'Like Barney From The Simpsons': When Elon Musk Got Candid About His Ozempic Side Effects

Ever since Elon Musk has come out in public with a leaner physique, people have been speculating if he went through an Ozempic-induced weight loss journey.

The SpaceX CEO reportedly lost around 30 pounds in just a few months and has even started showing side effects of GLP-1 drug use.

People noticed physical changes in Musk that can usually be observed in individuals using Ozempic.

He was seen with sunken cheeks, loose skin around his mouth and neck, and hollow eyes. Despite people's curiosity and the visible side effects, the Tesla CEO appeared happy and confident with his new, slimmer look.

After embarking on a weight loss journey in 2022, Musk made headlines for his drastic physical transformation. Observers soon became curious about whether he used GLP-1 drugs to achieve his goal.

Musk later confessed that he indeed used GLP-1 weight loss drugs to help him reach his goal. In December 2024, he even shared a fun Christmas photo of himself and jokingly captioned it “Ozempic Santa.”

Referring to the popular weight loss drug that's used by several celebrities in Hollywood, Musk clarified that he did not have the best experience with it. "[It] made me f--t & burp like Barney from the Simpson's," he shared in a post on X.

Later, as a few users shed light on their own weight loss journey with another GLP-1 drug called Mounjaro, Musk shared that he prefers Ozempic to the other drug. He claimed that Mounjaro Santa just "doesn't have the same ring to it."

Meanwhile, in another X post, Musk hinted that is happy and confident with his weight loss.

Sharing details about his weight loss journey, Musk also opened up about what caused him to gain weight in the first place. Blaming his workaholic nature and a few bad habits triggered by his busy lifestyle, Musk admitted how his unhealthy routines led to his weight gain.

One of those habits was checking his phone as soon as he woke up. As he runs companies like Tesla and SpaceX, Musk confessed how he often started working immediately after waking up, even before drinking water.

“I want to change that," he said on the Full Send podcast in 2022. Musk later noted that he wished to exercise regularly in the mornings. So far, it's not clear if he followed a workout routine, but he said that he did make changes to his diet.

"I've been fasting periodically & feel healthier," he shared in an X post in August 2022, and also promoted the intermittent fasting app, Zero, which helped him stay on track.

In July 2025, Musk shared how he managed to lose weight without completely shedding his workaholic nature.

“Back to working 7 days a week and sleeping in the office if my little kids are away," he stated.