FACT CHECK: No, Elon Musk Did Not Visit Café Disguised As A Homeless Man

December 16th, 2024
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 19: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 2024 in Brownsville, Texas. SpaceX’s billionaire owner, Elon Musk, a Trump confidante, has been tapped to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

A video shared on Facebook claims X owner Elon Musk disguised himself as a homeless person to “test a café.” 

 

Verdict: False

This claim stems from a channel that shares fictional stories.

Fact Check: 

Musk’s net worth has now topped $400 billion after investors purchased insider shares, according to The Independent. This raised Musk’s net worth by $50 billion and made him the first person to ever reach $400 billion, the outlet reported.

The Facebook video claims Musk disguised himself in tattered clothes and wore fake facial hair to try a “social experiment” at a coffee shop. The video goes on to claim he met a barista who was kind to him, who he ended up giving a job to at Tesla.

“Elon Musk Disguises Himself as Homeless to Test a Café! You Don’t Want to Miss the End,” the caption reads.

This claim lacks evidence. There are no credible news reports about this happening. Additionally, the video doesn’t cite any sources or evidence to corroborate its claims. 

The video originates from a YouTube channel called “Storytime with Shelly,” which admitted that the story is fictional in a YouTube comment under the video. It reads, in part, “Please note that this channel is not a news channel! It is strictly dedicated to fictional stories. The purpose of these stories is to educate, inspire, and entertain. All our content is generated and significantly edited by AI.”

Similarly, the video was posted to a YouTube channel called “Elite Stories.” This video’s description contains a disclaimer, which reads, “The stories presented on this channel are entirely fictional and crafted solely for entertainment. Any resemblance to real events, individuals, or situations is purely coincidental and unintentional. These narratives are not intended to depict, reference, or represent any actual occurrences, persons, or entities.” 

Snopes also debunked this claim. (RELATED: Video Of Elon Musk and Giorgia Meloni Kissing Is AI-Generated)

Check Your Fact reached out to an X spokesperson for comment. 

Anna Mock

Fact Check Reporter