A barbecue chef in China, Ma Jianping, has become an internet sensation after diners noted his strong likeness to billionaire Elon Musk. The 48-year-old restaurateur has been met with throngs of fans eager to take photos and shake his hand since a video of him preparing food at his establishment went viral on Chinese social media.
The restaurant, Yilan Restaurant in Tongchuan, Shaanxi province, reportedly saw its business double almost overnight. Footage of Ma Jianping grilling meat garnered over 1.3 million likes on Douyin, China's version of TikTok. Customers had commented on his resemblance to the Tesla and SpaceX boss even before his recent viral fame, with some noting that his surname, Ma, sounds similar to Musk's in Chinese.
Ma Jianping, who previously worked as an electrician before entering the restaurant business, described the sudden attention as leaving him feeling "shy and nervous." He told mainland media that crowds are now visiting specifically to meet him, though he intends to focus on running his restaurant rather than capitalizing on the fame through live-streaming.
One customer, identified only as Bai, expressed excitement about meeting the "real-life" Musk, having previously only seen him grilling meat in AI-generated videos. Bai also praised Ma for maintaining his prices despite the surge in customers.
The viral fame has also spawned numerous AI-generated memes, with users imagining Ma in various scenarios, such as wearing suits or cooking alongside tech leaders like Jensen Huang and Tim Cook. Some social media users have joked about renaming the restaurant "SpaceX Barbecue" or suggested that Musk has earned back billions through his doppelganger's barbecue sales.
This is not the first time a Chinese doppelganger of Elon Musk has gained attention. In 2022, another individual named Ma Yilong captured media interest, leading to speculation about AI enhancements to his likeness. At the time, the real Elon Musk responded on X, formerly Twitter, expressing a desire to meet the individual, stating, "I'd like to meet this guy (if he is real). Hard to tell with deepfakes these days."
Celebrity lookalikes have seen increasing popularity on Chinese social media platforms. Earlier this year, a farmer from Liaoning province gained over 120,000 followers by impersonating Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, complete with his signature black leather jacket and glasses.