Dan Bilzerian Sues Father for Control of Cannabis Company and Considers Run for President

Dan Bilzerian, the flamboyant poker player and King of Instagram, has recently made headlines by filing a lawsuit against his father, Paul Bilzerian, over control of Ignite International Brands Ltd., a cannabis company they co-founded.

Dan BilzerianThe lawsuit was filed in late November 2024 in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada.

Bilzerian alleges that he was “unlawfully pushed out” of his position as CEO of Ignite through a series of illegal actions orchestrated by his father and other co-defendants, including Scott Rohleder, the company’s chief financial officer.

Dan contends that he was merely a figurehead within the organisation, with real control being exerted by his father behind the scenes. That said, he does claim to be the true majority shareholder of the firm.

This explanation aligns with federal investigations suggesting that Paul Bilzerian has been secretly managing Ignite via agents.

Allegations Against Paul Bilzerian

At the heart of Dan’s lawsuit are claims that his father and others conspired to remove him from his leadership role without adhering to proper corporate governance procedures.

Specifically, he asserts that he was terminated without the necessary shareholder vote required for such an action.

He argues that he had previously informed Ignite’s board that they could no longer use his name and likeness for marketing purposes, following his father’s indictment.

In court documents, Dan describes how he faced threats from Rohleder and others within Ignite regarding his job security.

Just days after expressing concerns about the company’s management and product quality, Dan was removed as CEO on June 2, 2024. He contends that this move was not only unlawful but also damaging to his reputation and business interests.

Dan Bilzerian‘s complaint is extensive, detailing multiple legal grievances against his father and co-defendants.

He is seeking punitive damages on nine claims, including copyright infringement and deceptive trade practices.

The lawsuit emphasises that despite being portrayed as the face of Ignite, Dan had little actual control over its operations.

Instead, it alleges that Paul Bilzerian wielded “de facto control” over the company while Dan was left to manage public relations and marketing efforts.

The 74-year-old has a long and chequered history with the SEC. Spending time behind bars in the 80’s for fraud and later losing a civil case against the government body, leaving him owing a whopping $180 million.

Dan Bilzerian Considers Run for President

While embroiled in this legal battle with his father, Dan Bilzerian is still contemplating a future run for President of the United States.

Known for his extravagant lifestyle showcased on social media — complete with luxury cars, private jets, and glamorous parties — Bilzerian aims to leverage his fame to connect with voters.

This story broke five years ago but it recently surfaced during the election period in the United States. In fact 2024 was his initial thought for when he could make the run but 2028 is now likely if it happens.

True to character, Bilzerian has made headlines with bold statements about what he would do if elected president.

He has pledged to abstain from sex, drugs, and alcohol during his presidency, claiming this commitment would allow him to focus entirely on governance.

Surprisingly, well, to many at least, Bilzerian reckons that the environment would be his top priority, while cutting down on the number of laws and weeding out corruption is also high up on his to-do list.

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