Teen Identified as ‘Fedora Man’ in Louvre Heist Photo Embraces Viral Fame
PARIS – The teenager who captivated the internet as “Fedora Man” – the stylish figure seen near armed police during the Louvre Museum theft earlier this month – has been identified as 18-year-old Pedro, a student from a school without a uniform. The image, quickly circulating online, sparked widespread speculation about his involvement in the audacious heist, with many users crafting elaborate narratives of a sophisticated detective.
Pedro, however, says his distinctive style – a penchant for three-piece suits and fedoras – is simply a personal aesthetic inspired by 20th-century history and classic fictional detectives. “I like to be chic,” he said. “I go to school like this.” His appearance,a stark contrast to the hoodies and sneakers favored by his peers,has already begun to influence his friends,with one recently appearing to school wearing a tie.
The Louvre incident, which involved the theft of several artworks, quickly went viral, but it was a single photograph of Pedro that truly captured the public imagination. Millions projected a narrative onto the image, envisioning him as a key player in unraveling the crime. pedro, recognizing the power of the image, remained silent for several days, allowing the “myth” to develop before revealing his identity.
“People had to try to find who I am,” he explained after making his Instagram account public.”Then journalists came, and I told them my age. They were extremely surprised.”
Pedro’s upbringing, steeped in art and history, likely contributed to his unique style. His mother, Félicité Garzon Delvaux, grew up in an 18th-century museum-palace as the daughter of a curator and an artist, and regularly takes her son to exhibits. “Art and museums are living spaces,” she said. “Life without art is not life.”
Now, Pedro is embracing his newfound fame, even playfully anticipating potential opportunities. “I’m waiting for people to contact me for films,” he said, grinning. “That would be very funny.” He insists he will continue to dress in his signature style, viewing it as an ongoing “experiment.”
The case remains under investigation, but “Fedora Man” has emerged as an unexpected symbol – a reminder, as Pedro himself puts it, that “art, style and a good mystery belong to ordinary life.”
