The couple was living in Boulder, Colorado, at the time, surrounded by “loads and loads of snow,” Riley recalled.

Christmas had arrived, but one crucial detail had slipped Musk’s mind: a gift for his wife.

When he realized the oversight, Musk didn’t try to hide it. Instead, he admitted, “It’s not that I don’t love you – I do really, really love you.

It’s just that my brain is exploding.” For most people, this might have been the end of the story – a missed gift, an apology, maybe a promise to make it up later.

But Musk, as Riley described, doesn’t conventionally approach problems.

That night, he disappeared without a word. Two hours later, Musk returned, his T-shirt and shorts soaking wet, his bare feet red from the cold.

He’d ventured into the Colorado snowstorm, walking through Boulder to find and handpick flowers.

“He came back with a little bouquet,” Riley said, “and he was like, ‘I just wanted to show you how much I loved you.’”