Since the premiere of Ryan Murphy’s latest sci-fi body-horror series, The Beauty, one question has dominated social media: Is Ashton Kutcher playing a fictionalized version of Elon Musk?
Kutcher portrays Byron Forst, a man simply known as “The Corporation.” As the richest man in the world and the mastermind behind a virus that grants physical perfection at a deadly cost, the parallels to modern-day tech billionaires are hard to ignore. However, Kutcher is finally setting the record straight.
“The Richest Man in the World”: Kutcher Defends His Character
In a recent sit-down with The Hollywood Reporter, Kutcher addressed the swirling rumors that his character was a direct parody of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. While he acknowledged the wealth similarities, he insisted the inspiration was much broader.
“This guy’s nothing like Mark [Zuckerberg]. Some people have asked me about Elon Musk, and this is not based on Elon Musk,” Kutcher stated. “He might be the closest in wealth… but it’s not based on any individual. There’s an air about people in powerful positions—they have so much at their disposal that it appears as if everything they’re doing has this effortlessness to it.”
Why the Comparison Sticks
Despite the denial, viewers of The Beauty have pointed to several “Easter eggs” that scream Musk:
- The “God” Complex: Forst demands people kneel before him and views himself as the architect of a new human race.
- The Space Connection: The show subtly references Forst’s ties to space exploration and electric vehicles.
- The Corporate Ruthlessness: His iconic line—“Billionaires, we don’t need friends. We have staff”—perfectly mirrors the “success at all costs” mentality often attributed to Silicon Valley giants.
Ryan Murphy’s “Ozempic Horror”
The Beauty is being hailed as a “Succession-on-steroids” wealth satire. Based on the 2016 graphic novel by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley, the series explores a world where a sexually transmitted virus makes people thin, beautiful, and “perfect”—until they start to explode.
Kutcher’s involvement is a meta-commentary in itself. As a real-life venture capitalist and former model, he is uniquely suited to play a man who commodifies human aesthetics. The show arrives at a time when “Ozempic culture” and aesthetic tourism are at an all-time high, making Kutcher’s “The Corporation” the perfect, albeit terrifying, villain for the modern age.
What’s Next for ‘The Beauty’?
With an all-star cast including Evan Peters, Rebecca Hall, and a viral guest appearance by Bella Hadid, the 11-episode season is already one of the most-talked-about shows of 2026. Whether you see Elon Musk in Kutcher’s performance or not, one thing is certain: Byron Forst is the most chilling character of Kutcher’s career.
The Beauty is currently streaming on FX and Hulu.
