Chef Ma Jianping’s Elon Musk resemblance sparks viral fame in China

Ma Jianping, a 48‑year‑old barbecue chef and co‑owner of Yilan Restaurant in Tongchuan, Shaanxi province, became an internet sensation after a Douyin video of him grilling attracted more than 1.3 million likes. Viewers noted his striking facial similarity to billionaire Elon Musk, even joking that their surnames sound alike.

The sudden attention doubled his restaurant’s business virtually overnight, with customers flocking to meet the look‑alike, take selfies and shake his hand. Jianping said the fame made him feel shy and nervous, and he has no plans to cash in through live‑streaming, preferring to focus on running the restaurant. The phenomenon has generated countless memes and AI‑created images pairing him with tech figures, highlighting the blend of celebrity culture and social‑media virality in China.