Luigi Mangione: Why A CEO’s Murder Suspect Is Internet’s ‘Hot Stuff’? Netizens Swoon Over His ‘Italian Good Looks’

Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has become an internet sensation after his mugshot went viral. Dubbed 'hot stuff' by social media users, Mangione’s 'Italian good looks' and enigmatic persona have sparked widespread fascination since his identity was revealed.

His dormant Instagram account, inactive since 2021, has seen a meteoric rise in followers, climbing from under 1,000 to over 27,000. The comments on his posts range from flirty admiration of his “Italian good looks” to earnest pleas for his release. One social media user wrote, “Does he have a GoFundMe?” Another gushed, “Free my man, he didn’t do anything wrong!” Meanwhile, some fans have taken action, launching a GoFundMe for his legal defense. Despite this enthusiasm, the fundraiser has only garnered £100 as of Monday afternoon. 

Netizens have quickly drawn attention to the events surrounding Luigi Mangione's arrest, with one comment on X noting, “Like a true Italian, Luigi Mangione's fatal error as an assassin was giving himself away by stopping to flirt with the cashier at the cafe before going to work.” Another user wrote, “To the stupid b**ch that ratted out my baby Luigi Mangione…you will be dealt with.” Fans even speculated about potential actors to portray Mangione in a fictionalized Netflix series.

Fans have gone to surprising lengths to show support. A “Shooter of Brian Thompson Look-alike Contest” was even held in New York’s Washington Square Park. Additionally, fan fiction has emerged, including The Adjuster: Hero of the People (And an Excellent Lover), which describes a steamy encounter with Mangione as he hides in the protagonist’s home. 

The internet buzz extended to Mangione’s outfit during the alleged shooting. According to TMZ, his Sherpa-lined Levi’s Trucker Jacket, retailing for $225 at Macy’s, has become a fashion phenomenon. Reddit users speculated about the jacket’s details, prompting over 6,000 simultaneous views on Macy’s website and 700 sales within 48 hours. 

Who Is Luigi Mangione: Born into a wealthy family in Maryland. He graduated as valedictorian from the prestigious Gilman School in 2016. Later, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science in 2020, with a minor in mathematics. 

As a teenager, he developed a game app and later worked as a data engineer at TrueCar, a vehicle shopping platform, from November 2020 to 2023, as per his LinkedIn profile. A TrueCar spokesperson confirmed to Al Jazeera that Mangione has not been employed there since 2023. 

Authorities apprehended Mangione after a McDonald's employee recognized him. The NYPD (New York City Police Department) reported recovering a 'ghost gun', a suppressor, and an anti-healthcare manifesto from his possession, as per Reuters. Shell casings found at the crime scene were marked with terms like “depose,” “deny,” and “delay,” reflecting sharp criticism of insurance practices such as claim rejections. 

The hashtag #FreeLuigi has trended across social media, with micro-influencers tagging Mangione in posts and reels to capitalize on his viral fame. While public response highlights frustrations with the healthcare industry, the case has also fueled debates on the ethics of turning a criminal suspect into an internet celebrity.