Published on: December 3, 2024, 04:23h.
Last updated on: December 3, 2024, 04:23h.
Wearing the Instagram crown comes with its own set of challenges. Dan Bilzerian, a high-stakes poker player, masculinity influencer, and self-proclaimed King of Instagram, is now involved in a lawsuit with his father.
Past legal issues involving Bilzerian were mostly linked to youthful antics; however, this lawsuit takes a more serious turn.
The lawsuit filed in Nevada federal court accuses Paul Bilzerian, Dan’s father, of being a “criminal” who has taken over the plaintiff’s vape business, Ignite International, with the help of Scott Rohleder and Rupy Dhadwar.
Furthermore, the complaint alleges that Paul and his associates have been using Dan Bilzerian’s name and likeness without permission to promote Ignite, including his distinctive beard.
They even attempted to take control of Bilzerian’s Instagram account and its substantial following, as per the lawsuit.
Legal Battle
Bilzerian claims in the lawsuit that he is the founder and majority shareholder of Ignite, which initially focused on cannabis-related products before branching out into vape pens, tobacco items, clothing, and other merchandise.
According to the plaintiff, he was forced out of Ignite through unlawful actions orchestrated by his father, Paul, and carried out by Rohleder and Dhadwar.
In the 1980s, Paul Bilzerian gained notoriety as a corporate raider and was later convicted of securities fraud in 1989, with a subsequent SEC fine of $62 million.
Over the past three decades, Paul has only paid off about $550,000 of the fine, claiming financial hardship from his Caribbean residence. With interest, the now-owed amount has ballooned to $180 million.
The SEC has suspected Paul of hiding assets, leading to charges filed against him in September 2024, alleging that he concealed tens of millions of dollars in Ignite.
The lawsuit alleges that former CEO Rohleder, a co-defendant in the federal indictment, acts as Paul Bilzerian’s right-hand man and proxy in the U.S. Meanwhile, current Ignite CEO Dhadwar is portrayed as a puppet of Rohleder and Paul in the complaint.
Legal Dispute
Bilzerian claims that in December 2013, while serving as the CEO of Ignite, he clashed with other shareholders over what he perceived as mismanagement of the company.
In response, Rohleder and other agents of Paul threatened to terminate his position. Despite Bilzerian’s warning that the company would lose his influential social media presence and the rights to use his name and likeness, he was let go later that month, according to the lawsuit.
In June 2024, he was removed from the board and control of Ignite was taken unlawfully, the lawsuit contends, without the necessary 67% shareholder vote to remove a director.
Additionally, Ignite continued to use Bilzerian’s name and likeness in marketing materials and claimed he was bound by a noncompete agreement, preventing him from starting a similar venture of his own, as alleged in the lawsuit.
The complaint states violations of publicity rights, unjust enrichment, economic interference, unfair competition, and deceptive trade practices. It requests a jury trial and seeks multiple damages.
As for the rumors, it remains uncertain if Bilzerian was the one who alerted the authorities about his father’s actions.