Elon Musk, the tech billionaire known for inciting controversy and debate, recently became the focus of attention for a personal reason: his body.
A manipulated image of Musk with an abnormally enlarged stomach and chest began circulating online, sparking a frenzy of speculation about his health.
On November 10, 2024, a fake photo of Musk with a barrel-shaped chest went viral on X (formerly Twitter). The image quickly spread, sparking rumors about Musk’s health and raising the possibility that he had developed barrel chest. The tweet, sent by a now-defunct account, received millions of views and widespread shares.
As the manipulated image spread, many online users speculated that Musk might have “barrel chest.” This condition causes the chest to appear abnormally rounded and puffed up, and is frequently associated with lung issues. As the discussion progressed, some wondered if Musk’s image indicated an underlying health problem.
Despite the online frenzy, the viral image was not authentic. Fact-checkers and media outlets, including Snopes, confirmed the image’s alteration.
The image was digitally altered from a YouTube video posted in June 2024, in which Musk appears normally. An unknown user then altered the photo to make Musk’s chest and stomach appear abnormally large.
Although the altered image sparked widespread speculation about Musk’s health, the truth is that it was solely the result of manipulation.
There was no evidence to back up the health concerns that circulated online. Musk has remained largely silent on the subject, leaving many to wonder how such a fake photo could garner so much attention.
This is not the first time Elon Musk’s appearance has attracted public attention. Musk’s controversial lifestyle and unusual tweets never fail to make headlines — but this time, the focus was on a misrepresentation of his body.