Elon Musk and his school days in a Rolls-Royce: Does his ‘not wealthy’ childhood narrative match the cost of studying at Pretoria Boys High?

Elon Musk and his school days in a Rolls-Royce: Does his ‘not wealthy’ childhood narrative match the cost of studying at Pretoria Boys High?
Elon Musk studied at Pretoria Boys High School

Elon Musk—the billionaire entrepreneur, Tesla CEO, and owner of X (formerly Twitter)—is no stranger to controversy. With a net worth of $436 billion as of January 2025, he is the richest man in the world. Despite his immense wealth, Musk has often described his childhood as difficult and far from privileged.
His father, Errol Musk, however, has a different story. In a recent interview, Errol refuted Musk’s claims, sharing that young Elon rode to school in a Rolls-Royce. But let’s set that aside for now and focus on something else—Musk’s school days.

Elon Musk’s School Days

Born to a South African father and a Canadian mother, Musk grew up in Pretoria, South Africa, attending some of the country’s top schools: Waterkloof House Preparatory, Bryanston High, and finally, Pretoria Boys High. Was Musk just another kid with big dreams? Or was the world’s richest man always destined for greatness? One thing’s for sure: When it comes to Musk, the story is never simple.

How Much Does It Cost to Study at Pretoria Boys High School?

Located in Brooklyn, Pretoria, Pretoria Boys High School is a well-regarded public boarding school. Curious about its 2025 fees? Let’s break it down:

School fees Combined school fees and boarding
Form 1 & II R 76,900 per annum

R 7,690 per month over ten months

R 168,700 per annum

R 16,870 per month over ten months

Form III & IV R 73,750 per annum

R 7,375 per month over ten months

R 165,550 per annum

R 15,555 per month over ten months

Form V R 75, 100 per annum

R 8, 345 per month over nine months. This includes a R1 350 refundable book deposit

R 166,900 per annum

R 18, 545 per month over 9

Boarding R 85,900 per annum. This is an additional amount of boarding per annum.

The above-mentioned fees in South African currency Rand. Now, let’s see how much it will cost in USD:

School fees Combined school fees and boarding
Form 1 & II $ 4,121.76 per annum

$ 412.18 per month over ten months

$9,042 per annum

$904.22 per month over ten months

Form III & IV $ 3,952.93 per annum

$ 395.29 per month over ten months

$ 8,873.31 per annum

$ 833.73 per month over ten months

Form V $ 4,025.28 per annum

$ 447.28 per month over nine months. This includes a R1 350 refundable book deposit

$ 8,945.67 per annum

$993.99 per month over 9

Boarding R 4,604.15 per annum. This is an additional amount of boarding per annum.

So, this is how much it costs to study at Pretoria Boys High School—the same institution where tech mogul Elon Musk once walked the halls. While Musk’s journey took him far beyond these classrooms, his early education in South Africa played a role in shaping the visionary entrepreneur he is today.

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