Mystery “Fedora Man” at Louvre Museum Heist Unmasked as Stylish Teenager
A photograph snapped during the shocking daylight theft of the French crown jewels at the Louvre on October 19, 2025 has sparked global intrigue, but not for the reasons one might expect. At the centre of the image is a sharply dressed individual in a fedora and vintage‑style attire, striding past police outside the museum. The scene went viral, dubbed the “Fedora Man,” with internet sleuths and social‑media posts riffing on everything from detective film tropes to AI deep‑fakes.
From viral mystery to real person
The photograph, taken by Thibault Camus of the Associated Press, which shows three police officers leaning against a cordoned car blocking access to the museum, unexpectedly captured the figure who would become the internet’s favourite enigma.
Although many assumed the figure might be an undercover detective or an inside man, it turns out he is simply a 15‑year‑old French teenager: Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux. The young man confirmed the image was real, and that he was there with his mother and grandfather to visit the museum, unaware that a major heist had just taken place.
Style choice turns into internet fame
Pedro’s look is deliberate: he wears a fedora hat (a nod to French Resistance hero Jean Moulin), a waistcoat, neat tie, and other vintage‑inspired items. He says he began dressing in that style less than a year ago, motivated by mid‑20th‑century imagery and detective fiction like Hercule Poirot. “In the photo, I’m dressed more in the 1940s, and we are in 2025,” he remarked.
After his photo went viral, with some posts claiming millions of views, Pedro initially kept his identity secret, enjoying the mystery. Eventually he switched his Instagram account to public and began addressing the media.
Clearing up assumptions
Contrary to the viral narrative, neither the photographer nor law‑enforcement officials have identified the man as part of the investigation. Camus stated he “just saw him passing by” and did not know who he was. “Maybe a tourist? Maybe he is English,” the photographer said.
The photo’s dramatic style, a sharply dressed figure in a fedora beside armed police, inspired speculation that the man was part of the case, or symbolised a detective from a bygone era. The contrast between his vintage look and the modern setting fueled the internet fascination.
Why the buzz matters
The image underscores how in the era of social media, even incidental moments can become viral phenomena with their own narratives.
It highlights how public fascination can transform an ordinary pass‑by into a cultural icon for a fleeting moment.
For Pedro, the incident has brought unexpected attention, and he says he’s open to “films” or collaborations now that he’s been thrust into the spotlight.