Maye Musk Stuns on the Cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit at Age 74: 'I Really Am Living the Best Life Ever' Elon Musk's mother has reached another career milestone at the ripe age of 74.

By Emily Rella Edited by Amanda Breen

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Jason Mendez | Stringer | Getty Images

If Elon Musk has taught the world anything, it's that the things in life that other people may think are impossible certainly are not, and after starting Tesla at age 32, he showed that age is but a number when it comes to hitting career milestones.

Well, it looks like the billionaire learned this from his mother, Maye Musk, as Sports Illustrated announced on Monday that the 74-year-old model would be gracing the cover of the company's coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition for 2022.

"I didn't think age would be a problem because as a dietician and a scientist, age is not a problem. I'm just so happy that people are actually booking me for talks on ageism and how to feel good about yourself at any age," Musk told SI in her cover feature. "I'm also very proud that I can give a message to women in the world to aim for happiness, do things you like to do, mix with nice people, be kind to everyone because you never know and pursue whatever you'd wish to do. I really am living the best life ever, and I never expected it."

Related: Elon Musk Steals the Show at 2022 Met Gala With Surprise Date, Spills Details on Twitter Goals: 'I'm Definitely on the War Path'

Musk joins the ranks of Kim Kardashian, musician Ciara and model Yumi Nu in the four editions of the 2022 cover.

The mother to Elon (50), Kimball (49) and Tosca (47) began modeling at age 15 but started making her biggest breaks in the industry after she reached the milestone age of 60 — something she contributes to her grey hair that developed later in her life.

To name a few of her late-in-life achievements, the model (and dietician) posed nude for the cover of New York Magazine in 2011, became CoverGirl's oldest spokeswoman in 2017 at age 69, starred in Beyonce's music video for Haunted in 2014 and walked for the first time during New York Fashion Week in 2015 for Malan Breton.

But when asked, Musk will still say that being a mom is the gig she's most proud of.

"I'm most proud of my three kids; of course," Musk said. "I'm very excited for everything they do."

Elon and his mother stepped out together earlier this month when he brought her as his date to this year's Met Gala, to the surprise and delight of many on the red carpet.

Related: Elon Musk's Mom Tweeted a Baby Photo of the Tesla CEO to Mark His 50th Birthday

Tosca, Musk's youngest and only daughter, penned an essay for Sports Illustrated honoring her mother and the milestone cover, calling her the "most fearless woman" and an "uncontainable force."

"My goal is to empower women. My oldest brother, Elon, is all about humanity, making sure we survive. My middle brother, Kimbal, is all about food transparency, making sure people understand their own health," Musk wrote about her siblings. "I think my mom inspired us to do all those things. Today, she still rarely misses an opportunity to fly in and support us in person at our events across the globe."

Maye Musk's net worth is an estimated $20 million.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

You Can Get Paid $18,000 More a Year By Adding AI Skills to Your Resume, According to a New Study

Employers are emphasizing AI skills — and are willing to pay a lot more if you have them.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

The Difference Between Entrepreneurs Who Survive Crises and Those Who Don't

In a business world accelerated by AI, visibility alone is fragile. Here's how strategic silence and consistency can turn reputation into your most powerful asset.

Leadership

7 Steps to De-Risking Big Business Decisions Before They Backfire

When the stakes are high, these seven steps can help you avoid costly mistakes, eliminate bias and make smarter decisions that actually scale.

Employee Experience & Recruiting

Here's the Real Reason Your Employees Are Checked Out — And the Missing Link That Could Fix It

Most disengaged employees aren't exhausted — they're disconnected, and storytelling may be the key to rebuilding that connection.

Business News

United Airlines Says It Is Adding Extra Flights in Case Spirit 'Suddenly Goes Out of Business'

Rival airlines, including United and Frontier, are adding new routes as Spirit cuts 12 cities from its schedule.