Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X, has reportedly been operating covert profiles on his own website, creating intrigue among users. The internet has been swirling with speculation that Musk might be camouflaging himself as a popular online figure under the alias ‘Adrian Dittmann’. The guessing game has gained momentum since 2023, causing an upsurge in these conspiracy theories.
User Adrian Dittmann has been visible on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, since 2021. He seems to be an ardent admirer of Musk carrying the same stream of consciousness as other followers on the site. On Musk’s 53rd birthday, he took it to his account by posting a highlight reel of Musk’s most captivating accomplishments. He displayed his discontent when Musk was excluded from Time’s top 100 influential AI personalities. His admiration for SpaceX launches and Tesla’s autonomous driving technology is quite conspicuous, bordering fanaticism.
In August 2023, a noticeable online camaraderie was observed between Dittmann and Musk when they mingled during an event on X Spaces. The striking similarity in their speech patterns, including accent, pace, and use of high-tech jargon, didn’t go unnoticed. Dittmann insisted that he was not mimicking Musk nor was he altering his voice using AI technology. He said with a laugh that the resemblance in their voices was coincidental and purely natural.
After this interaction, a section of X users, mainly critics of Musk, started postulating that ‘Dittmann’ is just an alias for Musk. They compared this situation to an episode from Donald Trump’s past where he devised a publicist persona ‘John Barron’ to promote his personal brand in the real estate sector of New York.
However, all presented arguments favoring the theory have been based on circumstantial evidence. From Dittmann unintentionally referring to himself as Musk to his fawning adoration for a photo Musk shared with his son X Æ A-Xii. Dittmann expressed, ‘You’re an impeccable parent, Elon. Your children are fortunate to have you.’
A few discrepancies, however, do exist between the two profiles. For instance, Dittmann accesses the platform through an Android app, something that Musk has never done. Further, Dittmann has maintained a consistent posting rate for quite some time, in contrast to Musk’s gradually increasing activity since his procurement of the social media platform.
Their event timelines also clash: Musk’s online activity never truly halts, suggesting irregular sleep patterns. In contrast, Dittmann usually logs off for a certain duration when Musk is most active, which suggests he might be resting or engaged elsewhere. Critics would argue that Musk wouldn’t have time to pose as Dittmann when he’s already posting extensively as himself during these hours.
Li, an engaged user, concludes, ‘In a regular scenario, with the account data available, I would assume they are two distinct individuals. However, considering the circumstantial evidence and the anomalous behaviour of Musk, I remain unsure. I anticipate new insights. I’d be more surprised if Musk turns out to be Adrian Dittmann, given Dittmann’s considerable time spent in Twitter Spaces. But that’s just me making assumptions about the CEO’s schedule.’
The mystery remains unresolved, leaving the door open for surmise regarding various possibilities, including voice modulation via AI technologies. Despite Dittmann’s insistence that he isn’t Musk, his ideological alignment with Musk hasn’t wavered, which is particularly notable amid rising political pressures during President-elect Donald Trump’s transition back into the White House.
When Musk and his Silicon Valley allies announced the necessity for tech firms to employ skilled foreign workers through the H-1B visa system, it sparked widespread controversy, mainly from Trump’s MAGA base who consistently demonized all immigrants. Amid this controversy, Dittmann emerged as a vocal advocate for Musk’s position, fiercely debating the critics during Spaces events.
In a heated exchange, Dittmann retorted, ‘Do you comprehend how foolish you will appear when my real identity is inevitably revealed?’ This statement led Johnson to speculate he was engaged in conversation with Musk, to which Dittmann replied with strong disapproval.
However, unless Musk and Dittmann are seen together in public or are part of a live streamed event, the reality remains obscure. Critics of Musk enthusiastically entertain the idea that Musk is posing as a super fan for self-gratification and boosting his self-worth, even though it’s somewhat hard to believe that someone as omnipresent on social media as Musk has the time and energy to control an alter ego.
If Dittmann eventually reveals his identity, there’s a reasonable possibility that he will turn out to be a genuine individual, simply seeking to ingratiate himself with the world’s wealthiest individual. Until then, the enigma of ‘Adrian Dittmann’ continues to intrigue the users of X, sparking online debates and feeding conspiracy theories.