Whether you like him or not, Elon Musk is constantly in the news.
But recently, a picture of the billionaire with an expanded chest and stomach went viral, sparking online discussion over his physique.
Many people speculated that Musk might have developed barrel chest, a disease in which the chest appears abnormally puffed out, after seeing the viral image.
There was a lot of conjecture: did Musk have a medical condition? Was there something more sinister going on here?
The real story behind the widely shared image
The name Elon Musk frequently elicits strong feelings and conversations, and lately, the conversation has expanded beyond his political beliefs and wealth. No, something far more intimate—his body—has become the newest hot topic.
On November 10, a picture of Musk with an abnormally huge chest and stomach went viral on X (previously Twitter), setting off a flurry of rumors.
The picture went viral and provoked powerful reactions, but there was a catch: it wasn’t authentic.
Many people didn’t appear to care that the image was altered, even if fact-checkers and other media outlets confirmed it. The now-defunct account “evan loves morf” published the tweet, which received millions of views and was disseminated around the network.
“He always posts AI pictures of himself because he actually looks like this,” the tweet said. The tweet included a photo of Musk created by artificial intelligence in addition to the disputed photograph. The tweet had over 17.4 million views and 423,000 likes in a short period of time.
The barrel chest of Elon Musk?
A few hours later, other X accounts shared the picture, which sparked conversations on Elon Musk’s body’s condition and the reason behind his protruding chest.
Many hypothesized that Musk might have “barrel chest,” a condition in which the chest seems puffed up or rounded, like a barrel.
Barrell chest is not a sickness in and of itself, but it can indicate a more serious health problem that is frequently connected to lung disorders.
The chest appears broader and more rounded as the lungs overfill with air, pushing out the ribs, chest, and upper back bones. Additionally, it may result in a shorter neck appearance, a raised collarbone, and a more noticeable sternum.
The source of the phony Elon Musk photo
All of these conjectures, in my opinion, were needless, particularly given that the disputed image was obviously altered. Although some people made snap judgments regarding Elon Musk’s physical condition, the truth is that the picture was manipulated.
According to Snopes, the manipulated image produced a false impression of Musk’s health and sparked a flurry of unfounded allegations.
A June 22, 2024, YouTube video titled “First Look Inside SpaceX’s Starfactory with Elon Musk” is where the altered image first appeared. A picture of Musk that was later altered to enlarge his chest and stomach appears at the two-minute mark in the film.
In order to produce the deceptive photograph that went viral, an unidentified user Photoshopped Musk’s chest and stomach. Despite the online commotion produced by the viral rumors, Musk has largely remained silent about the subject.
However, this is not the first time that the tech mogul’s physique or way of life has drawn notice.
Elon Musk’s widely shared yacht images: The Positive, the Negative, and the Body Shaming
Apart from the phony 2024 photo, Musk made waves a few years ago when he was pictured on a $20,000-per-week yacht while on vacation in the Aegean Sea.
Musk was shown shirtless in the viral photos, which sparked a wave of bullying and body-shaming. Musk, however, appeared unfazed.
He actually handled it well, jokingly replying on Twitter: “Hell, maybe I should take off my top more often. Let the nip go! (By the way, I’m now back in the factory).
Eating patterns and weight reduction
The 53-year-old Elon Musk has been candid about his diet and weight loss experience, acknowledging that he had lost more than 20 pounds from what he thought was a “unhealthy peak weight.”
Additionally, he acknowledged using Wegovy, a medication approved by the FDA for long-term weight control.
Musk is well-known for his alternating intervals of eating and fasting, which he claims has assisted him in controlling his weight. Additionally, he has acknowledged that his eating habits are not the healthiest.
Musk famously tweeted, for example, “I eat a donut every morning.” “Still alive,” in reaction to a physician who asserted that sugar is “poison.” He has a strong dislike for veggies and mostly eats steak, sushi, chocolate, coffee, and caffeine-free Diet Coke.
Musk’s physique is a subject of ongoing public debate.
Elon Musk’s body has been a frequent subject of discussion, frequently overshadowing his enormous achievements, thanks to viral images and arguments on his diet and health.
Musk tends to approach the criticism with a sense of humor, reminding the audience that he is just living his life, body rumors and all, just like everyone else.
One thing is for sure: Elon Musk never fails to enthrall the public with his actions, regardless of what’s on his plate (or not!). Online rumors regarding his health may have been based on a phony photo.
What about his physique? Regardless of the reality, it appears that will continue to be a topic of controversy.