Elon Musk is now the richest person in the world with a net worth of $ 187 billion, and while his mother Maye Musk realized he was a genius when he was a child, she admitted that she did not always know if the SpaceX CEO was not. destined for greatness.
The 72-year-old model was promoting the paperback release of her book A Woman Makes a Plan on CBS This Morning on Monday when she set out how her children Elon (49), Kimbal (48) and Tosca (46) discovered their passions at a young age.
‘At three I knew [Elon] was a genius, ‘Maye told hosts Gayle King and Anthony Mason,’ but you still do not know if he is going to do good things, because many geniuses end up in a basement but are not a genius. . ‘
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Proud mother: Maye Musk (72) opened her three children, Elon (49), Kimbal (48) and Tosca (46), while appearing on CBS on Monday
Wow: While Elon (center) is the richest man in the world with a net worth of $ 187 billion, Kimbal (far right) has formed a chain of restaurant-to-table restaurants and Tosca (far left) is a filmmaker
The proud mother recalled how her eldest son made a computer program game at the age of 12 that impressed a group of engineering students.
“They said, ‘Wow, he knows all the shortcuts,'” she said, showing them the game.
Maye suggested that the young Elon submit the game to a magazine, and he earned $ 500.
“I don’t think they knew he was 12,” she said. “So it was a good start.”
One of Elon’s first businesses was the software company Zip2, which he co-founded with his brother, Kimbal, and Greg Kouri, with funds from a group of angel investors, including his mother.
Looking back: Maye said that all their children at an early age found their individual passions while growing up in South Africa
Memories: Maye said she knew Elon was a genius when he was just three years old, but she was not always sure he was destined for greatness.
Emerging Engineer: Maye recalls how, at age 12, Elon made a computer program game for which he received $ 500 after submitting it to a magazine.
“I was so excited when he started Zip2 because it just made life easier with door-to-door directions, and then newspapers could have a link you could take to a restaurant,” Maye recalls.
‘I know it’s common now, but it was very unusual and people did not believe it was possible. That’s why I invested in it at the very beginning – even though I did not have much money. ‘
“Then he thought the banking system needed help, and he did PayPal,” Maye continued. ‘Then he said,’ Well, should he do space exploration or do solar energy or electric motors? ‘And I said,’ Just pick one, ‘and he obviously did not listen to me. ‘
Asked if she owns a Tesla, Maye said: ‘Of course, [Elon] get me the best. ‘
Elon and his partner Grimes welcomed their son X Æ A-Xii in May. He also shares five children with his first wife Justine, whom he divorced in 2008. They have 17-year-old twin sons, Griffin and Xavier, and 15-year-old triplets, Kai, Saxons and Damian.
Supportive: The model said she invested in Elon’s company Zip2 in 1995, and remembers how she was ‘so excited’ when he co-founded the software company with Kimbal and Greg Kouri.
Children: Elon shares 17-year-old twins, Griffin and Xavier, and 15-year-old triplets, Kai, Saxon and Damian, with his ex-wife Justine (pictured with fiancée Talulah Riley and his sons in 2010)
Latest Musk: Elon’s youngest child, the eight-month-old X Æ A-Xii (left) – who he shares with musical artist Grimes (right) – was born in May
Elon may be the oldest and most famous of her children, but his siblings are equally remarkable. His brother, Kimbal, has founded a chain of restaurant-to-table restaurants and his sister, Tosca, is a filmmaker.
Their career choice comes as no surprise to their mother, who from an early age saw them pursue their interests while growing up in Pretoria, South Africa.
Maye admitted that Kimbal started cooking because he did not like the food she made when they grew up.
“I’m not a big cook, and that’s why he has restaurants,” she explained. “He also does vegetable gardens in schools that are not under service, because he feels that children should always have vegetables and fruit.”
“And then of course Tuska was in the movie,” the mother of three continued. ‘She just loved every movie, remembered everyone and wanted to go into the movie business, which of course I was very discouraged.
Good example: Maye said that her mother (pictured with Maye when she was a child) never worried about aging or wrinkles and did not retire until she was 96
Rising stares: Maye is just as impressive as her children, having found her greatest success as a model in her 60s and 70s
Exciting: Maye (photo with Gayle King in January 2020) appears on CBS on Thursday to promote the paperback release of her book A Woman Makes a Plan
“Who wants to be in the movie business?” she says laughing. And now she has her own platform, Passionflix. They all do the work they wanted to do. ‘
Maye is just as impressive as her children, and achieved her greatest success as a model in her 60s and 70s. The dietitian made history in 2018 when, at age 69, she became the face of CoverGirl and her modeling career continues to flourish.
“My mother never had a problem with age,” she recalls. “No one could tell her she was getting old. She did retire at 96, but before that she had never talked about wrinkles or getting old or anything.
“She was just always positive and always learned and educated herself, and I think that’s a good example,” she continues. “When I was 60, people were talking about getting older and being afraid of aging, and I said, ‘Why are you afraid of aging? ‘
Maye noted that when women turn 50, ‘they are afraid of losing their jobs, but men at that age’ become CEOs and presidents. ‘
“What is it about then?” she asked. “We have to change that. If someone makes you feel bad about your age, just say goodbye. ‘