After nearly a decade as a digital creator, David Dobrik has set his sights on entrepreneurship.
Dobrik has over 20 million subscribers combined on his two YouTube channels – David Dobrik and David Dobrik Too, and was one of the highest-earning YouTubers in 2020, making $15 million from his content back in 2020.
The creator, who turns 27 on July 23, makes content with his friends, known as the Vlog Squad, doing various stunts and feel-good giveaways. He also gifted his friends Teslas, and in turn, continued to rack up the views.
In 2018, he garnered 60 million views on a “breakup video” with his former girlfriend of three years and content creator Liza Koshy. The two frequently filmed videos together and had fans invested in their relationship. But things then came to a halt.
Image credit: Getty Images | David Dobrik smiling on a red carpet.
In 2021, Dobrik was hit with a slew of allegations and claims around foul play in his videos with few safety precautions. One subject claimed she was assaulted during filming. One of his pals claimed to be badly injured while filming one of his videos and hit the creator with a $10 million lawsuit that has yet to be resolved. Dobrik then took a break from the public eye.
Now, Dobrik is revamping his brand from happy-go-lucky creator to businessman — he opened a pizza shop and signed on for several equity brand deals — and now requires his subjects to sign consent forms, he told Rolling Stone.
Here’s more about Dobrik’s businesses and latest projects.
Where Did David Dobrik Grow Up?
Dobrik grew up in Košice, Slovakia, before his family relocated to Illinois when he was five years old, per Rolling Stone. In the U.S., his father started a real-estate photography business while his mother took care of the family. He played tennis and worked as a waiter in high school.
“His family and my family, we’re not the richest. We survive by our means,” Dobrik’s longtime friend Ilya Fedorovich told the outlet. “I think that one of the reasons that he’s supersuccessful now is that he didn’t have much when he was growing up, but he wanted a lot.”
He started posting videos on Vine when he was 16. He then continued his education at the College of Lake County in Illinois before dropping out of his first year to move to LA and be a creator full-time. Although Vine shut down in 2017, his star was already growing on YouTube.
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What Controversies Have Surrounded David Dobrik?
In 2021, former friends claimed they were bullied into uncomfortable situations while filming. Content creator Trisha Paytas, who was often filmed while she was dating his friend, Jason Nash, told Vulture: “I have more PTSD from David and Jason than I do hooking on Santa Monica Boulevard.”
Additionally, allegations rose against former Vlog Squader Dom Zeglaitis after a woman claimed he sexually assaulted her for a video encouraged by Dobrik, per Insider Business.
Zeglaitis denied the claims and noted in 2022 that he and Dobrik hadn’t spoken since the allegations. Entrepreneur was unable to find legal documents in relation to the claims.
He apologized for his involvement in a video titled “Let’s Talk” in March 2021, claiming that consent is pertinent to his content. Following the allegations, Dobrik lost thousands of followers and brand deals from partners including EA Sports and Dollar Shave Club, per Vulture.
Dobrik was brought under scrutiny again following the release of a documentary titled “Don’t Try This At Home” by former Vlog Squad member Jeff Wittek in April 2021. He claimed he was badly injured and broke part of his face and skull in a wakeboarding accident that was being filmed for a video. Dobrik claimed on his podcast that he paid thousands for Wittek’s medical bills, but he denied Dobrik’s claims.
In June 2022, Wittek sued Dobrik for $10 million for negligence. The suit has yet to be settled.
What Businesses Is David Dobrik Involved in?
At the height of his YouTube days, Dobrik was getting paid thousands to post on behalf of brands, like SeatGeek, Fan Joy, Dollar Shave Club, EA Sports, Chipotle, and more.
But after doing hundreds of brand deals, he never had a stake in the companies he promoted, he told Forbes.
“There are so many things that I could have done to set myself up for the future. One thing is with equity. With SeatGeek, there was a company that I was part of a lot. But never, ever did it cross my mind to ask for equity. So that’s what I wish that I would have been a lot better at,” Dobrik told the outlet in August 2022.
“I was never good at putting myself in positions where I was getting equity and I was also getting the cash to promote,” Dobrik continued. “Now, when I do things, especially when it’s a longer relationship that I have with a company; then there will definitely be cash options and then equity.”
