The wealth of a single child could soon rival that of entire countries. This evening, Elon Musk is set to rewrite the human wealth rankings once more, as his most formidable asset, SpaceX, prepares for its listing on the Nasdaq.

This initial public offering is poised to become the largest fundraising event in human history. Musk's net worth is on a trajectory toward becoming the world's first trillionaire. This IPO will significantly boost his personal fortune once again.

For the average person, the first reaction to this news might be: "Can I buy shares?" However, a more fundamental and perhaps mundane question arises: with such a vast empire, who will inherit it? If ancient emperors bequeathed their kingdoms to their heirs, what Musk leaves for the next generation could include tickets to Mars, a global satellite network, neural interface technology, and a portfolio of company stakes that would baffle the ordinary person.

In reality, Musk has already identified his apparent successor, and the clues are visible in the public eye. The chosen one is X, the young child often seen on his lap, in his arms, or on his shoulders at various events.

Despite his young age, X's daily life involves being escorted by the world's wealthiest father to significant global events, meeting with heads of state, and receiving an elite education at a school Musk personally founded. Considering he is likely to eventually take over his father's commercial empire and inherit billions, the burden on his small shoulders is anything but light.

An Unusual Name and Mother

The extent of Musk's affection for his young son is hinted at in X's extraordinarily complex name: X ÆA-Xii. The first part, 'X,' represents the letter Musk is famously fascinated by, symbolizing mystery and the unknown. Early in his career, he founded the financial services platform X.com. His space venture is named SpaceX. Tesla Motors' flagship vehicle is the Model X. After acquiring Twitter, he swiftly rebranded the platform as X.

Giving his beloved letter to his son as a name carries an air of ancient emperors bestowing their royal surname upon meritorious officials. The second part, 'Æ,' symbolizes artificial intelligence (AI) and 'love,' pronounced "Ash." In an era where tech giants are all-in on AI, this name reflects high expectations. 'Xii' is the Roman numeral for 12, a nod to the A-12, Musk's favorite reconnaissance aircraft, which evolved into the famous SR-71 Blackbird.

While these elements are dear to Musk, the combined name strikes many as highly abstract. In fact, Musk hadn't settled on a name until the day before X's birth, as he initially thought the baby would be a girl.

X's mother is the Canadian musician Grimes. In 2018, the pair connected over a niche joke spanning AI and art on Twitter, discovering a shared concept Grimes had used in a music video years prior. They quickly became an item, famously attending the Met Gala together that year, their contrasting styles making headlines.

At their most intimate, they even used matching anime profile pictures. However, this "soulmate" connection was short-lived. Musk, having been through two marriages, proved difficult to tie down. By 2021, the pair were semi-separated. Although they later had two more children together via IVF and surrogacy, their relationship had fractured, culminating in legal battles over custody of their three children.

The Favorite of the World's Richest Man

Typically, Musk might move on from such relationships. He has no shortage of partners or children. So, what makes X his favorite? The answer lies in Musk's personal challenges.

Musk has publicly stated he has Asperger's syndrome, a condition on the autism spectrum often characterized by social difficulties but sometimes accompanied by high intelligence. Furthermore, Musk's first child with his ex-wife, a son named Alexander, died of sudden infant death syndrome at just ten weeks old in 2002. Haunted by this tragedy and his own neurological profile, Musk lost confidence in natural conception. All his subsequent children have been conceived via in vitro fertilization.

Even with genetic screening, three of Musk's children exhibit varying degrees of autistic traits. Against this backdrop, the healthy X cleared the first hurdle in his father's eyes. His birth also coincided with a period when Musk's psychological defenses were low, allowing X to capture a rare share of his father's tenderness.

In a sense, X is also a "first son" for Musk in a long time. When X was born in 2020, his most recent sibling was from 2006. For over a decade, Musk had been singularly focused on his mission to get humanity to Mars. The arrival of X filled a void, providing a taste of family life Musk had missed during his ascent. Grimes also chose to carry X herself rather than use a surrogate, a risky decision that resulted in a severe postpartum hemorrhage, an act that likely elevated X's importance to Musk during their happier times.

In 2022, when Musk's older child, Xavier, publicly transitioned and cut ties, a devastated Musk began placing greater emphasis on the upbringing of his other children. To ensure X didn't stray, Musk founded the Ad Astra private school in 2024, aimed at cultivating "innovators for the interstellar age." X now studies there under his father's watchful eye.

The Son Who Resembles His Father Gets the Royal Treatment

Ultimately, the deciding factor for paternal favoritism is often the father's own perception. Evolutionary psychology discusses "paternal uncertainty," where fathers tend to favor the child who most resembles them. X is a carbon copy of his father. Beyond looks, he has inherited Musk's intelligence and focus, showing an unusual interest in rockets, space, and aerospace. Musk makes no secret of his adoration.

Biographer Walter Isaacson recorded a scene where Musk, feeling the weight of his work late at night, would sneak into X's bedroom, pick him up, and hold him for a while to recharge before quietly leaving. Furthermore, bringing the charming and unflappable X to major events guarantees media attention, effectively serving as a tool for Musk to cultivate a relatable public image. During a high-profile visit, X's cute outfit and demeanor stole the spotlight, even trending the traditional-style vest and tiger-head bag he wore.

If this close relationship continues, a significant portion of Musk's vast commercial empire is likely destined for X. Musk's personal wealth already exceeds $800 billion. With SpaceX's upcoming Nasdaq listing—potentially the largest IPO ever—his net worth is expected to surpass the $1 trillion mark, making him history's first trillionaire.

Burdened from a young age with a fortune beyond comprehension, X is poised to embark on a life journey of unimaginable scale. It's a path that inspires a complex mix of emotions, to say the least.