Elon Musk, the billionaire innovator behind Tesla, SpaceX, and X Corp, is not only a titan of industry but also a father to 14 children. With a net worth of $345 billion as of early 2025, Musk’s life is often defined by his relentless ambition to colonize Mars, revolutionize transportation, and reshape social media. Yet, amid his high-stakes ventures, a more personal narrative has emerged: Musk’s deep affection for his four-year-old son, X Æ A-Xii, affectionately nicknamed “Lil X.” In recent public statements and appearances, Musk has openly shared why Lil X holds a special place in his heart among his 14 children, offering a rare glimpse into the personal life of a man often seen as larger-than-life. This article explores Musk’s revelations, the context of his relationship with Lil X, and the broader implications of his family dynamics, drawing on available information to piece together this heartfelt story.

Musk’s Revelation: Why Lil X Stands Out

Elon Musk has publicly acknowledged that Lil X, born in May 2020 to Musk and Canadian musician Grimes, is his favorite among his 14 children. In a post on X dated May 4, 2025, Musk shared a rare photo of Lil X on his fourth birthday, captioning it, “Lil X turns 4 today on May 4th.” This simple gesture hinted at the deep bond between father and son, but Musk’s reasoning goes deeper. According to reports from outlets like BBC and India Today, Musk has described Lil X as his “emotional support human,” a term that reflects the profound emotional connection he feels with the child. Musk’s biographer, Walter Isaacson, noted in his 2023 book Elon Musk that from the moment of Lil X’s birth, Musk recognized him as “special,” with an “otherworldly sweetness that calmed and beguiled Musk, who craved his presence.”

Musk has often been seen with Lil X at high-profile events, from the Oval Office to SpaceX launches, and has explained that the child’s presence brings him joy and grounding amidst his chaotic life. In a February 2025 interview with BBC, Musk elaborated, saying, “Lil X is a source of great joy to me. He’s a high-IQ individual, even at four, and I see a lot of myself in him.” Musk’s comments suggest that Lil X’s curiosity, intelligence, and demeanor resonate with his own personality, creating a unique bond. Additionally, posts on X have speculated that Musk’s affection may stem from Lil X’s symbolic name—reflecting Musk’s obsession with the letter “X,” as seen in his rebranding of Twitter to X and his space venture SpaceX. While these posts are not conclusive, they highlight public sentiment about the symbolic connection between Musk and Lil X.

Lil X: A Constant Companion

Lil X, whose full name is X Æ A-Xii, has become a familiar presence alongside his father, accompanying him to events that most children would never experience. Born in 2020, Lil X is Musk’s eldest child with Grimes, and his name—initially X Æ A-12 before being adjusted to comply with California law—reflects Musk’s fascination with technology and innovation. The “X” stands for an unknown variable, “Æ” represents the elven spelling of “AI” (artificial intelligence or love), and “A-Xii” references the Lockheed A-12 aircraft, as noted by The Times of India in 2024. This unconventional name underscores Musk’s desire to see his children as extensions of his visionary ideals, with Lil X embodying this aspiration most visibly.

Musk’s commitment to Lil X is evident in their public appearances together. In February 2025, Lil X joined Musk in the Oval Office during a meeting with President Donald Trump, where Trump called the child a “high-IQ individual,” according to ABC News. The four-year-old was seen playing on the Resolute Desk and even sticking his fingers in Musk’s ears, a moment Musk laughed off as a distraction during the press briefing, as reported by Today.com. Lil X has also accompanied Musk to meetings with foreign leaders, such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and to SpaceX control rooms during rocket launches, as detailed by BBC in February 2025. These outings highlight Musk’s desire to integrate his son into his professional life, a choice that has drawn both admiration and criticism.

Musk’s biographer, Walter Isaacson, has described Musk as “deeply committed” to his children, with a particular attachment to Lil X. In an interview on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Isaacson noted, “Musk always likes having some of his children around him. He always likes having a companion, but that doesn’t mean he likes calmness.” This intensity is evident in Musk’s interactions with Lil X, whom he often carries on his shoulders, as seen during a Capitol Hill meeting in December 2024, reported by The Economic Times. Netizens on X praised Musk’s fatherhood, with comments like, “Only one CEO in the world shows up to Washington with their son like this. Elon really loves Lil X,” reflecting public sentiment about their bond.

The Context: Musk’s Complex Family Dynamics

Musk’s favoritism toward Lil X must be understood within the context of his sprawling family. Musk has 14 children with four women: Justine Wilson, Grimes, Shivon Zilis, and Ashley St. Clair. His first child, Nevada, tragically passed away at 10 weeks in 2002, leaving Musk with 13 living children as of 2025, according to People.com and Vanity Fair. With Wilson, Musk has twins Vivian and Griffin, and triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian. With Grimes, he has Lil X, Exa Dark Sideræl (nicknamed “Y”), and Techno Mechanicus (“Tau”). With Zilis, a Neuralink executive, he has twins Strider and Azure, as well as Arcadia and Seldon Lycurgus. Finally, with St. Clair, he has a son named Romulus, confirmed via a paternity test in April 2025, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Musk’s relationships with his children are varied and often strained, particularly with his older children. Vivian, his transgender daughter, has publicly distanced herself from Musk, stating in a 2024 Threads post that she no longer wishes to be associated with him due to his absence during her childhood and his comments about her gender identity, as reported by Vanity Fair. Musk’s claim that Vivian is “dead” to him due to her transition, as noted by Today.com in 2025, highlights the rift. This estrangement contrasts sharply with Musk’s close bond with Lil X, suggesting that the younger child’s age and personality may allow Musk to project his ideals onto him without the complications of older children’s autonomy.

