Maye Musk on raising the world’s first trillionaire: Elon “just wants to do good” but steps “on a lot of toes”

September 16, 2026 / 12:25 PM EDT / CBS News

Maye Musk, the mother of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, opened up about raising the world's first trillionaire and her own personal journey in an interview with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King on Wednesday.

Musk recalled her son as a genius child who "just wants to do good in the world, but that means you stand on a lot of toes." She said she believes he's been treated unfairly by members of the public.

"People are mean. And they're strangers, or they're not accomplished themselves, and then they can do insults," she said. "It makes me angry."

She said she wants people to know, "He does whatever is best for America and what's best for the world," adding, "And then, if we don't listen, then let's go to Mars" — his longtime goal for SpaceX.

Elon Musk drew frequent criticism during his brief tenure as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which overhauled government organizations and slashed funding for many programs, including global aid services, during the first months of President Trump's second term. Shortly after leaving the White House, Elon Musk blasted Mr. Trump…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/