A wave of digital speculation is sweeping across social media following a viral post suggesting that Elon Musk might purchase OnlyFans with the intent to shut it down. The rumor gained significant traction after the sudden passing of the platform's majority owner, Leonid Radvinsky, who died of cancer at the age of 43.
The conversation was sparked by a post on X that quoted Musk as saying "Yeah, I’ll do it. I don’t see why not" in response to calls for him to intervene and close the site. While the quote resonated with a vocal segment of the internet that views the platform as a societal negative, fact-checkers quickly identified the source as a known parody account. Despite its satirical origins, the post has racked up tens of thousands of likes and shares, highlighting a deep divide in public opinion regarding the future of the multibillion dollar creator economy.
Defenders of the platform point to its role as a primary source of income for millions of independent creators who utilize the subscription model to monetize their content directly. OnlyFans has seen explosive growth over the last several years, generating billions in annual revenue and reshaping how digital media is consumed and sold. Opponents, however, have long called for stricter regulations or the total dissolution of the site, citing concerns over the nature of its content and its impact on public discourse.
The timing of the speculation has added an extra layer of complexity to the debate. With the death of Leonid Radvinsky, who transformed the company into a global powerhouse after acquiring it in 2018, questions about the site’s future ownership are already at the forefront of the tech world. Reports from earlier in the year suggested the platform was already exploring a potential sale that could value the company at over $5 billion.
Elon Musk has not issued an official statement regarding the rumors, and there is currently no evidence of a formal bid for the company. While Musk has a history of acquiring and overhauling major digital platforms, industry analysts suggest that a move to buy a profitable entity simply to dismantle it would be an unprecedented step, even for the unpredictable billionaire.