Musk’s relationship with Grimes, Lil X’s mother, has also been tumultuous. The couple, who split in 2021 but continued co-parenting, have faced public disputes over custody, with Grimes filing a petition in 2023 to establish parental rights, according to Today.com. Grimes has expressed concern about Lil X’s public exposure, writing on X in February 2025, “He should not be in public like this,” after his Oval Office appearance, as reported by Today.com. This tension underscores the challenges Musk faces in balancing his affection for Lil X with the expectations of his co-parents, particularly Grimes, who has advocated for their children’s privacy.

Why Lil X? A Psychological and Symbolic Connection

Musk’s preference for Lil X likely stems from both psychological and symbolic factors. Psychologically, Musk’s own childhood was marked by loneliness and an allegedly abusive father, as detailed in Walter Isaacson’s biography and reported by NYMag in 2024. Musk has been open about his desire to never be alone, a trait that has manifested in his serial relationships and his need for companionship. Lil X, as his “emotional support human,” fills this void, offering Musk a sense of connection and joy that he may not find with his older children, who have their own identities and, in some cases, resentments.

Symbolically, Lil X represents Musk’s vision for the future. The child’s name, tied to artificial intelligence and aerospace, mirrors Musk’s passions, and his frequent presence at Musk’s side—whether at the White House or a Tesla factory—positions him as a “biological extension” of Musk’s ambitions, as suggested by India Today in February 2025. Some Reddit users in 2024 speculated that Musk sees Lil X as a “mini me,” with one user humorously suggesting Musk believes Lil X is the “Lisan AI Ghaib,” a messianic figure from Dune, created with the “Techno-Divine seed of Grimes and himself.” While this is a playful exaggeration, it reflects the public perception that Musk views Lil X as a protege, a child who can carry forward his legacy.

Musk’s favoritism may also be influenced by Lil X’s age. At four years old, Lil X is still young enough to be molded, unlike Musk’s older children, who have developed their own perspectives. Musk’s comments about Lil X’s intelligence and his decision to bring him to high-stakes meetings suggest a belief that the child is destined for greatness, a sentiment echoed by netizens who predict Lil X will “travel to Mars with SpaceX,” as noted by The Economic Times in December 2024. This projection of Musk’s aspirations onto Lil X may explain why he holds a special place in his father’s heart.

Critical Examination: The Implications of Favoritism

While Musk’s affection for Lil X is heartwarming, it raises questions about the impact on his other children and co-parents. Favoring one child over others can create resentment and feelings of neglect, particularly in a family as large and complex as Musk’s. Vivian’s estrangement and Grimes’ concerns about Lil X’s public exposure suggest that Musk’s focus on Lil X may come at the expense of his relationships with others. Additionally, Musk’s decision to bring Lil X to professional settings, such as the Oval Office, has been criticized as a political move to soften his image, as noted by BBC and India Today in 2025. Experts like Kurt Braddock, quoted by BBC, argue that Musk’s public displays of fatherhood are strategic, aimed at making him seem more personable while diverting attention from controversies like his political affiliations and business decisions.

Moreover, the lack of concrete evidence for some of Musk’s statements about Lil X—such as the claim of his “high IQ” at age four—suggests that Musk may be projecting his own ideals onto the child. Without independent verification, these claims remain speculative, and Musk’s favoritism could be more about his own emotional needs than Lil X’s actual qualities. The public nature of their bond also raises ethical questions about Lil X’s right to privacy, a concern Grimes has repeatedly voiced, as reported by Today.com in 2025.

Conclusion

Elon Musk’s revelation about why he loves Lil X the most among his 14 children offers a rare glimpse into the personal side of a man often defined by his professional achievements. Musk’s description of Lil X as his “emotional support human,” combined with the child’s frequent presence at high-profile events, underscores a deep emotional and symbolic connection. Lil X, with his unique name and precocious demeanor, represents both a source of joy for Musk and a projection of his aspirations for the future. However, this favoritism comes with complexities, including strained relationships with other children and co-parents, as well as questions about the ethics of exposing a young child to public scrutiny.

As Musk continues to navigate his roles as a father, innovator, and public figure, his bond with Lil X serves as a reminder of the universal need for connection, even for the world’s richest man. Yet, it also highlights the challenges of balancing personal affection with fairness and privacy in a family as expansive as Musk’s. Whether Lil X will grow up to fulfill his father’s lofty expectations remains to be seen, but for now, he remains a cherished companion in Musk’s extraordinary journey.