Leonid Radvinsky, the billionaire owner of OnlyFans, who transformed the platform into a global digital powerhouse, has died at the age of 43 after battling cancer.
The London based company confirmed his death on Monday, stating that the Ukrainian-born entrepreneur passed away peacefully after a prolonged illness, while his family requested privacy during the period of mourning.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Leo Radvinsky. Leo passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer,” the company said in an emailed statement. “His family have requested privacy at this difficult time.”
Radvinsky acquired a majority stake in OnlyFans in 2018 and played a pivotal role in reshaping the adult content industry by enabling creators to earn directly from subscribers. He owned the platform’s parent company, Fenix International Ltd., according to its most recent UK filings.
Founded in 2016 by British entrepreneurs Guy and Tim Stokely, OnlyFans gained prominence for hosting content restricted on mainstream social platforms. Its popularity surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as creators turned to digital platforms for income.
His death is expected to raise fresh questions about the future ownership of the controversial but highly profitable platform. Before his passing, Radvinsky had been in early-stage discussions to sell a 60% stake in the company in a deal that could value OnlyFans at about $5.5 billion.
Despite efforts to diversify content by attracting mainstream figures such as chefs and athletes, OnlyFans remains widely associated with adult content. The platform takes a 20% commission on most creator earnings and has continued to post strong financial results.
In 2024, the company recorded $1.4 billion in revenue, with over 4.6 million creators and approximately 377 million users globally. Radvinsky reportedly received about $1.8 billion in dividends from the business between 2021 and early 2025.
Born in Odesa, Ukraine, Radvinsky relocated to the United States as a child and later lived in Florida. He maintained a low public profile but supported several philanthropic initiatives worldwide.
He donated to organisations including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, open source projects, and the West Suburban Humane Society. OnlyFans also disclosed that he transferred his ownership stake into a trust in 2024.
Radvinsky’s legacy is closely tied to the rapid rise of OnlyFans, a platform that redefined how digital content particularly adult material is created, distributed, and monetised globally.
Ademide Adebayo
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