Maye Musk is very busy. As the mother of the world’s richest man Elon Musk, she often travels from place to place to attend events, especially in China.

This December, she attended a dinner party in Hangzhou, walked the red carpet at a cosmetics company event in Wuhan, and signed a Chinese translation of A Woman Makes a Plan .

Maye Musk signing books in Wuhan, China, December 11

Elon Musk is well known in China and is seen as a likely force for Beijing-friendly policies under the new Trump administration. However, he is also under scrutiny in China because of his ties to the US Department of Defense through his aerospace company SpaceX.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Maye Musk, who visits China almost every month, is considered the one who brings goodwill to her son’s ambition to expand his business and political influence globally.

The 76-year-old has been outspoken about her love for China on several occasions. “China is a country with advanced roads, tunnels, buildings, infrastructure, and ports. Every time I visit, I am amazed,” she wrote on X in October. In a November post, she posted a photo of a Tesla in Shanghai with a heart-shaped eye emoji.

Maye is a successful model and nutritionist. The story of the Canadian-𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧, South African-raised woman who traveled the world for her career and family has inspired Chinese fans.

“She represents the model of an independent, self-reliant woman. She has had a wealth of experience since she was young. Having lived in many countries, Maye has always had an open attitude towards culture and life, and has often chosen to leave her comfort zone,” a fan wrote on the Douban forum.

Maye has collaborated with a number of Chinese brands. Last year, she became a global ambassador for electronics company Oppo. This year, she became the face of mattress company AISE Baobao, and attended the opening of the brand’s Shanghai store in November.

She wore Chinese fashion label JNBY, walking the runway in Hangzhou. In October, she attended a party for Italian luxury brand Moncler in Shanghai, sharing photos of herself posing with singers Rihanna and A$AP Rocky on her Chinese social media account.

Maye Musk attends a dinner event in Hangzhou on December 7. Photo: Instagram/Maye Musk

The endorsement deals have helped her build a significant social media following, with 577,000 followers on Xiaohongshu, an Instagram-like platform, and 356,000 on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.

Yaling Jiang, founder of Following the Yuan, a consumer news site in China, said that Maye Musk’s fame is partly due to her son, and partly due to the “influencer elder” trend in China.

“Millennials and Generation Z admire people in their 60s and 90s who age gracefully,” Jiang said, noting that nearly 85% of Maye Musk’s followers on Xiaohongshu are women.

The details of Maye’s life also contribute to her appeal in China. In addition to her striking appearance, she is a strong-willed person who has overcome domestic violence. She once told of being beaten and bruised while pregnant, on her honeymoon with Errol Musk, Elon Musk’s father.

“Elon grew up in a violent family,” she said. Mr Errol denies domestic violence.

“She is a strong woman. In her life journey, from a housewife, Maye Musk became a world-famous model and raised three successful 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. This story is even more interesting than a Hollywood blockbuster,” a fan commented.

“Her life has inspired everyone. If you want to wear the crown, you have to bear the weight,” wrote another.

Mrs. Maye and her son Elon Musk in California in February. Photo: Reuters

Jiang predicts that Maye Musk will soon launch her own brand in China, possibly related to health or fitness, “to continue to cash in on her and Elon Musk’s popularity in the country.”

This judgment is not without foundation. Although she only started her career in China in recent years, Weibo users used a term usually reserved for veteran politicians in US-China relations to refer to Maye Musk: “old friend”.