Bernd Bergmair

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Bernd Bergmair
Born1968 (age 55–56)
Linz, Austria
EducationJohannes Kepler University Linz
OccupationBusinessman
Known forMajority owner of MindGeek and Pornhub
SpousePriscila Bergmair

Bernd Bergmair (also spelled Bernard Bergemar, born 1968 in Linz[1]) is an Austrian businessman. He is one of the majority owners of privately held MindGeek, the Luxembourg-based conglomerate behind popular porn sites such as Pornhub.[2][3][4] Although he is not mentioned in the company's corporate filings, a report by the Financial Times revealed that Bergemar is MindGeek's largest beneficiary thanks to a "complex network of subsidiaries" in which he owns a large percentage of the shares.[5][6][7]

Early life

He grew up as the son of farmers in Ansfelden, attended grammar school in Linz and transferred to HLBLA St. Florian.[8] He then studied at the University of Linz, graduating in 1992 with a thesis on a topic related to corporate acquisition: Evaluation of corporations and financing strategies in connection with M & A, LBO and MBO.[9] He worked for Goldman Sachs in New York, before working in Frankfurt am Main, Hong Kong and London. In 2006 he became the owner of the porn website RedTube and in 2013 he sold the site to Manwin, now known as Mindgeek.[8]

MindGeek

In December 2020, the Financial Times published a report on MindGeek's ownership, revealing that Bergmair or "Bernard Bergemar" as he had used in court documents was the company's majority owner. The Financial Times report prompted a parliamentary inquiry into Pornhub's practices in Canada, in which MindGeek directors and minority owners David Tassillo and Feras Antoon named a "Bernard Bergemar" as the principal owner. He owned more than half of the shares, but was a passive investor and not involved in the day-to-day business. British research platform Tortoise Media and Austrian magazine Dossier cooperated on an investigation.[8][10][11][12]

Company records showed Bergemar lived in China, but was found to be actually living in a mansion in London after the investigation by Tortoise Media.[13][14] Soon after, his Brazilian wife Priscila Bergmair told The Sunday Times that she wanted her husband to cut ties with the company.[15][16][17]

References

  1. ^ Joe Castaldo: Lifting the veil of secrecy on MindGeek’s online pornography empire. In: The Globe and Mail, 4. Februar 2021.
  2. ^ Akhtar, Allana. "Pornhub is owned by a mysterious businessman through a 'complex network of subsidiaries' that have kept his identity a secret until now, according to a new report". Business Insider. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Pornhub is owned by a mysterious businessman through a 'complex network of subsidiaries' that have kept his identity a secret until now, according to a new report". news.yahoo.com. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  4. ^ "MindGeek: the secretive owner of Pornhub and RedTube". Financial Times. 17 December 2020. Archived from the original on 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  5. ^ Manskar, Noah (17 December 2020). "This shadowy businessman is reportedly behind Pornhub parent MindGeek". New York Post. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Lifting the veil of secrecy on MindGeek's online pornography empire". Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  7. ^ Ong, Danielle (17 December 2020). "Who Is The Real Bernard Bergemar? Pornhub's Owner Has No Traces Online". International Business Times. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "DOSSIER · Auf der Spur des Pornhub-Phantoms". www.dossier.at (in German). Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Evaluation of corporations and financing strategies in connection with M & A, LBO and MBO".
  10. ^ "Pornhub-Drahtzieher soll angeblich Österreicher sein". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  11. ^ Mostrous, Alexi; Greenwood, Xavier; Clarke, Patricia. "Hunt for the porn king". Tortoise. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Rechercheplattform "Dossier" kämpft ums Überleben". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Mysterious owner of Pornhub found living in London". Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  14. ^ Mostrous, Alexi; Greenwood, Xavier; Clarke, Patricia (21 May 2021). "Hunt for the porn king: the secretive owner of Pornhub revealed". Tortoise. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  15. ^ Garger, Kenneth (24 May 2021). "Pornhub tycoon's wife wants him to cut ties with the company". New York Post. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  16. ^ Johnstone, Shanti Das | Alastair. "Think of the children, pleads wife of Pornhub tycoon Bernd Bergmair". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Pornhub-Drahtzieher Bernd Bergmair: Frau von Porno-König bricht ihr Schweigen". bild.de (in German). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
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