Maye Musk says she still had to mediate Elon and Kimbal’s fights after they became startup founders
In her new memoir, "Timeless," Maye Musk said she was a mediator, financial backer, and support system as her sons, Elon and Kimbal Musk, built Zip2.
Maye Musk, the mother of tech magnates Elon and Kimbal Musk, revealed in her memoir "Timeless" that she often had to mediate conflicts between her sons while they were co-founders of the startup Zip2. In the book, released on September 15, Maye described how she helped her sons navigate their differing management styles and resolve disagreements.
Elon Musk, the elder son, was straightforward and believed in firing underperforming employees, while Kimbal Musk focused on nurturing staff relationships and helping them improve. These contrasting approaches sometimes caused friction but ultimately complemented each other's strengths, making them effective business partners. Maye often held family meetings to guide her sons toward compromises and solutions.
She also supported their early business costs with her savings, taking on domestic tasks like laundry and shopping to ensure their well-being. After Zip2's sale, Maye flew to San Diego to help clean her daughter Tosca Musk's apartment, which had been left in disarray by three male Zip2 employees. All three Musk children went on to achieve success in various fields, with Elon leading Tesla and SpaceX, Kimbal founding The Kitchen Restaurant Group and Square Roots, and Tosca creating Passionflix.
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