A barbecue restaurant owner in China, Ma Jianping, has gained unexpected popularity on social media due to his striking resemblance to American entrepreneur Elon Musk, according to the Telegram channel “Baiki laovaya”.
The restaurateur’s unusual likeness first caught the attention of his restaurant’s customers. They began taking photos and videos of the man and sharing them online. Users highlighted the similarities in facial features, hairstyle, and even his expressions.
Posts featuring Ma Jianping quickly went viral across Chinese social media platforms. As a result, people started referring to him as the local doppelgänger of the founder of Tesla and SpaceX.
Following the surge in popularity, internet users began suggesting ways for the restaurant owner to leverage his resemblance to the billionaire for business promotion. In a playful tone, some commentators jokingly proposed renaming the establishment “SpaceX Barbecue”.
Now, some visitors come to the restaurant not just for the food, but specifically to see the Musk look‑alike in person and take photos with him.
So far, Ma Jianping has not indicated whether he plans to change the restaurant’s name or use his newfound fame for advertising purposes. It is also unknown how the American entrepreneur reacted to the emergence of his Chinese look‑alike.
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