When Cantor became terminally ill, a nasty dispute ensued between his wife, Iris, and Mr Lutnick over control of the firm. When they finally settled in Delaware’s court of chancery, Mr Lutnick held up his six-day-old baby in triumph. He felt like Mufasa, the father in “The Lion King”. Mrs Cantor barred him from the funeral. But he had won.

WHILE AT MAR-A-LAGO FOR HIS transition meetings, Trump is often shadowed by Lutnick as well as billionaire adviser Elon Musk. Lutnick has an ally in the Tesla and X CEO who, on Saturday, denigrated hedge fund executive and fellow treasury secretary shortlister Scott Bessent.