--- title: "Elon Musk Wants to Meet His Chinese Doppelgänger" description: "Elon Musk is itching to meet his Chinese doppelgänger — that is, if the man actually looks like that. " date: "2022-05-13" modified: "2022-05-13" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/chinese-doppelganger-elon-musk" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "china" - "deepfakes" - "elon musk" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Elon Musk Wants to Meet His Chinese Doppelgänger ![Elon Musk is itching to meet his Chinese doppelgänger — that is, if the man actually looks like that. ]() *\Image: Getty Images/Futurism\* ## Double Take SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is itching to meet his Chinese doppelgänger — that is, if the man actually resembles the billionaire in real life. But first, some background for those unfamiliar with the self-described "Elong Musk." In recent months, a [video of Ma Yilong](), a Chinese man who seemingly bears a striking resemblance to Musk, [went viral]() not only due to his uncanny resemblance, but also because it was unclear whether it was a deepfake or not. Now, [Musk has revealed]() that he's dying to "meet this guy (if he is real)." "Hard to tell with deepfakes these days," he added. Who can blame him? Deepfakes have become incredibly convincing these days. Just last month, a TikTok account claiming to be the actor Robert Pattinson [caused mass confusion](), before mysteriously disappearing from the platform. ## Fast Friends Since his videos went viral, Ma has rebranded himself as "China's Elon Musk" and in March, he even [posted a TikTok video in English]() — which he admits is not his strong suit — introducing himself to his new fans and telling them that he wants "to make friends" with them. Musk appears to have known about his Chinese doppelgänger since at least December 2021, when he jokingly replied to a non-sequitur [side-by-side photo of him and his doppelgänger]() that he may be "[partly Chinese]()." With Musk's latest flight of fancy [appearing to already be in trouble](), maybe his next venture will be a little more modest — like going on a quest [to the Hebei province of China]() to discover if Ma Yilong is as Muskian as he seems. **More on Elon and China:** *[Elon Musk Says Americans Are Super Lazy Compared to People in China]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()