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Maye Musk Discusses Son’s Trillionaire Status and Federal Service in New Interview

In a CBS interview, Maye Musk discussed her son Elon Musk's public service record and her new memoir, "Timeless."

Published September 16, 2026 at 1:20 PM EDT

The short answer

An interview with Maye Musk regarding her son Elon Musk and her memoir. Maye Musk, a model and dietitian, discussed her son Elon Musk’s career and her own personal history in an interview with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King.

Maye Musk Discusses Son’s Trillionaire Status and Federal Service in New Interview

The Facts

Who
Maye Musk, Elon Musk, Gayle King
What
An interview with Maye Musk regarding her son Elon Musk and her memoir.
When
Wednesday (specific date not reported)
Where
Broadcast on CBS Mornings
Why
The interview provides insight into the personal history of Elon Musk and the public reaction to his recent work in government efficiency.

Maye Musk, a model and dietitian, discussed her son Elon Musk’s career and her own personal history in an interview with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King. During the interview, which coincided with the release of her memoir "Timeless," Musk addressed her son’s status as the world's first trillionaire and his former role in the federal government. She stated that her son has faced unfair treatment and insults from the public despite his intentions to help the world.

The interview touched on Elon Musk's tenure as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a body that overhauled government organizations and slashed funding for programs such as global aid during the early months of President Trump's second term. Following his departure from the White House, a public disagreement occurred between Elon Musk and Mr. Trump regarding the "One Big Beautiful Bill," though their relationship recently appears to have thawed. In December 2025, Elon Musk stated he would likely not lead the agency again due to negative public reactions.

Maye Musk also detailed her own background, including leaving what she described as an abusive marriage in South Africa to move to Canada with her three children. She described living in a one-bedroom apartment and working to establish a dietitian practice while earning her first master's degree. Musk later transitioned back into modeling, becoming the oldest woman featured on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" in 2022.

For the general public and government contractors, the legacy of the DOGE overhauls remains a point of legislative focus. Congressional Democrats are seeking to close what they characterize as a "self-dealing" loophole related to Musk’s time in government. While the specific number of individuals affected by the aid cuts was not reported, the policy changes initiated during his tenure altered the distribution of federal resources across multiple sectors.

What happens next depends on legislative efforts in Congress and the future trajectory of Musk's private ventures. While he expressed in December 2025 that he would not return to a role like DOGE, his backing of Republican candidates in midterm elections suggests continued involvement in the political process. The thawing of his relationship with Mr. Trump may also influence future policy discussions or endorsements. Specific dates for votes on the proposed loophole legislation were not reported.

Timeline of what happened

Key dates and decisions, in the order they occurred.

  1. 2022

    Maye Musk becomes oldest woman on cover of Sports Illustrated

  2. December 2025

    Elon Musk states he would likely not lead DOGE again

Summaries are written by The Plain Record to state the facts of a story plainly and without political slant. Drafted with AI assistance and checked against the source record before publication. See how we report, or report a correction.

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Questions readers ask

What happened: Maye Musk Discusses Son’s Trillionaire Status and Federal Service in New Interview?

An interview with Maye Musk regarding her son Elon Musk and her memoir.

Who is involved?

Maye Musk, Elon Musk, Gayle King

When did this happen?

Wednesday (specific date not reported)

Where did this happen?

Broadcast on CBS Mornings

Why does this matter?

The interview provides insight into the personal history of Elon Musk and the public reaction to his recent work in government efficiency.