Love him or hate him, Elon Musk is never far from the public eye. Lately, though, it’s not his business ventures or tweets making headlines—it’s his body.
On November 10, a photo showing Musk with a notably enlarged stomach and chest went viral on X (formerly Twitter), sparking wild speculation. Some wondered if he had developed “barrel chest,” a condition where the chest appears puffed up due to lung issues. Rumors flew: was Musk facing health problems?
But here’s the catch: the photo wasn’t real. It was digitally altered.
Despite multiple fact-checks confirming the image was manipulated, the post, which claimed Musk “always posts AI pictures of himself,” garnered millions of views and likes. It set off a frenzy of debates over Musk’s health.
The image was traced back to a YouTube video from June 2024, which featured a normal photo of Musk, later edited to exaggerate his chest and stomach. While Musk stayed silent on the matter, the internet ran wild with theories.
This isn’t the first time Musk’s body has been in the spotlight. Remember the viral yacht photos from a few years ago? When Musk was photographed shirtless on vacation, he was subjected to body-shaming but took it in stride, joking about “freeing the nip.”
Musk, 53, has been open about his weight loss journey, shedding over 20 pounds from what he called an “unhealthy peak weight.” He’s also known for his unconventional diet—steak, sushi, donuts, and zero veggies—but has credited intermittent fasting and the weight-management drug Wegovy for helping him stay in shape.
Whether it’s about his health, diet, or body, one thing’s clear: Elon Musk continues to be a subject of intense public fascination—even when the conversation’s about his body.