Elon Musk – whether you admire him or not – is always in the spotlight.
Recently, though, the billionaire became the center of online discussions after a photo emerged showing him with a noticeably larger stomach and chest.
This viral image ignited a wave of speculation, with many questioning whether Musk might be experiencing barrel chest, a condition characterized by a protruding chest.
Questions ran rampant — was there a hidden health issue at play? Could this indicate something more serious?
The truth behind the viral image.
Elon Musk is a figure that often elicits strong reactions and debates – and lately, the conversation has shifted from his political stances and immense wealth to something much more personal: his physical appearance.
The speculation took off on November 10, when a photo of Musk showcasing an unusually enlarged stomach and chest gained traction on X (formerly Twitter).
The image rapidly circulated and elicited intense reactions, but there was a significant issue – it was fake. Even though numerous media sources and fact-checkers verified that the image had been altered, this fact seemed to have little impact on many users. The tweet, from the now-defunct account “evan loves morf,” garnered millions of views and was widely shared on the platform.
The tweet stated, “He always shares AI-generated images of himself because he actually looks like this.” Accompanying the controversial image was an AI-created photo of Musk. The tweet quickly gained popularity, amassing over 17.4 million views and 423,000 likes.
Elon Musk barrel chest?
Hours later, the image began circulating on various accounts on X, igniting conversations about the state of Elon Musk’s body and the unusual prominence of his chest.
Many people speculated that Musk might be experiencing a condition known as “barrel chest,” which causes the chest to look rounded or inflated, similar to a barrel. While it isn’t classified as a disease, barrel chest can indicate an underlying health issue, often associated with lung problems.
When the lungs become overinflated, they can push against the ribs, chest, and upper back bones, resulting in a larger and rounder chest appearance. This condition may also cause the sternum to protrude more, elevate the collarbone, and create the illusion of a shorter neck.
Origin of the fake photo of Elon Musk.
I believe all the speculation was unwarranted, especially since the image was clearly edited. While some rushed to make assumptions about Musk’s health and physique, the truth is that the photo had been manipulated.
As confirmed by Snopes, the edited image fostered a misleading narrative about Musk’s health, leading to a flurry of unfounded rumors.
The source of the altered image can be traced back to a YouTube video released on June 22, 2024, titled “First Look Inside SpaceX’s Starfactory with Elon Musk.” At around the 2-minute mark, there is a photo of Musk that was subsequently modified to exaggerate the size of his chest and stomach.
An unidentified individual manipulated a photo, artificially enlarging Musk’s chest and stomach, resulting in a misleading image that quickly spread online. Although this viral speculation generated quite a buzz, Musk has largely remained silent about it.
This isn’t the first instance where the tech entrepreneur’s physique or lifestyle has drawn public interest.
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In addition to the altered photo from 2024, Musk made headlines a few years back when he was spotted on a $20,000-per-week yacht in the Aegean Sea during a vacation.
The viral images showed Musk without a shirt, leading to a surge of body-shaming and trolling. However, Musk remained unfazed by the reactions.
He handled it with humor, responding on Twitter: “Haha damn, maybe I should take off my shirt more often … free the nip!! (by the way, I’m already back in the factory).”
When it comes to his eating habits and weight loss journey, Elon Musk, 53, has been candid about shedding over 20 pounds from what he described as an “unhealthy peak weight.” He has also acknowledged using Wegovy, a medication approved by the FDA for long-term weight management.
Musk is known for his intermittent fasting approach, alternating between fasting and eating periods, which he claims has been beneficial for his weight control. He has admitted that his eating habits aren’t the healthiest.
For example, he once tweeted, “I eat a donut every morning. Still alive,” in response to a doctor labeling sugar as “poison.” His diet primarily includes steak, sushi, chocolate, coffee, and caffeine-free Diet Coke, while he notably avoids vegetables.
Elon Musk’s physique has become a frequent subject of public discourse. From viral images to discussions about his health and diet, his body often garners more attention than his significant achievements.
Despite facing some harsh criticism, Musk seems to embrace it with a light-hearted attitude, reminding everyone that he’s just living his life — donuts and all.
While online rumors about his health may have stemmed from a misleading image, one thing remains clear: Elon Musk continues to intrigue the world with his actions, including his food choices.
As for his body? It appears that it will continue to be a topic of conversation, regardless of the facts.
