In a surprising holiday reveal, Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, shared that he uses Mounjaro, a diabetes medication repurposed for weight loss. Dressed as Santa Claus and posing beside a Christmas tree, Musk posted a festive image on X (formerly Twitter) captioned: “Ozempic Santa.”
He followed up the post with a light-hearted comparison, writing: “Like Cocaine Bear, but Santa and Ozempic! Technically, Mounjaro, but that doesn’t have the same ring to it.”
Mounjaro, originally approved by the FDA to treat type-2 diabetes, gained approval in November 2023 under the brand name Zepbound for weight management. These GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Ozempic and Wegovy, mimic a hormone that reduces appetite and regulates blood sugar. They’ve become a popular yet controversial choice for tackling obesity.
Ozempic Santa pic.twitter.com/7YECSNpWoz
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 26, 2024
Musk has been a vocal supporter of such medications. On December 11, he tweeted:
“Nothing would do more to improve the health, lifespan, and quality of life for Americans than making [GLP-1 drugs] super low-cost to the public. Nothing else is even close.”
Not everyone agrees with Musk’s enthusiasm. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has criticized the rising dependence on weight-loss drugs. During an appearance on Greg Gutfeld’s show, Kennedy argued:
“We’re spending $1.6k a month on this drug, and if Congress makes it widely available, it could cost $3 trillion annually. For a fraction of that, we could provide healthy meals to every American, solving obesity and diabetes at their root.”
Kennedy’s stance, however, softened after Musk’s endorsement. Speaking to CNBC on December 12, Kennedy clarified:
“The first line of response should always be lifestyle changes—healthy eating and exercise. But GLP drugs have a role to play when those efforts fall short.”
Musk’s endorsement of Mounjaro and his close ties to Trump have made waves. The tech mogul has poured over $250 million into Trump’s re-election efforts, fueling speculation about his influence within the administration.
Despite their alliance, Trump dismissed any suggestion that Musk could hold the presidency, quipping at a recent conference:
“He wasn’t born here, so he can’t be president. And I’m safe!”
The popularity of GLP-1 drugs has also sparked rumors about celebrities, including Trump himself. During a May episode of The View, Joy Behar speculated that Trump might be using Ozempic after co-host Sunny Hostin observed:
“He looked thinner in person. I don’t know if it’s the shot or what…”
Behar chimed in: “He’s on Ozempic, you know it!”
As debates over weight loss drugs rage on, Musk’s playful admission adds another layer to the complex interplay of health, policy, and celebrity culture. Whether his Santa post was a lighthearted joke or a calculated move to spotlight GLP-1 drugs, it has certainly captured public attention.
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