'We Couldn't Afford Suit': Billionaire Elon Musk's Mother Says He Wore '$99 Suit'

Musk's modest journey: Maye Musk, the mother of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, recently shared a photo from 1990, recalling the family's modest life in Toronto. In her tweet, she revealed that Elon wore a $99 suit every day to his bank job because they couldn’t afford a second one. The suit came with a free shirt, tie, and socks, making it an economical choice for the family at the time.

The photo was taken in their rent-controlled apartment, with a painting by Maye's mother visible in the background. “We were happy,” she wrote, reflecting on the simplicity of their life despite financial constraints.

The tweet, posted in response to a post by @cb_doge, has since gone viral, amassing over 7.1 million views. It offers a rare look at Elon Musk’s early years, long before he became a global business leader associated with Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter).

This photo was taken in our rent-controlled apartment in Toronto, with my mom‘s painting on the wall. The suit cost $99 which included a free shirt, tie and socks. A great bargain! He wore this suit every day to his bank job in Toronto. I couldn’t afford a second suit. We were… https://t.co/jh2SHOXwpe

— Maye Musk (@mayemusk) December 12, 2024

The tweet, which was a reply to a post about Elon Musk in 1990, has garnered over 7.1 million views, sparking conversations about the billionaire’s journey from humble beginnings to global prominence.

Today, Elon Musk is the CEO of multiple companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter). He has reshaped industries from electric vehicles to space exploration, becoming the world’s richest man with a net worth exceeding $200 billion.