Tim Stokely founded OnlyFans in November 2016 in London, England. The platform started with a £10,000 loan from his father, Guy Stokely.
In 2018, Tim sold a 75% stake in Fenix International, the parent company of OnlyFans, to businessman Leonid Radvinsky. Tim continued as CEO until December 2021, when he decided to step down to pursue new challenges.
After his departure, Amrapali Gan took over as CEO, followed by Keily Blair in July 2023. This article covers the founding story, leadership changes, business growth, content policies, and Tim’s new ventures.
Who Is The Current CEO Of OnlyFans?
Keily Blair currently leads OnlyFans as its CEO. She took on this role in July 2023, replacing Amrapali Gan, who had served as CEO since December 2021.
Blair worked as a lawyer before joining OnlyFans. The company operates under Fenix International Limited, with Leonid Radvinsky maintaining majority ownership.
Blair represents the third CEO in the company’s history, following founder Tim Stokely and Amrapali Gan.
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Who Founded OnlyFans and What Happened Later?
Tim Stokely started OnlyFans in 2016 as a platform where creators could earn money directly from subscribers. Before OnlyFans, Tim had created other websites, including GlamGirls and Customs4U.
His family played key roles in the early business; his brother Thomas became COO, while his father, Guy, managed finances. The platform initially banned adult content and focused on attracting musicians and influencers.
Many people wonder if OnlyFans is illegal due to its adult content, but the platform operates legally in most countries as long as creators are adults and follow local laws.
This policy changed in 2017, allowing explicit content. The big shift came in 2019 when Leonid Radvinsky bought 75% of Fenix International Limited, the parent company of OnlyFans.
Tim Stokely’s Exit From OnlyFans
According to CNN, Tim Stokely announced his departure as CEO in December 2021 through an Instagram post. He stated he was ‘moving on to new challenges’ after five years running the company.
Stokely passed leadership to Amrapali Gan, who had joined OnlyFans as chief marketing and communications officer. Stokely expressed confidence in Gan, calling her ‘a colleague and a friend, who has the vision and drive to help the organization reach tremendous potential.’
OnlyFans’ Growth and Business Model
OnlyFans is a subscription service where fans pay creators directly. The company takes 20% of all earnings, while creators keep 80%.
The platform saw major growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, with user and creator numbers jumping 75% between March and April 2020. A mention by Beyoncé in the song ‘Savage’ further boosted its popularity.
By December 2020, OnlyFans had grown to 85 million users and over 1 million creators. According to CNN, the platform has paid out more than $5 billion to 1.5 million creators since its launch.
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Updated OnlyFans Content Policy
OnlyFans faced a controversy in 2021 regarding its content policy, which resulted in several important developments:
- Initial Ban Announcement: In August 2021, OnlyFans stated they would ban all sexually explicit content starting October 1, shocking their creator community.
- Banking Pressure: The company revealed that banks like BNY Mellon and JPMorgan Chase pushed for this change, not credit card companies as many first thought.
- Public Backlash: Creators and users strongly opposed this decision, arguing it would harm people who built their livelihoods on the platform.
- Policy Reversal: OnlyFans canceled the planned ban six days after the announcement, stating they had secured necessary assurances to continue allowing adult content.
Ex. Founder Tim Stokely New Venture – Zoop
After leaving OnlyFans, Tim Stokely launched a new platform called Zoop. This project partners with AI startup Humans.ai to connect fans with creators worldwide. The platform, built on Hedera blockchain technology, aims to break down language barriers for personalized connections.
Zoop secured over $15 million in backing and formalized a partnership with Ready Player Me before its global platform launch on Hedera. Zoop has also partnered with NBA All-Star Baron Davis and Ready Player Me as it prepares for global launch.
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Conclusion: Keily Blair Is The Current OnlyFans Founder
Tim Stokely built OnlyFans from a small startup into a billion-dollar company that changed creator monetization forever.
His journey shows both business vision and adaptability in a fast-moving world. After selling his stake and stepping down as CEO, the platform continued growing under new leadership with Amrapali Gan and now Keily Blair.
Stokely has moved forward with Zoop, bringing his experience to a new AI-powered platform. Follow OnlyFans to see how it evolves and you can also become a creator and get a chance to be a part of this platform.
FAQs
Fenix International Limited owns OnlyFans, with Leonid Radvinsky of the company since 2018. Radvinsky also founded the cam site MyFreeCams through his holding company.
Tim Stokely started with a £10,000 loan from his father. After selling to Radvinsky, the company later reached a $1 billion valuation, with Radvinsky receiving $500 million in dividends.
Zoop connects fans with creators using AI technology from Humans.ai. The platform works on the Hedera blockchain and partners with Ready Player Me.
Leonid Radvinsky maintains majority ownership with a 75% stake in Fenix International Limited. The Ukrainian-American businessman acquired this position in 2018 and remains the largest shareholder.
OnlyFans continues to expand its global reach with more creators joining regularly. The platform shows strong growth in both users and revenue generation.
