Elon Musk lookalike chef draws crowds, prefers barbecue over fame
A Chinese chef's viral resemblance to Elon Musk nets 1.3M likes—but he'd rather cook.
Ma Jianping, a 48-year-old barbecue chef from Gansu province now co-owning Yilan Restaurant in Tongchuan, Shaanxi, has become an unexpected internet sensation. A July 26 Douyin video showing him serving dishes garnered over 1.3 million likes after viewers noticed his striking resemblance to tech billionaire Elon Musk. The coincidence extends to his surname 'Ma', which phonetically aligns with 'Musk'. Customers had noted the similarity even before the video went viral.
Despite the sudden fame, Ma remains focused on his restaurant work. He has turned down multiple business opportunities—including live-streaming offers—choosing instead to prioritize his culinary career. The viral moment comes as Musk's global profile has skyrocketed further; his net worth reportedly surpassed US$1 trillion after SpaceX's US listing in June, making him the world's first trillionaire. Ma's preference for authenticity over internet fame has drawn admiration online, contrasting with the typical influencer trajectory.
- 48-year-old chef Ma Jianping went viral on Douyin with 1.3M likes for resembling Elon Musk.
- His surname 'Ma' sounds like 'Musk', adding to the coincidence.
- Ma rejected live-streaming deals to focus on his restaurant Yilan Restaurant.
Why It Matters
Shows how internet fame can disrupt lives, but authenticity still resonates with audiences.