Latest news with #Ukrainian-American
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
Conor McGregor 'in talks to acquire OnlyFans'
Conor McGregor has seemingly confirmed he's in talks to buy OnlyFans. The MMA fighter has alluded to the fact in a recent social media post, expressing his interest in acquiring the subscription-based content platform OnlyFans, which is popular among sex workers and influencers. Reuters claims owner Fenix International Ltd are in talks to offload the company, with it being valued at an estimated €7billion. Conor McGregor has seemingly confirmed he's in talks to buy OnlyFans. Pic: ANL/REX/Shutterstock The UFC fighter subsequently shared a news story about the potential sale on Instagram, commenting: 'I'm in serious talks to buy this.' While no official sources have confirmed McGregor's interest, it has been made known that talks with an investor group have been ongoing since March. The platform was purchased by Leonid Radvinsky, a Ukrainian-American entrepreneur, back in 2018 from a UK-based family. The MMA fighter has alluded to the fact in a recent social media post, expressing his interest in acquiring the subscription-based content platform OnlyFans, which is popular among sex workers and influencers. Pic: Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The New York Post has since reported that sole shareholder Radvinsky has struggled to sell OnlyFans due to its 'X-rated business model.' 'You're looking to find billionaires and trying to sell it as not an adult content company but just a platform like X that allows adult content,' a source revealed. 'But I think most people right now view OnlyFans as an adult content company.' Forbes estimates McGregor's current net worth to be around €38m, with the Irish fighter moving more into the business realm with each passing year. The Dubliner has not fought in the UFC himself in almost four years since his leg break against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
US mountaineer who claims to have climbed Everest in quickest time ever from sea to summit arrested in Nepal over cash smuggling allegations
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A Ukrainian-American mountaineer, who claimed to have made the fastest ascent of Mount Everest from sea level, has been accused of money smuggling. According to The Himalayan Times, Andrew Ushakov was detained at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu for illegally carrying a large sum of undeclared foreign currency. He was reportedly stopped at the airport on May 25 while carrying $20,000 cash. He was then arrested by the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) for attempting to board a Turkish Airlines flight to the US. The DRI alleges he was trying to smuggle the undeclared foreign currency out of Nepal. Ushakov, a client of Nims Purja's Elite Exped, claims to have gone from New York to Everest summit in just 3 days, 23 hours and 27 minutes using only supplementary oxygen. He has not posted on his Instagram account since he shared photos of his summit journey (above) on May 23. According to The Himalayan Times, Ushakov, who works as a structural engineer and was a relatively unknown climber, had hidden the cash in his luggage when it was discovered by police during baggage scanning. They said he claimed he had originally brought the money from the US and intended to take it back after summiting Mount Everest. He has reportedly been issued with a $60,000 fine for violating foreign currency regulations. On May 26, Ushakov remained in custody, having apparently not paid the fine. Nims Purja and the Elite Exped team are reported to have intervened to try to facilitate his fast release. Currently the Department of Tourism (DoT), under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, is investigating Ushakov's claims of the record ascent, along with four British climbers who used xenon gas and hypoxic tents to avoid the need for traditional slower acclimatization methods. Ushakov had attempted to make a fast ascent of Everest in 2024, reaching 8,500m (27,880ft) before developing a vision problem. He failed to complete the climb that time. The best winter hiking boots: for unbeatable performance in the cold The best ice axes: for tackling frozen terrain
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
OnlyFans owner in talks to sell UK-based adult content platform for £5.9bn
The owner of OnlyFans, the subscription platform used by millions for its adult content, is in talks to sell the UK-based business for $8bn (£5.9bn). The site's owner, Fenix International, is in discussions with a consortium led by the US investment firm Forest Road Company (FRC), whose board members include Kevin Mayer, who was an executive at Disney for nearly 15 years and also briefly ran TikTok. Fenix is owned by Leonid Radvinsky, a 43-year-old Ukrainian-American entrepreneur, who has received dividends of just under $1.3bn from the highly profitable site since 2020. Related: OnlyFans owner paid £359m dividend as company's revenues grow 20% in a year OnlyFans has more than 4m accounts registered to creators who charge subscribers for access to their content, with the proceeds split 80/20 with the platform. The site has 305m fan accounts, enabling users to buy videos from, and send messages to, their favourite performers. Although OnlyFans points to a breadth of content that includes comedy, lifestyle and celebrity material, it is synonymous with pornography and has a strict 18+ age limit. In its most recent accounts, OnlyFans posted revenues of $1.3bn in the year to 30 November 2023, an increase of 20% on the previous year, while its pre-tax profit rose by a quarter to $658m. The number of creator accounts and fan accounts each grew by nearly 30% and content creators received $6.6bn in 2023. At the time, Keily Blair, the chief executive of OnlyFans, said the company had cemented its place as a 'leading digital entertainment company and a UK tech success story'. OnlyFans declined to comment and FRC has been contacted for comment. Fenix is also in talks with other suitors, according to Reuters, which first revealed the takeover talks. It is also understood that a flotation of the platform is an unlikely option. OnlyFans was founded in 2016 by Tim Stokely, backed by a loan from his investment banker father, and Radvinsky bought the company in 2018. Little is known about Odesa-born Radvinsky, although his personal website states that he holds a degree in economics from Northwestern University in the US and he lives in Florida. Before acquiring OnlyFans he owned an adult webcam business. In March the UK communications regulator fined Fenix £1m for failing to accurately respond to requests for information about age-checking measures on the platform, specifically facial estimation technology that gauges a user's age via a selfie. Ofcom said Fenix was a large, well-resourced company that was 'well aware of its regulatory obligations' and should have avoided its failings. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Conor McGregor opens 'serious talks' with company over €7billion takeover
