A viral photo that sparked global intrigue
A 15-year-old French student, Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux, unexpectedly became the focus of worldwide attention after appearing in a photograph taken on the day of the crown jewels heist at the Louvre. The image, showing a sharply dressed young man in a fedora walking near the museum’s closed gates, spread rapidly online and inspired countless theories about his identity.
Pedro, who lives in Rambouillet, 30 kilometers from Paris, said he had no idea what was happening at the museum that day. He was visiting with his mother and grandfather, unaware that the area was under police investigation.
From a family outing to an online sensation
The photograph captured him walking past a police cordon just hours after a daylight theft of royal artifacts. His outfit —a vest, tie, and fedora— evoked the look of vintage detectives, prompting online users to speculate that the image was AI-generated or part of a fictional story.
Pedro chose to remain silent at first, enjoying the mystery that surrounded the “Fedora Man.” “There was a sense of intrigue, and I wanted to let it last,” he said. His family and friends confirmed his identity only after recognizing his mother in the background of the image.
A style inspired by classic sophistication
Pedro’s attire was not a costume but a personal choice. For less than a year, he has adopted a vintage-inspired wardrobe influenced by 20th-century historical figures and fictional detectives like Hercule Poirot. He often attends school dressed formally, though he reserves the fedora for special occasions.
“I like to be elegant,” he said. His distinctive fashion sense has already inspired classmates to try ties and vests. Without intending to, the teenager behind the viral Louvre photo became a modern symbol of elegance, mystery, and the unexpected power of a single image.
