Elon Musk – whether adored or criticized – is never far from the spotlight. Recently, however, the billionaire’s physical appearance became the center of online attention after a photo emerged showing him with an unusually enlarged stomach and chest.
The image quickly went viral, sparking a wave of speculation. Many wondered if Musk had developed a barrel chest, a condition where the chest appears unusually puffed out.
The questions poured in—was there an underlying health issue? Could this be a sign of something more serious? The speculation began to escalate on November 10, when the photo of Musk with an enlarged stomach and chest spread across X (formerly Twitter), stirring up conversations far beyond his usual business and political stances.
The image quickly spread online, sparking strong reactions, but there was one major issue—it wasn’t real. Despite numerous media outlets and fact-checkers confirming that the photo had been manipulated, it didn’t seem to faze many users. The tweet, originally posted by the now-archived account “evan loves morf,” went viral, amassing millions of views and being shared widely across the platform.
The tweet read, “He always posts AI pictures of himself because he actually looks like this,” and included both the altered image of Musk and an AI-generated photo of the billionaire. The post quickly gained momentum, racking up over 17.4 million views and 423,000 likes.
Is Elon Musk’s Chest a Barrel Shape?
Within hours, the image spread across multiple accounts on X, igniting discussions about Elon Musk’s appearance and the noticeable prominence of his chest.
Many speculated that Musk might be showing signs of “barrel chest,” a condition where the chest appears rounded or puffed up, resembling a barrel. While barrel chest itself isn’t classified as a disease, it can be a sign of an underlying health issue, often related to lung conditions.
The condition occurs when the lungs become overinflated, pushing against the ribs, chest, and upper back bones, causing the chest to appear larger and more rounded. It can also lead to a more prominent sternum, raised collarbones, and a shorter-looking neck.
Origin of the fake photo of Elon Musk
In my view, much of the speculation surrounding the image was unnecessary, especially given that it was clearly manipulated. While some rushed to conclusions about Elon Musk’s health and body, the truth is that the photo had been altered.
As confirmed by Snopes, the edited photo created a misleading narrative about Musk’s health, sparking rumors that were far from accurate.
The origin of the manipulated image can be traced back to a YouTube video uploaded on June 22, 2024, titled First Look Inside SpaceX’s Starfactory with Elon Musk. Around the 2-minute mark of the video, there’s a photo of Musk, which was later modified to make his chest and stomach appear larger.
An unknown individual edited the photo, artificially enlarging Musk’s chest and stomach to create the misleading image that quickly went viral. While the speculation surrounding the photo sparked a lot of online buzz, Musk has largely remained silent on the issue. However, this isn’t the first time the tech mogul’s body or lifestyle has drawn attention from the public.
Elon Musk’s viral yacht photos: The Good, the Bad, and the body Shaming
Alongside the fake photo from 2024, Musk also made headlines a few years ago when he was photographed vacationing in the Aegean Sea aboard a $20,000-per-week yacht.
The images, which quickly went viral, showed Musk shirtless, leading to a surge of body-shaming and online trolling. However, Musk remained unfazed by the criticism.
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In fact, Musk took it all in stride, responding with humor on Twitter: “Haha damn, maybe I should take off my shirt more often… free the nip!! (already back in the factory btw).”
Eating habits and weight Loss
Elon Musk, 53, has been candid about his diet and weight loss journey, revealing that he has lost over 20 pounds from what he considered an “unhealthy peak weight.” He has also shared that he uses Wegovy, an FDA-approved medication for chronic weight management.
Known for his intermittent fasting routine, Musk alternates between fasting and eating periods, which he claims has been effective in helping him maintain his weight. He’s also admitted that his eating habits aren’t the healthiest. For example, Musk famously tweeted, “I eat a donut every morning. Still alive,” in response to a doctor who called sugar “poison.” His diet mainly consists of steak, sushi, chocolate, coffee, and caffeine-free Diet Coke, and he has a clear dislike for vegetables.
Musk’s Body: A Constant Subject of Public Scrutiny
From viral images to debates about his diet and health, Elon Musk’s body has consistently been a topic of public conversation, often overshadowing his significant achievements. Despite the frequent criticism, Musk appears to take it all in stride, reminding everyone that, like anyone else, he’s just living his life — donuts, body speculations, and all.
While the online health rumors may have been sparked by a manipulated image, one thing is clear: Elon Musk continues to captivate the public’s attention with everything he does — even when it comes to what’s on his plate (or not!). As for his body? It seems that will remain a subject of discussion, regardless of the facts.