The Teen Behind The Viral Fedora Man Louvre Photo

A single photograph can spark a global mystery. When an Associated Press image from the scene of a crown jewels heist at the Louvre went viral, it wasn't the police or the crime scene that captured the internet's imagination. It was a lone, dapper figure in a three-piece suit and fedora, striding past with an air of classic noir. Dubbed "Fedora Man," he became an instant sensation, but who was he?

An Accidental Star is Born

The man of the hour is not a seasoned detective or a character from a spy novel, but 15-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux. He, his mother, and his grandfather had simply planned a day trip to the Louvre. They arrived to find the museum unexpectedly closed, unaware that a daring daylight raid on French crown jewels had just occurred. As they inquired with the police about the closure, AP photographer Thibault Camus captured the now-famous image of Pedro walking past, completely oblivious to the camera and the story he was about to become part of.

The Internet's Detective

Once the photo hit the internet, speculation ran wild. Users cast "Fedora Man" in a variety of roles: a brilliant, old-school detective on the case, a cunning inside man, or even a sophisticated AI-generated fake. The stark contrast of his 1940s-inspired attire against the modern-day crime scene in Paris fueled the fire. Pedro himself understood the intrigue. "In the photo, I’m dressed more in the 1940s, and we are in 2025," he noted. "There is a contrast."

Unmasking the Mystery Man

As millions of views racked up, Pedro, a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, decided to let the mystery linger for a few days. The first hint came when an acquaintance messaged him, asking if it was him in the photo with 5 million views. Soon after, his mother called to tell him he was in the New York Times. The confirmation for many friends and family came when they spotted his mother in the background of the shot. The internet's favorite fake detective was, in fact, a real teenager from Rambouillet.

A Passion for Classic Style

Pedro's striking look isn't a costume. Inspired by 20th-century history and classic fictional detectives, he began dressing in this chic style less than a year ago and even wears it to school. The fedora, however, is reserved for special occasions like weekends and museum visits. He appreciates the comparison to elegant characters like Poirot, agreeing that an unusual crime seems to call for an unusual hero. "When something unusual happens, you don’t imagine a normal detective," he said. "You imagine someone different."

The Power of an Image

Growing up in a family of curators and artists, Pedro has a deep appreciation for art and imagery. His mother, Félicité Garzon Delvaux, believes that "art and museums are living spaces." This background gave Pedro a unique perspective on his sudden fame. He recognized the power a single image holds to create a myth and decided to let it breathe before revealing his identity. Now, with his Instagram public, he is amused by his viral status and is taking it all in stride. He even joked, "I’m waiting for people to contact me for films. That would be very funny."