Elon Musk's mother, Maye Musk, has shared memories of her son's early intelligence, telling The Telegraph that Elon was already demonstrating signs of being a "genius" by the age of three. According to her, he would engage in logical discussions with her, showing an early understanding of cost-saving strategies. Maye Musk, who is 78 years old, is a former model and dietitian with Canadian, South African, and U.S. citizenship. She married Elon's father, Errol Musk, in 1970, and the couple had Elon in 1971. They divorced in 1979, after which Elon lived with his father. Maye recalled that Errol Musk had access to educational resources such as two sets of encyclopedias, a home in a larger city, a library, and even a computer—things that Maye could not afford at the time. Despite these challenges, she said Elon was able to focus on his studies and reading, showing a strong commitment to learning even in difficult circumstances. Elon Musk has faced public criticism, including accusations of racism and support for far-right political groups in Europe, such as Germany's AfD party and the British figure Tommy Robinson. In response, Maye Musk has defended her son, calling the allegations "dishonest" and expressing concern over the negative media coverage and death threats he has received. Maye noted that the family now holds gatherings in remote locations because Elon is unable to attend public events without risk. The family does not use a group chat, and Musk struggles to maintain regular contact with his loved ones due to his busy schedule. Maye described how Elon is constantly occupied, often having meetings every hour, even on weekends. She attended one of his meetings in June to celebrate his 55th birthday at a secret location, calling the experience "lovely."