Errol Musk: The Unconventional Father Who Raised a Billionaire and Two Millionaires

When the world speaks about Elon Musk, the conversation often revolves around rockets, electric cars, and his vision for life on Mars. Less frequently discussed is the man who helped shape the early life of the richest person on Earth: Errol Musk, a South African of Canadian descent, born in 1946.

Errol Musk is a mechanical and electrical engineer, pilot, sailor, former politician, consultant, and property developer. Yet, for all his accomplishments, he is most widely known as Elon Musk’s father — the man whose unorthodox parenting style helped raise not just a billionaire, but a family of self-made, high-achieving children.

A Life of Adventure and Exploration

The Musk family has always been a family of explorers. Adventure is practically in their DNA.

Errol’s grandmother was the first female chiropractor in Canada, and his parents were aviation pioneers, among the first to fly from South Africa to Australia in a single-engine aircraft. Following in their footsteps, Errol became a licensed pilot and sailor, in addition to building a career as an engineer and property developer.

This adventurous, risk-embracing lifestyle would heavily influence the way he raised his three children: Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca Musk.

Unorthodox Parenting: Freedom to Explore

When people discuss the upbringing of the Musk siblings, their mother, Maye Musk, often gets the spotlight. A resilient single mother, Maye juggled careers in modeling and nutrition while raising three children after her divorce from Errol.

But Errol’s influence was also significant — and unconventional.

He believed in “free-range” parenting, allowing his children freedom to explore, question, and take risks. In an interview with Forbes, Errol recalled the philosophy he applied during their childhood:

“We traveled a lot back then, after their mother and I divorced. The kids stayed with me, and I took them all over the world.”

From a young age, the Musk siblings were exposed to the wider world, absorbing experiences that would fuel their curiosity and independence. Errol rarely imposed strict rules and allowed his children to interact with life directly, believing that real-world experience was the ultimate classroom.

He often encouraged questions, problem-solving, and imagination. Speaking proudly about his eldest son, Errol shared:

“Even as a little boy, Elon’s mind surprised me. When he was just three or four, he asked, ‘Where is the whole world?’ That’s when I realized he was… different.”

Work Ethic and the Musk Family Philosophy

Despite the freedom they enjoyed, the Musk children grew up with a deep sense of discipline and work ethic.

During their childhood, Errol and Maye enrolled them in rigorous preparatory courses and summer programs, designed to sharpen their intellect and resilience. By leading through example, the parents instilled a lifelong belief in hard work.

Even in his later years, Errol continued to work on projects despite being financially comfortable. Likewise, Maye Musk, now in her seventies, continues to work as a model and motivational figure. The siblings absorbed the lesson: achievement comes through effort, not inheritance.

This approach to parenting meant that Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca all pursued their own paths to success without leaning on family wealth.

The Results: A Family of High Achievers

The results of this unconventional parenting style are undeniable.

• Elon Musk rose to become the world’s richest man, revolutionizing electric vehicles, space exploration, and technology through Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company.

• Kimbal Musk carved his own path as a chef, restaurateur, and philanthropist, running The Kitchen and a nonprofit dedicated to urban farming and healthy food education across the U.S.

• Tosca Musk pursued the arts, building a career as a film producer and director, founding Passionflix, a streaming platform for romance films.

None of the three became successful by simply inheriting wealth. Instead, they applied the curiosity, independence, and perseverance that their parents nurtured from childhood.

The Impact of a Free-Spirited Childhood

Growing up, the Musk children faced challenges: divorce, financial constraints, and the emotional turbulence of a nontraditional household. Elon himself has spoken about having a difficult childhood.

Yet, the environment of freedom, exploration, and intellectual stimulation provided by Errol Musk left an indelible mark. By giving his children the courage to explore, to fail, and to keep trying, he helped raise innovators and creators who thrive on risk and resilience.

Today, the Musk siblings are a living testament to the power of unconventional parenting:

• Encourage curiosity.

• Model hard work.

• Give children room to explore the world without fear.

As Elon pursues his dream of making humanity a multiplanetary species, Kimbal transforms urban food systems, and Tosca builds her creative empire, one lesson from their childhood remains clear:

Freedom to explore, coupled with a relentless work ethic, can raise a generation of extraordinary achievers.