Now, here’s the part that will make you smile. Maye is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. But her advice isn’t about kale smoothies or gluten-free crackers. She believes in balance. She’ll tell you to eat your veggies, but she’ll also say, “If you want fries, have fries. Just don’t have them every day.”
In her book A Woman Makes a Plan, she shares how she kept her kids healthy on a budget. She’d buy in bulk, freeze leftovers, and let them choose one treat at the grocery store. It’s not rocket science—it’s real life. And as a grandmother, she still bakes cookies with her grandchildren. She knows that food is love, but it’s also fuel. That’s the kind of advice you can actually use.
Maye Musk, U80 model and mother of the world’s richest billionaire Elon
The Secret Sauce: Risk and Resilience
Here’s what I love most about Maye. She moved countries three times—from South Africa to Canada to the United States—all in her 40s and 50s. Each time, she had to rebuild her career from scratch. Imagine starting over when you’re 50, in a new country, with no network. Most of us would crumble. She called it an adventure.
She also taught her kids to be independent. Elon has said that Maye never panicked when he struggled in school. Instead, she bought him books and let him follow his weird interests. That steady confidence—not hovering, not worrying—is a parenting hack for the ages. It’s the difference between raising a follower and raising a builder.
Meet Maye Musk: Know how Elon Musk's mother helped him become a
