Andrew Tate's lawyers: supercars and yacht were rented or borrowed, not owned
Lawyers for Andrew and Tristan Tate say their lavish online persona was a business strategy, not reality, as prosecutors push to keep the brothers in a Florida jail.
Tate brothers' wealth claims fabricated for online income, defence argues
The luxury cars, private jets and a $50-million superyacht that Andrew Tate regularly flaunted on social media were not his to own, his legal team has told a US court. According to BBC News, the brothers' defence submission argues that the Tates' entire business model "depends on online attention" — and that the more outlandish the post, the more views and income it generates.
"They are playing a role," the submission states, adding that Andrew Tate has at times used hyperbole for "comedic effect" with no intention of being taken seriously.
Andrew, 39, and his brother Tristan, 38, are currently held in a Florida jail, seeking bail while extradition proceedings brought by British prosecutors run their course. US Marshals arrested the pair in Miami last month after the Crown Prosecution Service filed 38 new charges against them, including rape and offences related to sex trafficking — bringing their total charge count to 59, covering alleged offences between July 2010 and August 2017. Both men deny all wrongdoing.
Flight risk dispute
Prosecutors are pushing back hard against bail, arguing the brothers represent a significant flight risk. They cite the Tates' own boasts about being "self-proclaimed billionaires" with access to "high-end vehicles, private jets, and a custom $50-million-dollar superyacht", as well as unrestricted access to cryptocurrency and traditional funds.
The defence submission counters that the government has not established those claims are true. The superyacht, it says, is not owned by the Tates — they were paid to promote it. The Aston Martin and Bugattis that regularly appeared in their content were rented. "The Tates are engaged in several businesses 'teaching' men how to earn money. It is in their interest to portray themselves on social media as uberwealthy," the filing notes.
Prosecutors further allege the brothers have shown a "propensity to intimidate vulnerable complainants" and possess significant resources — both financial and through their extensive social media networks. They also cited posts in which Andrew Tate allegedly mocked prosecutors and suggested he could conceal his identity to evade arrest.
From Big Brother to global notoriety
The brothers are dual British-US citizens who spent part of their childhood in Luton. Andrew first attracted public attention following an appearance on the British version of Big Brother in 2016. A former kickboxer, he subsequently built a following of millions across social media platforms, his feed populated with images of luxury cars, private jets and what appeared to be an extravagant lifestyle.
That lifestyle, his lawyers now argue, was largely a performance — a carefully constructed persona designed to generate views, engagement and, ultimately, revenue from online courses aimed at men seeking financial advice.
The court has yet to rule on the bail application. Both brothers remain in custody as the extradition process continues.
Source: BBC News