Elon Musk's Ex-Wife Reveals the Secret to Becoming a Billionaire Like Him: "Determination and Hard Work Won't Make You Rich"

In a world obsessed with the glamour of wealth, the allure of becoming a billionaire often seems to stem from hard work, perseverance, and relentless dedication. For many aspiring entrepreneurs, this is the dream: determination, coupled with a willingness to grind through the obstacles of life, will eventually lead to unimaginable wealth.

But what if that’s not enough? What if, despite all the effort, becoming a billionaire requires far more than just hard work?

Ten years ago, Justine Musk—Elon Musk’s ex-wife—pulled back the curtain on this question, offering a brutally honest response that struck like a lightning bolt. Justine, who had witnessed her former husband’s transformation from a hopeful startup founder into the billionaire mogul who would later redefine industries, dared to dispel the myth that sheer determination is the key to becoming a billionaire.

In a Quora thread that would go viral, Justine answered the question, “Will I become a billionaire if I’m determined and willing to do the work?” Her answer was clear, and it wasn’t what most people expected. In fact, it was a blunt rejection of the very idea that hard work and determination are enough to join the ranks of the world’s wealthiest.

Her response wasn’t just a buzzkill; it was a wake-up call—a reality check from someone who had been on the inside, watching the transformation of a man she once shared her life with. Justine, an accomplished author and the mother of five of Elon Musk’s children, had the unique perspective of seeing the person behind the mogul.

She had been there before the Teslas, the rockets, and the Twitter takeovers. She knew Elon before he became a household name, when he was simply a man with big ideas and bigger dreams.

In her response, she didn’t mince words. “No,” she wrote, flatly rejecting the notion that someone could simply will their way to wealth. Her reasoning?

While determination and hard work are important, they are not the ultimate answer. According to Justine, they are merely the baseline. “Determination and hard work are necessary, yes, but they are the minimum requirements,” she stated, with brutal honesty.

It’s a simple yet powerful message that challenges the conventional wisdom that is so often peddled to aspiring entrepreneurs.

But what is the real secret to becoming a billionaire, according to Justine? She argued that it’s not about desire or sheer will. It’s about becoming irreplaceable. It’s about developing something so valuable, so unique, that the world can’t afford to ignore it.

“You haven’t been racing naked through shark-infested waters yet,” she quipped in her now-famous post. This line encapsulates her point: becoming a billionaire isn’t just about working hard; it’s about navigating through the most perilous waters, overcoming the toughest challenges, and doing so in a way that no one else can.

Justine’s advice was both sobering and insightful. She encouraged those seeking wealth to become masters of two completely different fields. For example, she suggested combining engineering with business and fusing those disciplines into something entirely new. Her reasoning?

When you bring together two distinct skill sets, you create a fertile ground for innovative ideas to collide. In her words, “So your skills can have idea sex and make idea babies.” Though her metaphor may not have been traditional, it was certainly effective in conveying the point that true innovation comes from blending knowledge in unexpected ways.

Justine’s post resonated with millions of readers. With over a million views and more than 23,000 upvotes, her words became an instant hit. However, she was quick to express her surprise at the response, later editing the post to say that she was “blown away and appreciative” by the overwhelming support.

Since then, Justine has largely remained silent on Quora, with her profile linking to a now-defunct personal blog, and her posts slowly fading into the background of the internet. Despite the attention her response garnered, she hasn’t returned to the platform, and her presence in the public eye has diminished.

But Justine Musk’s insight into wealth creation didn’t come from a place of bitterness or jealousy. Instead, it was born from firsthand experience. She met Elon Musk when they were both undergraduates at Queen’s University in Canada. She was 18, he was 19, and from the very start, their relationship was tumultuous.

They married, had six children (one of whom tragically passed away), and eventually divorced after eight years of marriage. Justine famously recalled Elon telling her on their wedding day, “I am the alpha in this relationship.”

It was a stark reflection of the power dynamics that would define much of their relationship. Despite their personal struggles, Justine’s perspective as someone who witnessed Elon’s rise from the beginning gives her a rare, insider view of what it truly takes to make it in the world of the ultra-wealthy.

In her own right, Justine has become a successful author, known for her fantasy novels like BloodAngel, Lord of Bones, and Uninvited. She’s also become known for her candid and critical takes on societal issues, especially those surrounding gender and patriarchy.

In a 2010 essay for Marie Claire, she pushed back against the glorification of "alpha males," calling the obsession with them “largely bullsh*t.” Justine’s sharp wit and willingness to challenge mainstream thinking have marked her as someone unafraid to speak her truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

When it comes to the notion of becoming a billionaire, Justine’s advice is both sobering and empowering. She teaches that success doesn’t just require hard work—it requires an entirely new approach to life and business. According to Justine, to achieve the kind of wealth that Elon Musk has accumulated, you must be willing to swim with sharks, reinvent yourself, and master two disparate fields.

You need to create something so groundbreaking that it changes the world in ways others didn’t even know were possible.

But even then, as Justine pointed out, luck still plays a role. It’s not enough to be brilliant or hardworking.

You need to be in the right place at the right time, and sometimes, that’s simply out of your control. Luck, timing, and circumstance all contribute to the equation of billionaire success.

Justine’s words offer a refreshing contrast to the pervasive "hustle culture" that often dominates entrepreneurial circles. In a world that frequently romanticizes the idea of working around the clock, Justine offers a reality check: it’s not about the number of hours you work or the sheer force of your determination.

It’s about the ideas you create, the risks you take, and the value you bring to the table. It’s about making yourself so indispensable that the world has no choice but to pay attention to you.

In a way, Justine Musk’s perspective can be seen as both a cautionary tale and a source of inspiration. She’s seen firsthand how the world of the ultra-wealthy operates, and she’s not afraid to share the hard truths.

Becoming a billionaire isn’t just about dreaming big and working hard; it’s about playing the game on a completely different level, one that involves innovation, luck, and the ability to navigate through perilous waters without losing your way.

As for the aspiring billionaires out there, Justine’s message is clear: success is not guaranteed, no matter how hard you try.

But if you’re willing to risk it all, reinvent yourself, and think in ways no one else does, then maybe—just maybe—you’ll have a chance. And that’s the reality of becoming a billionaire, according to the woman who watched Elon Musk build an empire from the ground up.