OnlyFans, the content subscription platform best known for its ties to the adult entertainment industry, could soon have new owners.
According to reports, a US investor group led by Los Angeles-based Forest Road Company is in talks to acquire the London-headquartered platform for up to $8 billion.
The sale would mark a significant exit for Leonid Radvinsky, the Ukrainian-American billionaire who bought a majority stake in Fenix International, OnlyFans’ parent company, in 2018. Since then, Radvinsky has reportedly claimed over $1 billion in dividends from the company, according to corporate filings.
News of the talks was first reported by Reuters, while the New York Post has also claimed that Radvinsky has been seeking to offload the business, with previous efforts hampered by the site’s close association with adult content creators. The Post estimated earlier potential valuations for a sale to be in the range of $1.46 billion to $2.42 billion, well below the reported $8 billion figure now being considered.
Founded in 2016 by London-based entrepreneur Tim Stokely, OnlyFans was originally conceived as a way for musicians, influencers, and content creators to monetise their audiences through paid subscriptions. The platform surged in popularity after lifting a brief ban on adult content, quickly becoming a hub for independent adult performers as well as high-profile figures from outside the adult industry.
Today, OnlyFans boasts over 4 million creators producing content for a global audience of 300 million subscribers, with around $6.6 billion in annual payments processed through the platform. The company employs approximately 40 staff and recently reported $1.3 billion in annual revenue in its latest UK filings.
“OnlyFans is a revolutionary platform which continues to lead the creator economy,” a company spokesperson told the New York Post. “As with any business of this scale it is natural that we are open to discussions about how we continue to build on our success.”
From niche platform to billion-dollar empire
Tim Stokely, who served as CEO until December 2021, co-founded the business alongside his father Gus. After its acquisition by Radvinsky, the platform experienced explosive growth — particularly during the pandemic — emerging as a leading player in the creator economy.
Despite its success, OnlyFans has long faced reputational challenges due to its adult content. In 2021, the platform briefly announced a ban on sexually explicit material, only to reverse the decision days later following backlash from its user base.
While some investors have been reportedly wary of the platform’s association with adult content, others see the company as a rare profitable unicorn in the creator tech space — and one with strong, recurring revenues and a lean cost base.
If completed, the sale of OnlyFans at such a valuation would represent a major milestone in the evolution of direct-to-consumer content platforms, validating their long-term viability and potential for institutional investment — despite ongoing societal and regulatory scrutiny.
Forest Road Company, which has previously backed ventures in media, sports, and entertainment, has not commented on the reported discussions.
Whether the deal materialises at the reported $8 billion price tag — or faces further hurdles — it highlights the enduring financial power of platforms that enable creators to monetise their audiences on their own terms. For OnlyFans, it could mark the start of a new chapter in its controversial but commercially compelling story.
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US investor group in talks to buy OnlyFans in deal reportedly worth up to $8bn