, to Canada following her divorce from Errol Musk in 1979. The decision to relocate was driven by her desire to provide better opportunities for her children, but the transition was far from easy. “We lived in a rent-controlled apartment in Toronto because that’s all I could afford,” Maye recalled. “It was a one-bedroom place, so the kids shared the bedroom, and I slept on a fold-out couch in the living room. But when Elon got too tall, he started sleeping on the couch, and I took the floor. We made it work.”
The family’s financial situation was so tight that even basic necessities were a luxury. Maye described how they saved for weeks to buy $5 bed sheets, a purchase that felt like a significant milestone at the time. “We didn’t have much, but we were happy,” she said. “I’d save up for those $5 sheets, and the kids would be so excited when we got them. It was a big deal for us.” Maye worked multiple jobs—teaching nutrition classes, modeling, and even taking on bookkeeping gigs—to support the family, often bringing home just $200 a month. Meanwhile, Elon, who was around 10 years old at the time, showed early signs of his entrepreneurial spirit, teaching himself to code on a Commodore VIC-20 computer and selling a video game he created, Blastar, for $500 at age 10.
Maye’s stories of their frugal lifestyle resonate deeply, especially given Elon’s current stature as the No. 1 billionaire on the 2025 Forbes Billionaires List. “Elon on the couch” became a recurring theme in her anecdotes, symbolizing the sacrifices the family made to get by. “He was always tinkering with something—whether it was a computer or a book, he was never idle,” Maye noted. “Even back then, I knew he was special, but I never imagined he’d be where he is today.” The family’s struggles continued as they moved to the U.S., where Elon attended the University of Pennsylvania on a scholarship, often surviving on a budget of $1 a day by eating hot dogs and oranges.
The revelation has struck a chord with fans on X, where #ElonOnTheCouch has been trending. “From sleeping on a couch to the richest man in the world—Elon Musk’s story is unreal,” one user wrote. Another added, “Maye Musk raised a genius under tough conditions. She deserves so much credit!” The story also humanizes Musk, who has faced criticism for his role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and recent controversies, including a $44 billion financial crisis tied to the xAI-X merger and allegations of cutting child support for Ashley St. Clair, the alleged mother of his 13th child.
Maye’s memoir, which has been updated with new chapters for its 2025 edition, delves deeper into these early years, offering insights into the values she instilled in her children. “I taught them to work hard and be kind,” she said. “We didn’t have much, but we had each other.” Her pride in Elon’s achievements is evident, though she also acknowledged the challenges he faces today, including his strained relationships with some of his children, such as his estranged daughter Vivian Wilson, who recently called him a “pathetic man-child.”
Maye Musk’s reflections on their humble beginnings serve as a powerful reminder of the grit and determination that propelled Elon Musk to the top. From a rent-controlled apartment in Toronto to the helm of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk’s journey is a testament to the resilience of a family that started with little more than $5 sheets and a shared dream. As Maye continues to share her story, she not only celebrates her son’s success but also honors the struggles that shaped him into the man he is today.
