Elon Musk And The Onlyfans Takeover Rumor: What'S Really Going On?

Hoax Alert: Elon Musk and the OnlyFans Rumor

In what seems like a plot twist straight out of a viral meme, social media is buzzing with fake claims that Elon Musk is eyeing OnlyFans for a buyout. The rumor, which first made waves in March 2026, has resurfaced, spreading like wildfire thanks to a satirical post by the parody account @DailyNoud. This account has no ties to Musk, the platform X, or OnlyFans itself.

The fabricated story hinges on a fake quote suggesting Musk would purchase and shut down OnlyFans. Yet, no official statements, press releases, or legal filings back this claim. Fact-checkers and media outlets like Open have debunked the rumor, with Musk's official channels showing no inclination or interest towards such an acquisition.

The Origin of the Fake Quote

The buzz began with a post from @DailyNoud on March 23, 2026, claiming: "BREAKING: Elon Musk has expressed interest in purchasing OnlyFans and shutting down the company: 'Yeah, I'll do it. I don't see why not.'" The satirical nature of the account is crystal clear, yet once the quote is captured in a screenshot and shared out of context, it loses its parody pedigree.

“The viral claim that Elon Musk wants to buy OnlyFans and shut it down is fabricated, originating from the parody account @DailyNoud.”

Fact-checkers quickly spread the word, while Italian publication Open confirmed Musk’s social media history shows no evidence of such plans, quashing the rumor's validity.

How a Death Fueled the Fire

The rumor gained momentum partly due to the unrelated death of OnlyFans' owner, Leonid Radvinsky. Radvinsky took over the company in 2018, transforming it into a juggernaut with millions of creators and a valuation in the billions. His passing wrongly fueled speculation of a Musk takeover, despite ongoing merger talks involving Architect Capital that predated his death.

Notably, these merger discussions valued OnlyFans at around £4.3bn, without any involvement from Musk. Meanwhile, a separate rumor circulated about this fictional takeover, further muddling the narrative for internet sleuths and meme enthusiasts alike.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

OnlyFans is far from being a struggling enterprise. In 2024, the platform generated a whopping £5.7bn in revenue, with a pre-tax profit of £540m. The idea that Musk would buy and shut down such a lucrative business contradicts his history of acquisitions. Plus, Musk has a documented past with OnlyFans, though unrelated to buying it; he was involved in a dismissed lawsuit concerning content moderation on X.

Even prediction markets showed skepticism, with Polymarket giving a 4% chance of Musk announcing a deal by mid-2026. No official comments from Musk or OnlyFans have surfaced to fuel further speculation, and the platform keeps thriving under its current management.