The Accidental Internet Sensation
When 15-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux discovered that an Associated Press photograph of him outside the Louvre had captured global attention with millions of views, his reaction defied expectations. Rather than immediately revealing his identity online, the teenager from Rambouillet, west of Paris, decided to embrace the mystery that had captivated internet users worldwide.
The photograph was taken on the day thieves executed a daring daylight raid on the French crown jewels, showing police officers blocking an entrance to the famous museum. To the right of the frame, a sharply dressed figure in a three-piece ensemble and fedora hat strode past the scene, creating an unexpected visual contrast that would spark international curiosity.
The Mystery Unfolds
As theories about the identity of "Fedora Man" proliferated across social media platforms, Pedro watched with amusement. Some speculated he was an old-school detective, others thought he might be an inside man involved in the heist, while many were convinced he was an AI-generated figure. The teenager, an avid fan of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, understood why his appearance had triggered such speculation.
"In the photo, I'm dressed more in the 1940s, and we are in 2025," Pedro explained during his only in-person interview since the photograph went viral. "There is a contrast." His decision to remain silent for several days was intentional: "I didn't want to say immediately it was me. With this photo there is a mystery, so you have to make it last."
The reality behind the viral moment was considerably more ordinary. Pedro had visited the Louvre with his mother and grandfather, completely unaware that a major theft had occurred. "We wanted to go to the Louvre, but it was closed," he recalled. "We didn't know there was a heist." As they inquired with officers about the closed gates, Associated Press photographer Thibault Camus captured Pedro mid-stride, completely unaware he was being photographed.
A Style All His Own
The distinctive appearance that captivated millions was no costume created for the occasion. Pedro has cultivated this unique style for less than a year, drawing inspiration from 20th-century history and black-and-white images of suited statesmen and fictional detectives. "I like to be chic," he stated matter-of-factly. "I go to school like this."
His ensemble for the fateful Louvre visit included:
- A fedora hat angled as homage to French Resistance hero Jean Moulin
- An Yves Saint Laurent waistcoat borrowed from his father
- A jacket selected by his mother
- A neat tie
- Tommy Hilfiger trousers
- A restored, war-battered Russian watch
In an educational environment typically dominated by hoodies and sneakers, Pedro's sartorial choices have already begun influencing his peers. "One of my friends came this week with a tie," he noted with satisfaction.
Pedro's appreciation for elegance and mystery stems from his upbringing. His mother, Félicité Garzon Delvaux, grew up in an 18th-century museum-palace as the daughter of a curator and performer, regularly exposing her son to exhibitions and artistic experiences. "Art and museums are living spaces," she explained. "Life without art is not life."
When the viral moment arrived, Pedro initially maintained his privacy before eventually switching his Instagram account from private to public. "People had to try to find who I am," he said. "Then journalists came, and I told them my age. They were extremely surprised."
Now embracing his unexpected fame, the teenager remains open to future possibilities. "I'm waiting for people to contact me for films," he said with a grin. "That would be very funny."
In a story dominated by theft and security failures, "Fedora Man" provides a gentler counterpoint—a teenager who believes that art, style, and mystery belong to everyday life. "I'm a star," he says, less as a boast and more as an experiment, testing the words much like he tests a new hat. "I'll keep dressing like this. It's my style."
