In February 2025, a rumor spread online that Elon Musk, the technology mogul and public face of the new Department of Government Efficiency under U.S. President Donald Trump, has a penile implant.
Some users even claimed the penile implant surgery had been "botched." For example, one person who made the claim on Musk's social media platform, X, said this was the reason his children had been conceived via in vitro fertilization (archived).
That X user wrote: "Most of Elon Musk's kids were conceived through IVF. He used IVF for his first five sons. His whole identity as a man is wrapped up in reproducing, which he can't seem to do on his own (botched penile implant)."
The rumor spread widely on X (archived). For example, on Feb. 16, 2025, U.S. singer and rapper Azealia Banks shared an X post (archived) that said Musk had "a botched penis implant."
Speaking of the claim, Banks wrote (archived): "Grimes told me this too," in reference to Musk's former romantic partner and mother of three of his children, Claire Boucher, a musician who goes by Grimes professionally. Banks' post had amassed more than 606,000 views as of this writing.
Grimes told me this too https://t.co/I6RG1qWeQK — Azealia Banks (@azealiaslacewig) February 16, 2025
Rumors that Musk once modified his body have abounded for years. For example, people have long speculated that he has had a hair transplant, something the billionaire has never confirmed. Further, after posting a photograph (archived) of himself in a Santa Claus costume with the caption "Ozempic Santa," he admitted he had taken the weight-loss drug Mounjaro.
However, as of this writing, Musk had never discussed getting a penile implant on X. Likewise, a Google search and Google News search returned no credible reports about the rumor (archived).
Penile implants are placed surgically inside penises to address erectile dysfunction in people who do not respond to drugs like Viagra or Cialis, both of which are vasodilators prescribed to facilitate erections. Implants can be inflatable or not. According to Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan, penis implants have a 95% patient satisfaction rate as many report being able to resume healthy sex lives after receiving them.
However, other procedures that are cosmetic do exist which allow for penis enlargement. These include transferring fat from one part of the body to the penis, artificial fillers and implants.
All these procedures can carry complications.
We have contacted Musk to ask whether the rumors have any truth to them. We will update this report if he responds.