FOLLOW US

Dan Bilzerian has garnered a reputation as a gun toting playboy living a lavish lifestyle rife with supermodels, yachts, extravagant parties and globetrotting.

In a lawsuit filed last week, it is alleged that Bilzerian’s luxurious lifestyle is wholly ‘rented,’ with someone else picking up the tab. It turns out that the ‘someone’ is actually Bilzerian’s company Ignite International Ltd., which Bilzerian founded and serves as CEO and majority shareholder.

According to Curtis Heffernan, Ignite’s former president who was recently ousted, Bilzerian’s exorbitant $2.4 million annual rent for his home in the Los Angeles hills is billed to the company, as are other personal expenses.

Heffernan alleges Bilzerian’s addiction to using company money is one explanation for the company’s reported $50 million loss last year. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that Heffernan was fired by Bilzerian for looking into the Instagram influencer’s finances and tricks used to hide his spending.

Bilzerian has fired back, denying outright Heffernan’s claim in a recent statement to TMZ. On top of Heffernan’s lawsuit, former Ignite employees have confirmed multiple details in the lawsuit.

One former employee said, “Ignite pays for everything. Models, events, yachts. Dan would just have it wrapped with the Ignite logo, and all of a sudden it was an Ignite expense and he would send them the bill.”

Heffernan’s lawsuit seeks damages for wrongful termination, defamation, and Ignite’s violation of California whistleblower protection laws after Heffernan called out Bilzerian’s usage of company funds.

Issues arose in May 2020 following red flags raised by Ignite accountants preparing the company’s annual report as required by the Canadian Stock Exchange where Ignite shares are publicly traded.

In Heffernan’s lawsuit, it is reported that $843,014.06 in company expenses were “personal in nature,” which included payments for charges on one of Bilzerian’s credit cards. “To name a few” examples of this, a two-night trip to London in the six-figures, a $75,000 paintball field, a $65,000 “Four Elements Guns & Star Wars Set” as well as a $50,000 bed frame.

The lawsuit goes on to say that Heffernan attempted to convince Bilzerian to dump the $200,000-a-month mansion at a minimum, which has often been used for marketing events.

Following Heffernan’s suggestion, Bilzerian “jumped in as Chairman of the Board and said: ‘I’m going to be doing some summer pool parties and will utilize the house.’”

The day after the conversation occurred, Heffernan was fired from Ignite for supposedly using drugs during a company meeting. Heffernan’s lawsuit follows a Canadian Stock Exchange report showing staggering losses for the company, forcing company board members and shareholders to loan money to keep it afloat.

It remains to be seen whether Bilzerian will settle with Heffernan to avoid the PR nightmare of an ongoing lawsuit. For Bilzerian, who is a large Instagram influencer, public image is everything.

--------------------------------------------------

Have a story you want USA Herald to cover? Submit a tip here and if we think it's newsworthy, we'll follow up on it.

Want guaranteed coverage? We also offer contract journalism here.  Just be sure you're comfortable giving up editorial control because our journalists are dogged and will follow the story through to the conclusion. The story will be published to our exacting standards, without regard for your preferred slant.

Want to contribute a story? We also accept article submissions -- check out our writer's guidelines here.