Maye Musk’s Marriage Story: Why She Left Errol Musk And Raised Her Children As A Single Mother

Let’s be real—when you hear the name Musk, you probably picture rockets and electric cars. But before Elon became the world’s most ambitious meme lord, there was Maye Musk: a model, dietitian, and the ultimate boss of resilience. Her marriage story? Oh, honey, it’s not a Silicon Valley fairy tale. It’s a survival guide wrapped in a leopard-print coat.

Maye married Errol Musk in 1970, fresh out of school. He was charming, she was young, and within three years, she had three kids. But behind closed doors? The fairy tale curdled fast. Errol was emotionally abusive, controlling, and—according to Maye— physically violent at times. South Africa in the ’70s wasn’t exactly overflowing with shelter hotlines. So for nearly a decade, she gritted her teeth and stayed. Ugh, right?

The turning point came in 1979. After Errol publicly humiliated her again, Maye made a pact with herself: “I will not let my children grow up thinking this is normal love.” So she divorced him, walked away with nothing but a Volkswagen Beetle and a sewing machine, and became a single mother of three—including a kid who’d later name his company after a rocket equation. No pressure, Maye.

She moved from South Africa to Toronto, then to New York, working five jobs (model, dietitian, overnight-shift home proofer—you name it) while raising Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca. “I didn’t have time for a breakdown,” she once joked. “I had to feed them.” And feed them she did—literally and figuratively. She made them do homework before helping with chores, kept a strict (but not crazy) budget, and taught them that failure is just data for the next try.

Maye and Errol Musk: Parents of Philanthropist and Entrepreneur Elon Musk

Now in her 70s, Maye struts runways for CoverGirl and drops truth bombs about joyful single motherhood. Her secret sauce? She never played the victim. She just packed her bags, started over, and raised three kids who shake the world—all while looking utterly fabulous.

So here’s the takeaway, friend: You can leave the pain behind, even when the world says “stay.” Maye did it with three kids, a sewing machine, and zero apologies. If that doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will. Now go conquer your own Beetle-sized problem.