Legal representatives for Andrew Tate have asserted that the controversial influencer did not own the supercars and yacht featured in his social media posts, claiming these portrayals were exaggerated for online attention and income.
Tate and his brother Tristan are currently detained in Florida as they await extradition proceedings following new charges unveiled by British prosecutors, including alleged sexual offenses, which both men deny.
Prosecutors have previously argued that the Tate brothers are a flight risk, citing their past statements about their wealth and influence, and their alleged possession of multiple identities to evade law enforcement. They pointed to social media claims of being "self-proclaimed billionaires" who own "high-end vehicles, private jets, and a custom $50-million-dollar superyacht and have unrestricted access to traditional funds, cryptocurrency, and bitcoin."
In a legal submission to the court, the brothers' legal team stated that their business model "depends on online attention." The submission argued that the "outrageousness of the posts by them and about them is the point." It further explained that "the more hyperbolic and outlandish the post, the more likely it will generate views and likes, which in turn generates income. In short, they are playing a role."
The defense also contended that Andrew Tate sometimes used hyperbole for "comedic effect" without intending to be taken literally. They asserted that the government "has not established these grandiose claims are true."