It was a comment meant to inspire — but it triggered a social media firestorm instead.

Maye Musk, supermodel, nutritionist, and mother of tech mogul Elon Musk, has come under heavy criticism after sharing what many are calling a “tone-deaf” and “elitist” piece of parenting advice. In a recent interview meant to highlight her early struggles as a single mother, Maye casually remarked:

“I didn’t go out to dinner. I didn’t go to movies. I didn’t buy new clothes. I had kids. That’s what you do. You make sacrifices. If poor people want to succeed, maybe they need to stop spending and just raise children like I did.”

What followed was a flood of online backlash, accusations of class blindness, and a renewed debate over the real cost of parenting in today’s economy.

A Statement Meant to Inspire… That Backfired

The comment was part of a larger conversation about resilience and parenting, in which Maye was asked about raising Elon and his siblings — Kimbal and Tosca — while struggling financially in South Africa and later in Canada.

She explained how she worked five jobs, drove an old car, and chose her children over personal indulgences, implying that self-sacrifice was a necessary (and noble) part of motherhood.

But many didn’t hear inspiration — they heard judgment.

“Easy to say when your son becomes a billionaire,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“People aren’t skipping dinner for handbags, Maye. They’re skipping dinner because they literally can’t afford it,” said another.

Critics Clap Back: ‘This Isn’t 1982’

Social media lit up with responses — many from parents, single mothers, and economists — pointing out that the landscape of poverty and parenting has changed drastically since Maye raised her children.

🗣️ “She thinks poor people have the luxury of choosing between dinner and a movie?”
🗣️ “Childcare alone is more expensive than rent in most cities.”
🗣️ “Maye Musk raised kids during a time when housing was affordable, college didn’t cost $100K, and healthcare didn’t bankrupt families.”

Some also noted that Elon Musk’s rise to fame and fortune wasn’t purely a bootstraps story — that he had access to resources, family support, and education that many children born into poverty simply don’t.

Supporters Say She’s Being Misunderstood

Not everyone was outraged. A vocal minority defended Maye, arguing that her message was about prioritizing family and grit — not belittling the poor.

“She’s speaking as a mother who struggled. People are twisting her words.”
“The core idea isn’t wrong: sacrifices are part of parenthood.”

Others pointed out that Maye Musk didn’t come from wealth and truly did build her life from hardship — modeling while working as a dietitian, enduring divorce, and raising three kids alone.

The Bigger Issue: What Does It Really Take to Raise a Child Today?

Beyond the outrage lies a deeper question: Can the average working-class person today even afford to have children?

The average cost of raising a child to age 18 in the U.S. is now over $300,000.

Childcare costs rival monthly mortgages.

Healthcare, education, housing, and food prices have all outpaced wage growth.

For many, Maye’s remarks felt like a slap in the face — not because they don’t believe in hard work, but because the system seems rigged against even their best efforts.

A Family Legacy Built on Controversy

This isn’t the first time a member of the Musk family has caused a stir.

Elon himself has made inflammatory remarks about population collapse, urging people to have “as many kids as they can afford.”

His father, Errol Musk, has made headlines for controversial relationships and political statements.

And now Maye — once admired for her grace and resilience — finds herself in the center of a media firestorm.

Final Thoughts: Inspiration or Insult?

At its core, Maye Musk’s comment might have been intended as encouragement — a belief in the power of personal sacrifice and the rewards of motherhood.

But in an age of rising inequality, the line between motivation and alienation is razor-thin. For millions of working-class parents already doing everything they can just to survive, being told to “skip dinner” to raise children feels less like wisdom… and more like a gut punch.

As one single mother put it in a viral post:

“I’ve skipped dinners. I’ve skipped sleep. I’ve skipped dreams.
But I never skipped loving my child. Don’t tell me that’s not enough.”