Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has long been a figure of fascination, but his newly revealed British family tree offers an unexpected glimpse into his heritage.
Tracing his roots back to Liverpool, Musk‘s lineage connects him to a working-class family that endured profound hardships and left a lasting impact on his life.
From Liverpool to Global Prominence
Musk‘s paternal grandmother, Cora Amelia Robinson, was born on August 16, 1923, in Liverpool’s Mossley Hill area. Growing up during the Great Depression, Cora faced significant adversity, including the challenges of poverty and the devastation of World War II bombings.
Despite these struggles, her resilience became a cornerstone of the family’s legacy.
Cora’s father, John Robinson, a Liverpool-born stonemason, spent time in South Africa, where he married Breghie Elizabeth Theron. Together, they had five children, including Cora, the youngest.
The family returned to Liverpool before World War I, and their modest home in Mossley Hill was eventually destroyed during German bombings, a likely factor in their partial return to South Africa.
In 1944, Cora married Walter Musk, a South African soldier who later worked in British intelligence. The couple had two sons, one of whom, Errol Musk, would go on to father Elon Musk.
Although Elon was raised in South Africa, his grandmother’s British roots deeply influenced his values and worldview.
A Family Divided by Time and Wealth
Musk‘s relatives in Britain have expressed a mix of fascination and frustration about their connection to the billionaire. Cora‘s siblings remained in Britain, with her brother Kenneth settling in Lancashire. His son, Marshall Robinson, still lives in Fleetwood, where he spoke about Musk‘s influence.
Reflecting on a family member’s attempt to reach out to Elon on social media, Marshall said, “One of the family did send him a message, and he just said, ‘What do you want?’ That was it.”
Musk‘s father, Errol, also confirmed the family’s Liverpool ties, noting that they had connections to The Beatles, who grew up with some of his relatives. Despite this heritage, Musk‘s engagement with his British roots appears to have been limited until recently. Strange.
Musk’s Reflections on His Grandmother’s Influence
Elon Musk has often credited his grandmother’s resilience and work ethic as defining influences in his life. In a recent social media post, he wrote: “My British grandmother, Cora Amelia Robinson, was an important part of my childhood. She was very strict but also kind, and I could always count on her. She grew up very poor in England during the Great Depression only to be bombed in WW2.”
As Musk continues to wield global influence, his reflections on his family’s journey from Liverpool to international prominence reveal a deeply personal side to the tech mogul.
His British heritage serves as a reminder of the hardships and perseverance that shaped the foundation of his career.