Andrew Tate rented supercars to appear ‘uberwealthy’, says his lawyer

Andrew Tate rented luxury vehicles and borrowed a yacht to project an image of extreme wealth, according to his lawyer. The aim was to generate online engagement, as the brothers' business model relies heavily on online attention.

Legal representatives for the controversial social media influencer and his brother, Tristan Tate, have argued that they deliberately portray themselves as significantly wealthier than they are. This tactic is employed because their "business model depends on online attention."

These assertions come in the wake of British police seeking the brothers' extradition from the US. The extradition is related to an investigation into alleged rape, assault, and facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation, for which the brothers were arrested in July.

The brothers have maintained their innocence, expressing this on X (formerly Twitter) from the federal detention center in Miami, Florida.

In a court filing, their lawyers stated: "Andrew and Tristan are social media personalities. Their business model depends on online attention. The outrageousness of the posts by them and about them is the point. 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 legal team further explained that images of luxury yachts, supercars, and expensive watches shared online should not be interpreted as proof of their wealth.

Their submission elaborated: "A promotional video filmed aboard a yacht is not evidence of title to the yacht. The ‘superyacht’ does not belong to the Tates. They received payment to promote the ship on social media. Further, 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. For example, the $2.1m Aston Martin and $5m and $7m Bugattis featured in Tristan’s videos were rented. The valuation of Andrew’s watch collection is based on a third-party enthusiast publication."

The filing also addressed Andrew Tate's X account, including suggestions that his tweets generate nine-figure sums and his past claims of aspiring to be the UK prime minister. His lawyers emphasized that "All of these posts are hyperbole."

Several social media posts by the brothers have implied unlimited access to crypto and cash resources. However, their lawyers assert this is not true.

The US filing also referenced a "so-called Mexican ‘passport’ bearing the name ‘Vladimir Scorpius’." The submission clarified that the passport was merely "a cardboard prop Tristan used for a Halloween costume." The lawyers added, "No one can seriously suggest that Tristan adopted a covert identity, with the purpose of evading international law enforcement, under the name of a famous fictional supervillain."

Andrew Tate, 39, and Tristan Tate, 38, were arrested in Miami on July 18. Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service announced on July 19 that it had brought new charges against the two concerning alleged offenses involving four alleged victims between July 2010 and August 2017.

Separately, Andrew Tate is being sued in England by four women over allegations of sexual violence. The former professional kickboxer's lawyers previously informed the High Court of a "total denial of wrongdoing." Three of the women involved in the civil case had reported allegations of rape and sexual assault against Tate to Hertfordshire police in 2014 and 2015, but prosecutors at the time dropped the case.

The civil trial was adjourned in May after the force indicated it would reinvestigate the alleged offenses.

The CPS stated that the 38 additional charges, added to 21 existing charges, relate to alleged offenses committed between July 2010 and August 2017.

The brothers are also facing legal proceedings in Romania and were slated for extradition to the UK after those proceedings concluded, following Bedfordshire police securing European arrest warrants for the pair in 2024.

Andrew Tate wrote on Monday that he intends to contest extradition. "My life is a movie and I’m my own stuntman," he posted on X.