Notorious UFC star Conor McGregor has hinted he's in 'serious' negotiations to purchase OnlyFans. The Dublin-born fighter, who last graced the Octagon in 2021 with a defeat to Dustin Poirier, has built a fortune from his fighting days and is no stranger to savvy investments when the gloves come off. McGregor's latest venture appears to be eyeing the subscription-based platform OnlyFans, known for its adult content and favoured by sex workers and social media influencers, as suggested by a post on his social media. Reuters report that OnlyFans' parent company, Fenix International Ltd, is engaged in discussions with an investor group about selling the adult content-driven business, which currently boasts a valuation of around €7 billion. OnlyFans saw a meteoric rise in use during the pandemic, with revenues skyrocketing from €330 million in 2020 to a staggering €5.8b in 2023, reports Dublin Live. Since Leonid Radvinsky, a Ukrainian-American businessman, bought OnlyFans in 2018, the company has seen lucrative payouts, with filings indicating the sole shareholder pocketed upwards of €800m in dividends in the past three years. Now, it seems the stage is set for a potential sale of the company. An Instagram news piece on the possible deal caught McGregor's attention, leading the 36-year-old MMA superstar to re-share the post and add his own teaser: "I'm in serious talks to buy this." While there's been no formal confirmation of McGregor's involvement, it's understood that discussions with the investor group have been in the works since March. A source reportedly told the New York Post that Radvinsky, the sole shareholder of OnlyFans, is finding it tough to offload the platform due to its risqué "X-rated business model." The insider dished out the dilemma, saying: "You're looking to find billionaires and trying to sell it as not an adult content company but just a platform like X that allows adult content. But I think most people right now view OnlyFans as an adult content company." McGregor's net worth, according to Forbes, sits around €38m, although some report the figure is closer to €175m. He has earned close to €100m for his fights in the UFC octagon and raked in a similar sum from his sensation-stirring boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. In 2018, McGregor introduced Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey to the world, and three years later, he and two associates cashed out their interests in the liquor line for an eye-watering €525m. Not resting on his laurels, the 36-year-old has since launched Forged Irish Stout to much acclaim. He didn't just stop at beverages; in 2019, he splashed out €2m for The Black Forge Inn pub in Dublin and is rumoured to have snapped up several other spots in the Irish capital. McGregor is also involved with sports recovery brand TIDL Sport and has been busy pushing the limits of personal fitness with the development and investment in the training app McGregor FAST.
Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Conor McGregor 'keen on £6billion investment' after Man Utd takeover claim
Conor McGregor has taken to social media to confirm he is in 'serious talks' to buy subscription-based content platform OnlyFans, years on from revealing his interest in investing in Manchester United Controversial UFC star Conor McGregor has hinted at splashing out on a new business venture, confirming an interest in buying adult subscription platform OnlyFans. This comes four years after the Irishman insisted he would do 'big things' amid rumoured investment in Manchester United. The Dublin MMA fighter last stepped into the Octagon in 2021, where he suffered a first-round stoppage loss to Dustin Poirier. Throughout his fighting career, he has earned substantial wealth and wisely invested it away from his brawls. Now, according to his social media profile, McGregor is looking to acquire the subscription-based platform OnlyFans, which is popular among sex workers and influencers. As reported by Reuters, Fenix International Ltd is negotiating with an investor group to sell the adult content-driven company, which is valued at approximately £6billion. The online platform saw a remarkable surge in popularity during the pandemic, leading to a revenue increase from £275million in 2020 to £4.8bn in 2023. Leonid Radvinsky, a Ukrainian-American entrepreneur, acquired OnlyFans in 2018 from a family in the UK. According to British records, he has taken at least £670m in dividends over the past three years as the company's sole shareholder. Current reports indicate that negotiations are underway for the business's sale. A post regarding the potential sale appeared on Instagram on UFC icon McGregor's page, which the 36-year-old reshared with the comment: "I'm in serious talks to buy this." No official sources have verified McGregor's interest, but it is noted that discussions with the mentioned investor group have been ongoing since March. McGregor's wealth is estimated by Forbes to be around £30m, though some sources believe it to be closer to £150m. The Irish fighter has dabbled in numerous business ventures, having raked in nearly £80m from his UFC fights and a similar sum from his high-profile boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. McGregor launched Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey in 2018, and by 2021, he and two other investors cashed out their shares for an eye-watering £440m. Following that, McGregor introduced Forged Irish Stout, which has enjoyed success. In 2019, he spent £1.7m on The Black Forge Inn pub in Dublin and is believed to have amassed a collection of establishments throughout the city. The 36-year-old is also deeply involved with the sports recovery brand TIDL Sport and has developed and invested in McGregor FAST, a fitness programme app aimed at enhancing athletic performance. In 2021, Premier League giants United became embroiled in the fallout of a proposed football Super League, and calls echoed for the Glazers, the club's owners, to sell. McGregor took to social media, asking the question: "Hey guys, I'm thinking about buying Manchester United! What do you think?" This was followed by claims that read: "I am certainly interested in acquiring a sports team at some stage! Both Celtic and Man United are teams I like for sure. But I am open. I feel I could do big things for a club." No investment came from this admission, in either the Red Devils or Celtic, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company INEOS purchased a minority stake in the Red Devils in 2024. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
