Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of X (formerly Twitter), surprised everyone by changing his profile name to “Kekius Maximus” on December 31 2024.
Why Elon Musk Changed His Name on X
This change included an updated profile picture of Pepe the Frog dressed as a Roman gladiator. The move has sparked widespread discussion across social media and news outlets, with many speculating about its meaning and purpose.
The name change appears to be a mix of Musk’s unique humor, an embrace of meme culture, and his penchant for making bold, unpredictable moves. Musk hinted at this shift in a post referencing the video game Path of Exile 2, joking that “Kekius Maximus will soon reach level 80 in hardcore PoE”, a nod to his interest in gaming.
What is “Kekius Maximus”?
The name “Kekius” originates from “kek”, a term popular in gaming culture, similar to “LOL” (laugh out loud). It has also been linked to online meme communities and even the ancient Egyptian god Kek, sometimes depicted with a frog’s head. Adding “Maximus” to the name evokes imagery of Maximus Decimus Meridius, the heroic gladiator from the film Gladiator.
Musk’s updated profile picture further reinforces the gladiator theme, featuring the iconic meme character Pepe the Frog in Roman military attire, holding what resembles a gaming controller. This playful combination ties together Musk’s love for memes, gaming, and his appreciation for historical and pop culture references.
Interestingly, the name change has also influenced cryptocurrency markets. A memecoin named “Kekius Maximus” saw its value skyrocket following Musk’s update. Although there’s no confirmation of Musk’s involvement with the token, the incident highlights his ongoing influence over meme-driven markets.
Musk hasn’t offered a detailed explanation for the name change, leaving fans and followers to interpret its meaning.
