Elon Musk – love him or loathe him — is never far from the public eye.

Recently, however, the billionaire’s body became the focus of online chatter after a photo surfaced showing him with an enlarged stomach and chest.

The viral image set off a flurry of speculations, with many wondering if Musk had developed barrel chest, a condition where the chest appears unusually puffed out.

The speculation was rampant — did Musk have an underlying health issue? Was this a sign of something more serious?

Truth behind the viral photo

Elon Musk is a name that often sparks strong opinions and discussions – and recently, it’s not just been about his political views or billions in the bank. No, the latest hot topic has revolved around something much more personal: his body.

The speculation exploded on November 10, when a photo of Musk with an unusually enlarged stomach and chest went viral on X (formerly Twitter).

The image quickly spread and sparked strong reactions, but there was one problem – it wasn’t real. Despite multiple media outlets and fact-checkers confirming that the image was manipulated, it didn’t seem to matter much to many. The tweet, posted by the now-archived account ”evan loves morf,” racked up millions of views and was shared across the platform.

The tweet read, ”He always posts AI pictures of himself because he actually looks like this.” Alongside the image in question, the post also featured an artificial intelligence-generated photo of Musk. The tweet quickly gained traction, racking up more than 17.4 million views and 423,000 likes.

Elon Musk barrel chest?

Hours later, the image was picked up by other accounts on X, sparking discussions about what had happened to Elon Musk’s body and why his chest appeared so pronounced.

Many speculated that Musk might have a condition called ”barrel chest” – a condition where the chest appears rounded or puffed up, resembling a barrel. While not a disease in itself, barrel chest can be a sign of an underlying health issue, often linked to lung conditions.

When the lungs overfill with air, they push out 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, an elevated collarbone, and shorter neck appearance.

Origin of the fake photo of Elon Musk

In my opinion, all of these speculations were unnecessary, especially since the image in question was clearly manipulated. While some jumped to conclusions about Elon Musk’s health and body, the reality is that the photo was altered.

As Snopes confirmed, the altered photo created a misleading narrative about Musk’s health, sparking a wave of rumors that weren’t grounded in reality.

The origins of the manipulated image can be linked back to a YouTube video posted on June 22, 2024, titled First Look Inside SpaceX’s Starfactory with Elon Musk. Around the 2-minute mark in the video, there’s a photo of Musk, which was later edited to make his chest and stomach appear larger.

An unknown user altered the photo, artificially extending Musk’s chest and stomach to create the misleading image that went viral. While the viral speculation may have caused a stir online, Musk himself has mostly kept quiet on the matter.

But this isn’t the first time the tech mogul’s body — or his lifestyle — has caught people’s attention.

Elon Musk’s viral yacht photos: The Good, the Bad, and the body Shaming

In addition to the fake photo from 2024, Musk made headlines a few years ago when he was photographed on vacation in the Aegean Sea aboard a $20,000-per-week yacht.

The images, which went viral, captured Musk shirtless, sparking a wave of body-shaming and trolling. But Musk wasn’t phased.

In fact, he took it in stride, responding humorously 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 open about his diet and weight loss journey, admitting that he’s shed over 20 pounds from what he considered an ”unhealthy peak weight.”

He also admitted to using Wegovy, an FDA-approved drug designed for chronic weight management.

Known for his intermittent fasting routine, Musk cycles between periods of fasting and eating, which he says has helped him manage his weight. He’s also confessed to not having the healthiest eating habits.

For instance, Musk famously tweeted, ”I eat a donut every morning. Still alive,” in response to a doctor claiming that sugar is ”poison.” His diet consists mainly of steak, sushi, chocolate, coffee, and caffeine-free Diet Coke, with a distinct aversion to vegetables.

Musk’s body: A topic of constant public discussion

From viral photos to debates about his diet and health, Elon Musk’s body has been a consistent topic of conversation, often overshadowing his immense accomplishments.

Despite the sometimes harsh critiques, Musk seems to take it all with a sense of humor, reminding the public that, like anyone, he’s just living his life — donuts, body speculations, and all.

The online speculation about his health might have been based on a fake image, but one thing is certain: Elon Musk continues to captivate the world 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 topic for discussion, no matter the truth.