Recently, claims that World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus earns an annual salary of $9.5 million have spread widely across Chinese websites and social media platforms. The rumor gained traction after Elon Musk allegedly posted about it late at night, sparking overwhelming online criticism of Tedros's supposed greed and praise for Musk's whistleblowing spirit.
However, a closer examination suggests this "news" is entirely false—a fabricated story that gained momentum due to public sentiment and online misinformation.
Assessing the Claim: A Salary Too High to Be True
Given Musk's frequent controversial revelations since the U.S. presidential transition on January 20, 2025, many netizens believed the claim without question. However, the writer of this report, who has experience dealing with international organizations, immediately doubted its authenticity.
No head of any UN-affiliated or nonprofit public organization worldwide earns over $1 million annually, let alone $9.5 million. A more plausible explanation is a misinterpretation of currency conversion—perhaps Musk mentioned a salary of over $1 million, which was then mistakenly converted into 9.5 million in Chinese yuan instead of U.S. dollars. Some earlier reports indeed referenced a salary of just over $1 million.
When writing about such topics, verifying primary sources and obtaining solid evidence is critical, no matter how big the trending topic is. Even minor details require fact-checking before publication.
Investigating the Source of the Misinformation
To verify the claim, the author attempted to locate Musk's original post, check WHO and Tedros's official responses, and search for international media reports on the topic. Surprisingly, there was no trace of this claim anywhere outside of Chinese media—not even a single mention.
Furthermore, no screenshots of Musk's alleged post exist despite the widespread domestic coverage of the claim. A fake video of Tedros supposedly apologizing for his salary has surfaced in China, further fueling the misinformation.
Based on all available information, it is clear that this is a fabricated news story. A news widely spread in China but completely absent from foreign media raises serious red flags.
Public Sentiment and the Spread of False Information
Tedros has faced significant criticism from Chinese netizens due to his statements on pandemic origins, which many perceived as unfair to China. As a result, public resentment toward him is understandable. When Musk exposed U.S. funding for biological virus research, it further reinforced hostility toward WHO and Tedros, making people more willing to believe and share the false salary claim.
This fabricated news spread rapidly and intensified as it circulated, reflecting the broader issue of disinformation in the digital age.
The Role of Media Responsibility and Regulation
Last month, a man in Shanghai was detained for fabricating a story about selling tickets for 5 yuan but only selling two—a much smaller-scale hoax compared to the $9.5 million Tedros salary claim.
Should self-media, online platforms, and regulators reflect on their role in allowing such misinformation to spread unchecked?
As media consumption becomes increasingly digital and decentralized, fact-checking and responsible reporting are more critical than ever.
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