Elon Musk recently appeared in a video about the SpaceX project in Louisiana, but something ended up drawing more attention than the plans to build a gigantic space facility there: his physical appearance.
After some images were shared on social media, users began zooming in on the businessman’s body. His posture, the size of his abdomen, his legs, and the shape of his shoulders prompted hundreds of comments and theories.
Some claimed it could be scoliosis. Others talked about muscular problems caused by spending decades in front of computers. Another theory linked his appearance to testosterone use, while yet another speculated that he might have had liposuction. None of these claims has been confirmed. Photographs alone cannot diagnose an illness or determine whether someone has had surgery.
Some even found a much less dramatic explanation: “He’s just wearing clothes that don’t fit him properly”… although in this case, the theories about his physique went much further.
The truth is that Musk has spoken publicly about changes in his weight. In recent years, he said that he had lost weight through changes to his diet and exercise, and later acknowledged using weight-loss medications. However, that alone doesn’t explain the appearance shown in these new images.
And so, a video about the future of SpaceX ended up sparking a completely different conversation: are we simply seeing an unflattering angle, posture, and outfit, or has Musk’s physical appearance really changed?