Is Elon Musk’s large stomach photo real? 'barrel chest' meaning explained as photo goes viral on X
Courtesy: AFP
A digitally altered photo of Elon Musk with an unusually large stomach and chest has gone viral, stirring up humor and curiosity across social media.
Shared by an X user on November 10, the photo quickly gained traction, with the caption, “Let me research what causes one to have a ‘Barrel chest’ because apparently Elon Musk has that…”
The image, which shows Musk’s chest and stomach exaggeratedly expanded, is confirmed to be fake, yet has amassed over 23 million views.
He always posts AI pictures of himself because he actually looks like this pic.twitter.com/MnAb3DBDqi
— evan loves worf (@esjesjesj) November 10, 2024
The doctored image appears to have been created using footage from a June 2024 YouTube video by 'Everyday Astronaut', in which Musk gave a tour of SpaceX’s Starfactory.
In this video, Musk’s physique appears far more typical, debunking any notion of extreme body modifications.
Despite the image’s inauthenticity, the viral tweet sparked a discussion on Musk’s actual appearance, with many fans commenting on his “barrel-chested” physique.
For the uninitiated, the term “barrel chest” describes a rounded chest often resulting from chronic lung overinflation.
Healthline notes that while this isn’t a disease, it can be linked to underlying health concerns and lead to symptoms like difficulty breathing and rib tenderness.
One user commented, “He’s barrel-chested. Luckily for him, people with barrel chests tend to have a great amount of upper body strength.”
— WyldKat 🐆 (@ANiMaListicAN) November 11, 2024
Musk has previously acknowledged his fitness journey, admitting in 2022 on the 'Full Send' podcast, “I gotta work out and be in better shape. I actually don’t really like working out, but I gotta do it.” In 2023, Musk revealed he had been using the FDA-approved weight management drug Wegovy, noting that it helped him lose around 20 pounds.
While the viral image of Musk’s “barrel chest” may be fake, the conversation about his health and physique continues to intrigue followers across social media.