With his hiatus from the limelight (he hasn’t posted on YouTube in over a year), Dobrik has been focused on growing his business portfolio.
Dobrik told Forbes he partnered with Happy Hour Tequila Seltzer in a cash deal and said he also partnered with a supplement company founded by his childhood friend called Xeela Fitness. The brand currently sells just pre-workout and protein supplements.
Then there’s Doughbriks, a Chicago-style pizza restaurant located in Los Angeles that Dobrik worked on for two years before the restaurant’s grand opening in November.
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“Doughbricks came about because I’m from Chicago and I love pizza,” Dobrik said. “This is something that is really new to me. A physical object for a digital person. That’s why I think it’s crazy because everything is online. Any product is always online.”
Dobrik’s restaurant brought in huge crowds on opening day, with one family driving 200 miles for a bite, according to NBC News.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE. THANK YOU OH MY GOODNESS THANK YOU
Dobrik hasn’t posted a new episode of his Views Podcast since April 2022. Despite transitioning away from YouTube, he’s active on TikTok with 26.3 million followers.
What Is David Dobrik’s Net Worth?
Dobrik was crowned one of the highest-paid YouTube stars of 2020, racking in $15 million for his content.
During an episode of the Views podcast in 2019, Dobrik said he was making about $275,000 a month from YouTube.
He gave fans a tour of his $9.5 million mansion in Los Angeles that has its own Hawaiian Punch fountain. He also collects various memorabilia, including a $10,000 fully functioning Iron Man suit.
Dobrik’s net worth is estimated to be $25 million.
If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A trained staff member will provide confidential, judgment-free support as well as local resources to assist in healing, recovering and more.
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Ashton Kutcher is all for the AI revolution.
The actor-turned-entrepreneur just launched a $240 million AI investment fund, Sound Ventures AI Fund, with music manager Guy Oseary, and he says other companies need to hop on the artificial intelligence bandwagon if they don’t want to be left behind.
“If you’re a company, and you’re sleeping on this, you’re probably going to be out of business,” Kutcher said while discussing ChatGPT during a panel at the Milken Institute’s Global Conference, per Business Insider. “It’s that good and that powerful from a utilization standpoint.”
He continued to explain how AI has the “promise” and “potential” to impact a variety of industries, like allowing more access to education, medical, legal, and other personalized services at a lower cost.
Image credit: Jerod Harris | Getty Images – Ashton Kutcher speaking during a panel at the Milken Institute’s Global Conference
“I look at AI as an equity and inclusion play that is massive,” he added.
So far, Sound Ventures’ investment portfolio includes OpenAI, Anthropic, and StabilityAI.
“We believe this is potentially the most significant technology we will experience since the advent of the internet,” Kutcher said in a statement to Variety following the news of his latest endeavor. “The foundation model layer companies are defining the category, and, in our view, they have the power to transform businesses and everyday life. That is a conversation we want to be in.”
Prior to launching the AI Fund, Sound Ventures was founded in 2015 and manages $1 billion in assets with notable investments from Airbnb, Uber, and Affirm.
What Is Ashton Kutcher’s Net Worth?
In conjunction with his various business endeavors and his successful acting career, Kutcher has an estimated net worth of $200 million.
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This article originally appeared on Business Insider.
“Jeopardy!” champion Buzzy Cohen hosts a new podcast called “This is Jeopardy!” about the history of the iconic game show.
Buzzy Cohen on the set of “Jeopardy!” Jeopardy Productions Inc
Buzzy Cohen, a music executive from Los Angeles, won $164,603 in a nine-day streak on “Jeopardy!” in 2016, then won the 2017 Tournament of Champions. He returned to the Tournament of Champions in 2021, this time as a guest host.
Now, he’s the host of a new podcast exploring the show’s history and enduring success: “This is Jeopardy!…The Story of America’s Favorite Quiz Show.” Produced by Sony Music Entertainment in partnership with Sony Pictures Television, the first episode premieres April 26.
