Whether you love him or hate him, Elon Musk rarely stays out of the spotlight.
However, a photo of the tycoon with an expanded stomach and chest appeared recently, sparking internet buzz.
The viral photograph sparked a frenzy of discussion, with many questioning whether Musk had acquired a barrel chest, a condition in which the chest seems abnormally puffed up.
The suspicion was rampant: Does Musk have an underlying health issue? Was this an indication of anything more serious?
Elon Musk is a name that frequently elicits passionate reactions and debates—and it’s not only about his political beliefs or billions of dollars in the bank. No, the recent hot subject has been much more personal: his body.
The conjecture peaked on November 10, when a photo of Musk with an extremely huge stomach and chest became popular on X (previously Twitter).
The image swiftly circulated and elicited tremendous emotions, but there was one problem: it was not genuine. Despite numerous media sites and fact-checkers verifying the image’s modification, many people appeared unconcerned. The tweet, issued by the now-defunct account “evan loves morf,” had millions of views and was widely shared on the network.
The message contained the following: “He always posts AI pictures of himself because he actually looks like this.” Along with the photograph in question, the post included an artificial intelligence-generated portrait of Musk. The tweet immediately grabbed attention, with over 17.4 million views and 423,000 likes.
Hours later, the image was shared by other X accounts, provoking debate about what had happened to Elon Musk’s physique and why his chest was displayed so prominently.
Many hypothesized that Musk may have “barrel chest,” a condition in which the chest appears rounded or puffed up, resembling a barrel. While barrel chest is not a sickness in and of itself, it might indicate an underlying health problem, which is frequently associated with lung diseases.
When the lungs overfill with air, they push out the ribs, chest, and upper back bones, making the chest look broader and rounder. It can also result in a larger sternum, a raised collarbone, and a shorter neck look.
All of these hypotheses, in my opinion, were unwarranted, especially given how blatantly faked the image was. Others made assumptions about Elon Musk’s health and appearance, but in reality, the shot underwent editing.
According to Snopes, the edited photo established a deceptive narrative about Musk’s health, prompting a cascade of unfounded allegations.
The modified picture originated from a YouTube video titled First Look Inside SpaceX’s Starfactory with Elon Musk, which was released on June 22, 2024. Around the 2-minute point in the movie, there’s a shot of Musk that has been modified to make his chest and stomach look bigger.
An anonymous user manipulated the shot, expanding Musk’s chest and stomach to produce the false image that went viral. While the viral rumor has made a stir online, Musk has largely been silent on the subject.
However, this is not the first time the tech mogul’s body—or lifestyle—has piqued people’s interest.
In addition to the phony photo from 2024, Musk made news a few years ago for being spotted on vacation in the Aegean Sea aboard a $20,000-per-week boat.
The photographs, which went viral, showed Musk shirtless, resulting in a wave of body-shaming and bullying. But Musk remained unfazed.
He took it in stride and responded hilariously on Twitter: “Haha damn, maybe I should take off my shirt more often…” Free the nipples! I am already back at the plant, by the way.
Elon Musk, 53, has been upfront about his diet and weight reduction quest, claiming that he lost more than 20 pounds from what he termed an “unhealthy peak weight.”
He also acknowledged using Wegovy, an FDA-approved medicine used for chronic weight control.
Musk is known for his intermittent fasting habit, which he claims has helped him control his weight. He has also admitted to not having the healthiest eating habits.
Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram
For example, Musk famously tweeted, “Every morning, I eat a donut.” In response to a doctor declaring that sugar is “poison,” he said, “I’m still alive.” His diet consists primarily of steak, sushi, chocolate, coffee, and caffeine-free Diet Coke, with a strong dislike for veggies.
From viral images to disputes over his diet and health, Elon Musk’s physique has been a constant source of discussion, frequently overshadowing his incredible accomplishments.
Musk appears to accept the often harsh criticism, reminding the audience that, like everyone else, he’s simply living his life—donuts and body rumors included.
The internet conjecture about his health may have been based on a phony photograph, but one thing is certain: Elon Musk continues to captivate the globe with everything he does, including what’s on his plate (or not!).
What about his body? Whatever the reality is, it appears that this will continue to be a topic of controversy.