If you didn't catch the first article on Dan's resume, we've attached a link to it. In it, you'll find information about Dan's father's conviction, his failed attempts to get into the Navy Seals, and Dan's film and poker career.
Where does he get his money?
Dan Bilzerian's net worth is currently estimated to be around $200 million, but there are various guesses and rumours about the origins of this wealth. The alpha and omega of his fortune were the trust funds that he and his brother received from their father. These were supposed to be worth up to $96 million, but Dan himself claimed in an interview in 2021 that his fund had shrunk to only about $1.5 million. But since the whole affair with the funds remains unresolved to this day, we can only speculate as to whether Dan is a son by profession, or whether he was able to acquire his money through other pursuits.
Dan Bilzerian became most famous through social media, where, as the "King of Instagram", he had already amassed tens of millions of followers in 2010. Bilzerian's keys to success have been beautiful, scantily clad women, a flashy lifestyle and guns of all sizes. His Instagram account currently has nearly 32 million followers despite being less active on it for some time.
Bilzerian has gradually translated his huge fan base into various business opportunities. One of them was a prestigious sponsorship deal with GGPoker in 2020. Bilzerian also opened the door to the business world, where he was the first to start a publicly traded company, Ignite International. The latter focuses on alcohol, CBD products, vaping pens and similar consumer goods.
An example of how (not) to do business
Much of Bilzerian's allure stems from the notion that he is a rich playboy who is constantly surrounded by beautiful ladies. That image was tarnished, however, when fired Ignite vice president Curtis Heffernan pointed out irregularities in the company's expenses. Heffernan claimed in a 2020 lawsuit that the company helped fund Dan's personal expenses, such as:
- A $75,000 paintball field
- a $40,000 climbing wall
- a $60,000 Star Wars weapons kit
- an $88,000 safe
- a $15,000 ping pong table
- $200,000 in model transportation fees and monthly house rent
The fees for the models and the rental of the house were particularly damning because Dan created the illusion that the models were staying with him voluntarily and that he had purchased said house for $65 million.
The aforementioned Heffernan brought these irregularities to the attention of the board of directors, for which Bilzerian accused him of drugging and fired him.Ignite's stock prices reacted to these accusations, plummeting from an initial price of $2.50 in January 2019 to just $0.28 by October 2020. The company posted losses of $69 million and $19.7 million in 2019 and 2020, respectively. During the pandemic, the company received a $1.2-million bailout from the government, which is why it continues to operate.
The fake marriage
Whether through the impact of the pandemic or setbacks in the business world, gradually Bilzerian's legacy faded and Dan began to disappear from social media life. In an attempt to revive his social media presence, Bilzerian shocked the world on July 25, 2022, when he announced on his Instagram that he had married model Hailey Grice.
However, the post turned out to be a hoax, as Bilzerian wrote 10 days later that "marriage is a trap" and guys should "stay single." Given his already declining image, Bilzerian's fake wedding did not go down well with followers, and many loudly condemned the move. This "cry in the dark" only underscored Dan's decreased activity, which continues to this day on social media.
The end of social networks?
Dan Bilzerian built his fame on the pose of living a high-flying lifestyle that included a plethora of beautiful women, yachts, guns, brutal parties, and a seemingly endless supply of money. All of that began to crumble after revelations that Bilzerian was paying models' travel expenses, renting his former mansion in Los Angeles, and heading a failed company. Still, he doesn't have to worry about personal ruin; with an estimated net worth of around $200 million, it seems he'll still have something to fund his hobbies for a long time.
As for popularity, only time will tell if Dan will fade away or come back. He explained his limited social media presence through in one of his recent interviews, "I just don't care. I feel like social media is a video game that I beat eight years ago, and everybody's playing the same game, and I'm tired of it. I look at social media as a cancer. To me, it's the worst thing that's happened to society."
Many may have been surprised when Dan appeared in the line-up of a streamed cash game under the auspices of Hustler Casino Live just a month ago (July 2024). He was kept company at the table by the likes of Alan Keating, Jimmy Butler, streamer Ninja and star Neymar. It was Dan's first appearance in poker for a long time, but he did not disgrace himself - he finished the 8-hour stream with a plus of $24,000 (on blinds of $50/$100). A little later, Dan also appeared at the WSOP, where he played the Main Event, but only lasted two handy....
What's your take on the life story and image of this controversial millionaire? Are you one of his fans or the opposite? Let us know in the comments on our social networks!
Sources: pokerstrategy, distractify, quora, ganjapreneur, techopedia, Binance, Instagram
