One of the first things you learn in an introductory video to Andrew Tate’s “Hustlers University 2.0,” his set of courses for which thousands of people pay a monthly subscription fee, is that his two favorite things seem to be making money and emotional manipulation.
“You’re in the most fantastic place on the planet to make money, Hustlers University, and the only person who could screw that up is you,” the controversial influencer yells, strutting in front of his red Aston Martin Vanquish, blue Rolls. -Royce Wraith and white Porsche 911, luxury sports cars with a collective retail value of more than $750,000. Dressed in a leather jacket, Tate holds a coffee in one hand and uses the other to gesture at the camera. “Most of you are happy to be part-time losers,” he declares. “You want to escape. That’s why you joined. You don’t want to be a loser anymore.”
Tate goes on to talk repeatedly about the need to “escape the matrix,” part of his world view that a job makes you, as he calls it, a “pawn” or “wage slave brokie.” Four other luxury cars, including one of his beloved Bugattis, appear in the background of the video, a hint to viewers as to what may be possible if they just follow Tate’s instructions.
Time red pillingalso taken from Matrix, has been a part of the cultural lexicon for the past few years, now Tate’s followers have come together in one place and are apparently more determined than ever to “escape the matrix.” They have come to believe that he, the school, and “theism” (think pro-capitalism and hypermasculinity) have the answers on how to find freedom from social slavery. That includes financial independence, but also a rejection of modern progressive politics. And the Hustlers University 2.0 program was designed, through his affiliate program, to effectively spread that message across all the social media channels dissatisfied youth inhabit. (BuzzFeed News reached out to Tate’s representative with detailed questions for this story. They responded saying they couldn’t be reached for comment.)
While to many Tate, with its overt displays of wealth and misogynistic language, appeared seemingly out of nowhere this summer, it has actually been steadily growing its following over the past two years. After first appearing in Older brother In 2016, the former professional kickboxer built a small empire marketing himself as the “Top G” and selling online courses at $500 each. The 11 courses were aimed at helping men become better at dating, like the “Pimpin Hoe Degree” and the “Instagram Playbook,” similar in style to early-’90s pickup artists. 2000. Those courses have been removed from their website and can no longer be purchased.
According to Tate’s website, he founded Hustlers University 2.0 in 2021. BuzzFeed News signed up for the online Discord network, called “campus,” in August, just as Tate had been removed from social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram , YouTube and TikTok. For $49.99 a month, users get access to Discord and video lessons that supposedly teach money-making methods like investing in cryptocurrency, offering writing services to businesses, and setting up their own e-commerce and Amazon stores. Sprinkled with business advice is the same anti-LGBTQ and anti-women rhetoric for which Tate has become known.
Despite being removed from the platform on almost every major social networking site, Tate is still able to influence followers through Hustlers University 2.0, apparently making millions of dollars a month doing so. Who are the students? Hundreds of thousands of people, mostly men, some who say they are so young like 13 years These students try to motivate each other to become, like Tate, a successful entrepreneur whose main product is himself.
