How Influencer Josh Richards is Turning TikTokers into Angel Investors

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TikTok has created and provided unique opportunities for influencers looking to expand their brand, platform, and finances, launching some Gen-Z stars into the millionaire category early on.

Unlike other social media platforms, TikTok pays their content creators directly based on their number of views and interactions. Many stars on the platform have already expounded on this idea and have created merchandise, sponsored content, and signed a variety of development deals which have increased their financial standing.

But even beyond the platform itself, many influencers have started to leverage their massive followings and have offered their branding skills as services to some major financial institutions and tech start ups.

No social star has expanded their brand and image more than influencer Josh Richards.

Rise From Muscal.ly

Richards first started sharing videos through the app Musical.ly and later TikTok when he was just 14 years old. By creating both consistent and engaging content, it wasn’t long before he earned millions of followers on the app.

Richards quickly cross-platformed his crowd as well, earning over 2 million subscribers on YouTube and over 7 million followers on Instagram.

Originally known for sharing dance videos and other clever skits and clips, Richards transitioned to focusing on financial options and diversifying income early on. When he first started out on social media, he started selling a variety of hockey merchandise and the passion for entrepreneurship continued ever since.

He started gaining more popularity when he went on to help found the creative studio and social media collective the Sway House.

Joining several other TikTokers including Bryce Hall and Anthony Reeves, Richards became an asset to the Sway House, having over 22 million followers on TikTok and creating a cultural interest that began to attract major news and press outlets, earning features in Forbes, YahooFinance, and Insider.

Financial Influencer

Richards then started making several investment deals with start ups and production companies, opening the doorway for TikTok stars to use their financial success to provide opportunities for growing businesses.

In 2019, Forbes reported that Richards was earning 1.5 million a year, placing him in the Top 5 of TikTok stars highest grossing earners.

Richards goals expand beyond his current million dollar income. He told Forbes in November of 2020 that he has his mind set on becoming the first influencer billionaire.

Richards then started teaming up with other influencers, creating Angel Investment opportunities for fellow millionaire TikTok stars.

Richards and Bryce Hall teamed up early on to found the energy drink company Ani Energy.

Prior to living in the Sway House, Richards met founder and entrepreneur Michael Gruen. Gruen is a super-connector who is known for his diverse directory of ever-expanding professionals including Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph, Twitch co-founder Justin Kan, Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta, and Miami mayor Francis X Suares.

Gruen, the partial owner of the Sway House, introduced Richards to several investors, celebrities, and opportunities that helped Richards grow his brand including Ashton Kutcher, who served as an unofficial business advisor and mentor for Richards.

Richards started gaining further public attention and celebrity support when he teamed up with Ellen Degeneres to help finance her company UnHide, donating purchases from the brand to the Humane Society.

His charitable actions and contributions continued when he became a co-founder of Dog for Dog, a dog treat company known for donating food to local animal shelters.

Triller, Remus, TalenX...

Having earned success as an influencer and as a result of amassing income early on, he quickly started to find himself enmeshed in the world of finance as well. Richards agreed to serve as Chief Strategy Officer of the TikTok rival app Triller.

His work with apps and in the world of tech didn’t stop there. Richards also went on to invest in the app Breakr which focuses on merging artists and creators with other influencers. This time, Richards brought Griffin Johnson, fellow Sway House member, along for the deal.

Richards is known for turning other TikTokers into angel investors, furthering their careers.

In December of 2020, Richards announced that he would be serving as a Venture Partner for Remus Capital, an early-stage venture capitalist firm.

Richards continued to expand his investment portfolio when he and several Sway House members invested in the trend-setting company Sillybandz, purchasing a 30% stake in the company.

He also went on to co-found TalentX Entertainment, the management company responsible for owning the Sway House. Combined with the talents of fellow influencers such as Jason Wilhelm and Tal Fishman, the TalentX group has gone on to work with several mainstream brands including FOX, Facebook, and Amazon.

TalentX also signed a joint venture deal with Warner Records in June of 2020.

The diversification of Josh Richards brand expanded further when he joined the Barstool Sports platform and started hosting the popular podcast BFF’s with Barstool founder Dave Portnoy.

This new platform allowed Richards to discuss different financial deals and opportunities, as well as the variety of drama that occurs within the TikTok community. This podcast provided several openings for Richards to expand his financial investments further.

Richards teamed up with Gruen and Mark Wahlberg to form the Gen-Z focused production company CrossCheck Studios LLC.

This groundbreaking joint venture operation was announced in February of 2021 and provided the mission statement of “focusing on becoming the premier venue for internet-native creatives".

Richards continued to expand his podcast empire by also co-hosting The Rundown with fellow influencer Noah Beck where they discuss movies, TV Shows, and other happenings within the world of entertainment.

Richards has continued to surround himself with powerful people. Recently, he had a business lunch with hockey legend and fellow investor Wayne Gretsky at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks where he received financial advice on his growing empire, earning coverage in press outlets such as The Blast.

Josh Richards, at the age of only 19, is just getting started, paving the way for future TikTok stars turned investors.

Sources: Billboard, Yahoo!News, Axios, MediaKix, Distractify, Forbes, FamousBirthdays, TheBlast, Benzinga, MSN, Insider, HollywoodReporter, People, FoxBusiness, Variety