The OnlyFans inheritance: how its owner’s death could reshape the porn money-making machine
www.theguardian.com
Leonid Radvinsky’s widow has been left with a crucial role in deciding what happens to the business that made her husband a billionaire

Yekaterina Chudnovsky, online biographies say, is a mother-of-four who “enjoys spending time with her family and teaching them the importance of giving back and helping others”. They add that Ukrainian-born Chudnovsky, known as Katie, finds sanctuary in walks on the beach.

In interviews, Chudnovsky has spoken warmly about her commitment to philanthropy, her dedication to support cancer research and her work as a lawyer for an unnamed global technology firm. Pornography is never mentioned.

Now, it may become unavoidable. After the death of Chudnovsky’s husband, Leonid Radvinsky, from cancer last week at the age of 43, she is now understood to have a controlling interest through a family trust in the London-based adult content site, OnlyFans.

Chudnovsky is set to have a crucial role in deciding what happens to the business that made her husband a billionaire before he turned 40. The family stake is valued at about $5.5bn (£4.1bn).

Chudnovsky’s views on pornography will determine the site’s future business model, and whether it continues to generate huge sums of money by taking a 20% cut from the earnings of about 4 million content creators globally, a large proportion of whom generate money for the business by undressing and performing explicit content on the platform.

OnlyFans has tried to position itself as one of Britain’s greatest tech success stories, preferring to be seen as a social media platform than as an adult business. It employs only 42 people, and yet managed to generate $7.2bn in 2024.

  • sparky@lemmy.federate.cc@lemmy.federate.ccEnglish
    6·
    19 hours ago

    OnlyFans has tried to position itself as one of Britain’s greatest tech success stories, preferring to be seen as a social media platform than as an adult business.

    Hahahahahahhahahahahhaha

  • InfiniteGlitch@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    52·
    1 day ago

    Doubt anything will change, all the big corporate leaders lost their moral anyway. They’ll probably just continue with whatever made them money. Oh and I forgot, they’ll probably also keep helping AIPAC/Israel with money.

  • EpeeGnome@feddit.onlineEnglish
    14·
    16 hours ago

    Sounds like she didn’t have any problems spending her husband’s porn money before. It’d be a bit hypocritical if she suddenly has a problem with it now that it’s her hand on the tiller. To be fair, big life changes like the loss of a loved one often makes people rethink things in their life. If she does have an issue with that business model, she’ll probably just sell her stake so she can remain uninvolved, but still be rich.

  • TrackinDaKraken@lemmy.worldEnglish
    19·
    1 day ago

    I think it’s unlikely she’ll be able to pull back significantly. The money, and the power it brings, is intoxicating for most people. We’ll see, but I doubt much will change. Whatever changes she makes will be superficial, and will barely affect the bottom line. She can always console herself that she’s doing it for the employees of the company, and not herself. There are plenty of ways to justify the pursuit of greater power, including philanthropy.

    • anomnom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      19 hours ago

      She could reduce the % take from (mostly women ) creators and help them live better lives with less work.