In 2010, three gamer friends, Eric Rivera, Jeff Emann, and Ben Christensen wanted a way to show off their Call of Duty trick shots, so they started a YouTube channel called FaZe Sniping.

With their “ILLCAMS” series, they quickly catapulted into stardom.

By 2012, the channel’s subscriber count reached 1 million.

Sensing they were onto something, they formed Faze Clan; a gaming collective with a simple formula; combine raw gaming talent with entertaining personalities.

With the addition of members like Banks, Adapt and Temper, Faze Clan grew into one of the biggest names in the gaming world.

As the years progressed, the brand evolved beyond gaming, dabbling in film, TV, gambling and collaborations with famous rappers.

In 2022, FaZe Clan shocked the world when they debuted on the New York Stock Exchange at a $1 billion valuation, going from a humble gaming channel to a juggernaut spanning esports, entertainment and lifestyle. Unfortunately, things started crumbling behind the scenes.

After some financial and management missteps, Faze Clan saw its stock crash by 94% in a matter of months. In a surprising turn of events, the struggling company has now been acquired by Gamesquare, an esport brand backed by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for $17 million dollars. A far cry from the once $1 billion valuation.

For more wild business stories like this, dive into “The 50 Greatest Business Success Stories” and be sure to follow us on Instagram