Whether he admits it or not, it’s clear that Elon Musk gives special attention to the son he shares with the famous singer. Recently, the little boy “crashed” one of Musk’s interviews, and it didn’t take much effort for him to impress the internet. All he had to do was say his name!
Until recently the richest man in the world, Elon Musk—the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as the owner of several other companies—has also been known for his advocacy of increasing the global birthrate. Musk himself has a large family: he has 11 children with three different women and was a father 12 times, though his first son, Nevada, tragically passed away as a baby. While Musk generally tries to keep his family private and his children out of the media spotlight, there is one notable exception: little X.
The boy, born to Musk and singer Grimes in May 2020, quickly became a standout. It didn’t take long for it to become clear that he’s the billionaire’s favorite. Musk has broken many of his own rules, frequently appearing with X at public events. In an interview, Grimes once mentioned, “X is out in the world now” and described him as a sort of “dad’s protégé.”
The boy was famously named X Æ A-12 at birth. Recently, he made an adorable appearance during one of Musk’s interviews with well-known host Tucker Carlson. At one point, X climbed into his father’s lap and introduced himself.
“We’ve got mini-me here!” Musk said. “Mini-me, you complete me!”
Carlson then asked X what his name was, and the boy casually pronounced his full name—a feat that would leave most adults stumbling.
What does Elon Musk’s son’s name, X Æ A-12, mean?
As soon as Elon Musk and Grimes announced their child’s name, social media exploded with jokes and speculation about the inspiration behind it. Grimes later cleared up the mystery herself and explained the meaning of their son’s unique name:
- X represents an unknown variable.
- Æ is the Elvish character for AI, referring to artificial intelligence.
- A-12 is a nod to their favorite aircraft, the SR-71. As Grimes described, it’s “no weapons, no defenses, just speed. Great in battle, but nonviolent.”
