Joe Francis is an American businessman and film producer with a net worth of $25 million. Francis is best known for his projects “Banned from Television” and “Girls Gone Wild”. He has faced legal issues and financial difficulties.
He has faced lawsuits and other negative judgments for his involvement in illegal activities that have led to so much controversy. He has resided in Mexico as an American exile since 2015.
Joe Francis Net Worth (2024)
| Net worth | 25 million dollars |
| Name | Joe Francis |
| Nation | USA |
| Year old | 51 years old |
| Income | $5 million (per year) |
| Last updated | 2024 |
Joe Francis Net Worth Growth
| Net worth 2024 | 25 million dollars |
| Net worth 2023 | $23 million |
| Net worth 2022 | 20 million dollars |
| Net worth 2021 | 18 million dollars |
| Net worth 2020 | 16 million dollars |
Early life and education
Joseph R. Francis was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 1, 1973, to Raymond and Maria Francis. He attended several boarding schools after moving to Newport Beach, California, and then Laguna Beach.
He attended the University of Southern California for his MBA. He took a series of film and television courses before earning his BA from the USC Entrepreneurship Program in 1995.
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Career
While working as a production assistant for Real TV, Francis came up with the idea for Banned from Television. Real TV airs footage of unusual incidents that are rarely reported in conventional media.
Francis acquired the material through a licensing agreement, which he then resold through commercials. In 1998, the first Banned from Television video was released, with two sequels following that year.
The assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio, the massacre of circus elephant Tyke, and the executions of Roberto Girón and Pedro Castillo, among others, are all featured in the series. After seeing footage of topless college girls during Mardi Gras and spring break while filming Banned from Television, Francis became interested in filmmaking.
Francis ended the series after three films because he found watching them back to back too disturbing due to the brutal content. Francis’ next venture, “Girls Gone Wild,” was spurred by this scene.
In 1997, Francis started the Girls Gone Wild business using direct response marketing, such as television commercials, to promote the DVDs he made. Girls Gone Wild grossed nearly $20 million in its first two years.
The company also donated 100% of the proceeds from its Mardi Gras-themed DVDs to the Red Cross to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. Millions of dollars have been raised over the course of the company’s existence.
In 2022, an episode of TNT’s true crime series Rich & Shameless titled Girls Gone Wild Exposed premiered. The episode included testimony from Joe Francis’ alleged victims as well as an audio recording of an argument between Francis and his wife.
Girls Gone Wild’s Civil and Criminal Matters
Ashley Alexandra Dupré sued Francis and his company in 2007, alleging they filmed her without her consent, but she withdrew the lawsuit after Francis produced footage showing her consent.
Four women sued Francis the following year, alleging he filmed them when they were minors. He defended himself until he was found in contempt of court and fined $2,500 for asking one plaintiff if she was a prostitute.
In 2003, officials in Panama City Beach, Florida stepped in to stop the filming of Girls Gone Wild, forcing Francis to file a lawsuit against them for violating his First Amendment rights.
Francis pleaded guilty to record keeping and was sentenced to community service and a $1.6 million fine. He was sentenced to 339 days in jail and ordered to pay nearly $60,000 in fines.
Biography of Joe Francis
| Real name | Joseph R. Francis |
| Nickname | Joe |
| Year old | 51 years old |
| Height | In feet – 6 feet 1 inchIn meters – 1.87 mIn centimeters – 187 cm |
| Weight | In Kilograms – 84 KgIn Pounds – 185 lbs |
| Family | Father – Raymond FrancisMother – Maria FrancisSister – NoneBrother – None |
| Girlfriend | Do not have |
| Wife | Wilson Abbey |
| Children | Athena Olivia Francis, Alexandria Claire Francis |
“They are hurtful and do not reflect my true feelings.”
– Joe Francis
Joe Francis’ Social Media Profile
Girls Gone Wild Bankruptcy
After failing to comply with the requirements of the bankruptcy agreement, a judge in the U.S. District Court issued an arrest warrant for Francis in 2015. In 2013, Francis’ company GGW Brands.
He owns the entertainment franchise Girls Gone Wild and filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy was filed to prevent Wynn Resorts from seizing the company’s assets to pay Francis’ gambling debts.
Blackmailed
Darnell Riley, a notorious con man, kidnapped Joe Francis from his Bel-Air home in 2004 and filmed him. Paris Hilton got involved after learning about the situation and assisted in arresting Riley. Riley planned to blackmail Francis for $500,000.
Federal issues
Francis was convicted by a grand jury of two counts of tax evasion in 2007. His attorney said a former accountant prepared and filed tax returns for the businesses but did not present them to Francis.
Francis pleaded guilty to false tax returns and bribery misdemeanors in 2009. He received credit for time already served and was ordered to pay the Internal Revenue Service $250,000 in restitution.
Other criminal matters
Francis was charged with five misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment, one count of assault causing serious bodily injury and one count of dissuading a witness after bringing a group of three women to his home in 2011.
He could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a $13,000 fine. Francis was sentenced to 270 days in county jail, 36 months of probation, and completed a Level 3 Anger Management course in 2013.
After pleading no contest to child abuse and prostitution charges in 2015, Francis was sentenced to 336 days in jail. He has since served his sentence and has been released from prison.
Libel
Joe Francis lost more than $2 million playing blackjack at a Las Vegas casino in 2007. When Francis showed no intention of paying, the casino owner, Steve Wynn, became concerned.
Things started to spiral out of control when Wynn was forced to sue Francis. In a 2012 defamation lawsuit against Francis, a jury awarded Steve Wynn $20 million after Francis claimed Wynn threatened to kill him over gambling debts.
Judge Joanne O’Donnell reduced Wynn’s verdict to $19 million in 2012, calling the jury’s decision “speculative” and focusing on the jury’s contempt of court for Francis. Steve Wynn said in a statement after his court victory that he would donate the entire amount awarded to a charity for battered women and wounded warriors.
Personal life
Abbey Wilson, who later became Francis’ girlfriend, was one of the girls featured in the Girls Gone Wild video. In 2014, Abbey Wilson and Francis had twins through IVF.
Wilson’s iPad was stolen in 2013, and sex tapes of her and Francis were reportedly found on the device. Abbey is said to have faced kidnapping charges at one point and an Amber Alert was close to being issued.
Abbey’s lawyer claimed that his client had temporary custody of the twins. Joe claimed in 2021 that he had not seen his daughters for more than a week because Abbey had refused to comply with a court order allowing him to see the twins.
Wealth
Joe Francis spent $6 million in 2002 on a Bel-Air estate. The property was auctioned off to Steve Wynn in 2019 after being in foreclosure for years due to Francis’ legal troubles. It was valued at $6.7 million when he lost the home.
The IRS, on the other hand, quickly intervened and purchased the property from Wynn for $9 million. The property was then sold by the IRS to Francis’ former neighbor, Bassam Alghanim.
Summary
As of 2024, Joe Francis’ net worth is estimated to be around $25 million. He makes most of his income from his business and production career. He has been notorious for his legal and financial troubles for almost a decade.
Specifically, he was convicted of assault causing serious injury, tax evasion, false imprisonment, witness tampering, bribery, and record keeping violations. He currently earns more than $5 million a year.
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