“In the podcast, we’re really looking at how we got to this point where ‘Jeopardy!’ is an institution, not just a game show, not just a quiz show,” he told Insider. “There’s something for the ‘Jeopardy!’ fans, but also for people who are just interested in American culture and entertainment.”
Cohen also shared behind-the-scenes insights from his time on the show that viewers at home don’t get to see.
“Jeopardy!” tapes five shows — an entire week’s worth — every day.
Buzzy Cohen competes on “Jeopardy!” Jeopardy Productions Inc.
“Jeopardy!” winners change outfits between tapings to give the appearance of competing on a different day, when in fact shows are taped one after another.
Cohen, who played 10 consecutive games in two back-to-back taping days, said he didn’t anticipate just how “exhausting” the schedule would be.
“That is certainly something that I think people are surprised by,” he said. “It really makes the fact that people can go on these long runs even more impressive because it’s endurance as well as mental and physical stamina.”
The host of “Jeopardy!” doesn’t have much screen time, but is busy during every moment of the show.
Alex Trebek hosted “Jeopardy!” from 1984 until his death in 2020. Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images via Business Insider.
“Jeopardy!” hosts wear an earpiece to communicate with producers as they juggle many tasks that aren’t visible to viewers at home.
“What’s kind of surprising is how little you’re maybe on-screen, but you are reading the clue, calling a contestant, making a ruling, asking them to select,” Cohen said. “Whereas if you’re a contestant and someone else has a daily double, you’re kind of like, ‘Okay, take a breath, I’m going to regroup here.’ But if you’re the host, you’re in all of those moments.”
In addition to running the gameplay, Cohen says bringing the enthusiasm that keeps “Jeopardy!” fans tuning in is also a crucial job for the host.
“If you’re not interested in the material you’re reading, it’s going to come across to the people viewing it at home,” he said. “Really staying in it and really being committed to it was something that Alex Trebek made look so easy, and I think is not as easy as it looks.”
A man named Michael Harris manually controls the “Jeopardy!” buzzer.
Ken Jennings holds the “Jeopardy!” buzzer. Getty Images via BI
Harris, who is also a researcher on the show, sits at the judges’ table offscreen. When the host finishes reading a clue, Harris flips a switch and enables the buzzers. If contestants buzz in before the host has finished reading the clue, they’re locked out for a quarter of a second, making buzzer timing a key strategy to winning the game, The Ringer’s Claire McNear reported.
“This is Jeopardy!…The Story of America’s Favorite Quiz Show” devotes an entire episode to the buzzer.
“We talk about the contestant point of view,” Cohen said. “There are contestant buzzer experts. There’s a guy who we interviewed who’s written a book on the buzzer. He does buzzer workshops at trivia events. And then we also talk to Michael Harris, who enables the buzzer, and we talk about the rule that made the buzzer what it is today.”
Occasionally, production pauses for rulings by the show’s judges.
The “Jeopardy!” board. Eric McCandless via Getty Images via BI
Sometimes, a contestant will provide an answer that requires further deliberation, such as questionable pronunciation.
“There’s a lot of traffic control stuff that good hosts make look easy,” Cohen said. “I practiced a lot to make it as easy as possible, but you don’t really think about it when you’re just watching the show.”
The “Jeopardy!” alumni community is a close-knit group.
From left to right: “Jeopardy!” champions James Holzhauer, Ken Jennings, and Brad Rutter. Eric McCandless via Getty Images via BI
Nicknamed “Mr. Personality” by Alex Trebek, Cohen became known as a polarizing figure on the show for his tongue-in-cheek “Final Jeopardy!” answers referencing “SNL” skits. Other “Jeopardy!” contestants, such as 2018 Teen Tournament champion Claire Sattler and 40-game champion Amy Schneider, have spoken out about experiencing online harassment after their appearances on “Jeopardy!”
Thankfully, Cohen says, the “Jeopardy!” alumni community is there for each other.
“The folks at ‘Jeopardy!’ really want the fans to respect the contestants,” Cohen said. “I’m glad this show is taking more of a forward approach, and I also love when my fellow contestants can jump in and kind of assemble the ‘Jeopardy!’ alum avengers to support our fellow contestants.”
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