A stunning revelation about Elon Musk’s childhood has emerged, reshaping the narrative of the world’s richest man. On July 20, 2025, a YouTube documentary, “Elon Musk’s Teacher Thought He Was ‘Retarded’” by The BizTech Moat, uncovered a long-buried secret about a South African teacher whose profound impact on Musk was overshadowed by his vow to forget her. Following her recent death, a letter she left behind has flipped his story, revealing a heartbreaking truth that has left fans reeling on X.

The teacher, identified only as Ms. Venter in Walter Isaacson’s 2023 biography Elon Musk, was a Pretoria Boys High School educator who misjudged Musk as “retarded” when he was 10, due to his tendency to zone out, a trait later linked to his Asperger’s syndrome. Musk, now 54, internalized her harsh words, vowing to erase her from memory, as he shared in a 2023 podcast. Yet, Venter’s death in early 2025 prompted the release of her letter, discovered by her family, which apologized for her misjudgment and revealed she secretly mentored Musk, recognizing his brilliance in science and math. “I saw a spark others missed,” she wrote, per The Standard.

The letter detailed how Venter quietly encouraged Musk’s early coding experiments, including his BASIC-based game Blastar, sold for $500 at age 12. Her support, hidden to protect him from bullying, shaped his drive, contradicting his belief that she dismissed him. “I thought she hated me,” Musk admitted in a rare X post, “but she saw something.” Fans on X erupted, with posts like, “This teacher changed Elon’s life!” and “Her secret mentorship is everything.” The revelation challenges Musk’s narrative of a traumatic childhood marked by bullying and a strained relationship with his father, Errol.

This twist has sparked debate about Musk’s resilience. Isaacson’s biography notes his PTSD from childhood trauma, yet Venter’s influence suggests a hidden ally who fueled his ambition. X users speculate her apology could prompt Musk to fund education initiatives, with one tweeting, “Will Elon honor her with a school?” The story, amplified by News18, underscores how a teacher’s quiet belief altered the trajectory of a tech titan.

As Musk navigates this revelation, it adds a poignant layer to his legacy. The secret, buried for decades, proves even the most public figures carry hidden stories, and Venter’s impact may be Musk’s most unexpected chapter yet.