Who Built OnlyFans — What LGBTQ+ Creators Should Know

💡 Why “who created OnlyFans” matters to LGBTQ+ creators

If you’re an LGBTQ+ creator curious about who built OnlyFans and why ownership, policy, and money flow matter—this is for you. People ask: who runs the app where I make my income, who decides the rules, and what does that mean for safety, payments, and visibility? This piece cuts through the noise: origins, ownership changes, cash flow, creator economics, platform pivots, and how that all affects LGBTQ+ creators now and next year.

I’ll lay out the timeline, the big numbers, how the platform has been diversifying content, and what creators—especially queer creators—should watch for: monetization mechanics, safety and privacy risks, discoverability, and industry trends like AI and mainstream celebrity adoption.

Short version: OnlyFans wasn’t born as an LGBTQ+ platform, but its structure, owner priorities, and recent business moves shape the spaces queer creators occupy. Read on for practical takeaways, quick data, and a table that compares the platform’s key stats you need in your head.

📊 Data snapshot — core numbers creators actually care about

This snapshot shows where the power sits: a highly profitable holding company (Fenix) under Leonid Radvinsky, who consolidated control after the platform’s 2016 founding by Tim and Guy Stokely. Pivots matter: OnlyFans has been actively recruiting non-adult creators (trainers, comedians, singers) to diversify supply and user demographics—so the business risk profile is shifting from purely adult to a broader creator economy play.

Why that matters:

• Big profits and concentrated ownership mean policy and fee changes can come quickly.
• Platform diversification can open new discovery pathways for LGBTQ+ creators (collabs, cross-category promotion), but also shifts moderation priorities.
• The 20% cut and superstar payouts show there’s money, but distribution is highly skewed: a tiny fraction makes most earnings.

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💡 How OnlyFans got here — founders, sale, and the money trail

OnlyFans launched in November 2016, created by British entrepreneurs Tim and Guy Stokely. The product’s original architecture let creators monetize directly through subscriptions, tips, and paid messages—a model that turned out to be a near-perfect match for adult content creators and niche fanbases.

In 2018, Leonid (Leo) Radvinsky—an experienced adult-streaming entrepreneur (he founded MyFreeCams)—acquired a majority stake via Fenix International. Since then, Fenix reported growing profits and large dividends paid to Radvinsky; UK filings show he received more than $1 billion in dividends across three reported years, and the company reported roughly $485.5 million profit for year-to-November 30, 2023.

Two quick implications:

• Decision-making centralizes in the owner/holding company — policy, risk tolerance, and monetization strategy are top-down.
• With high profits and a push to diversify content, OnlyFans is increasingly courting mainstream creators (athletes, influencers, musicians), which can change discovery algorithms and brand safety rules.

📊 Trends that matter to LGBTQ+ creators — diversification, safety, and AI

OnlyFans is pushing beyond adult content: trainers, comedians, singers, and athletes are joining, which helps normalize the platform and drives user growth. That trend gives queer creators new collaboration opportunities (fitness collabs, comedy sets, music previews) that expand revenue streams beyond explicit content.

At the same time, safety concerns and predatory behavior remain real:

• Campus surges and stalking incidents are being reported (see recent safety coverage), which underscores physical-safety and doxxing risks creators face.
• Tech like AI is already changing the game: some adult workers experimented with AI chat agents to scale interactions with paying users, a trend flagged in industry reporting.

Creators should watch three things:

• Payment rules and payout cadence (platform fee is 20%, but policies on chargebacks, blocked payouts, and verification can change).
• Moderation and discovery shifts as the platform moves mainstream.
• Safety tooling: two-factor authentication, watermarking, and safe meet-up practices.

Quick real-world noises: athletes and celebs are joining OnlyFans and using it as another income pillar—Olympian Alysha Newman made headlines for selling adult content alongside magazine shoots [Marca, 2025-10-03]. Musicians like Riff Raff have created accounts, showing the platform isn’t just for sex work now [Houston Chronicle, 2025-10-03]. And OnlyFans leadership is publicly discussing the stigma and ethics of adult content as it scales [Biztoc.com, 2025-10-03].

🧠 What LGBTQ+ creators should do next (practical checklist)

• Protect identity: enable 2FA, use business accounts for payment gateways, and avoid showing identifiable location info in content.
• Diversify income: add non-explicit products—paid DMs, fitness classes, music, Patreon-style tiers, or merch.
• Know the fees: OnlyFans takes ~20% — plan pricing accordingly and account for taxes and chargebacks.
• Brand safety: if you plan collabs with mainstream creators, keep content tiers clear; mainstream brand deals often have content restrictions.
• Keep receipts: track income and platform communications—Fenix filings show rapid profit swings and owner-driven strategy changes can impact payouts.

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Who owns OnlyFans now?

💬 Leonid Radvinsky is the sole owner of Fenix International, the holding company for OnlyFans, having acquired a majority stake in 2018.

🛠️ Can LGBTQ+ creators make a living on OnlyFans?

💬 Yes, but income is uneven—some creators make six or seven figures while most earn modest amounts. Diversifying content and platforms raises your odds.

🧠 Is OnlyFans safe to use from a privacy perspective?

💬 It can be, if you use strong security measures (2FA, separate business payment accounts, watermarking) and avoid sharing personally identifying information publicly.

🧩 Final Thoughts…

OnlyFans started with two British founders in 2016 and became a massive creator economy play after Leo Radvinsky bought in and consolidated control. For LGBTQ+ creators, the platform offers real income and reach—but it’s a system shaped by owner priorities, platform diversification, and shifting safety dynamics. The smart play: protect yourself, diversify income streams, and treat OnlyFans as one piece of a broader creator strategy.

📚 Further Reading

Here are 3 recent pieces from the news pool for extra context:

🔸 Sacha Baron Cohen, 53, looks in good spirits as he enjoys night out in Paris after being pictured with OnlyFans model Hannah Palmer, 27
🗞️ Source: Daily Mail – 📅 2025-10-04
🔗 Read Article

🔸 OnlyFans surge on college campuses sparks new safety fears as experts warn of hidden dangers
🗞️ Source: FOX News – 📅 2025-10-03
🔗 Read Article

🔸 OnlyFans, il miraggio dei guadagni milionari e la realtà dei 199 dollari al mese
🗞️ Source: HuffingtonPost.it – 📅 2025-10-04
🔗 Read Article

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📌 Disclaimer

This post blends publicly available information (news reporting and company filings) with editorial analysis. It’s meant for information and discussion—not legal or financial advice. Double-check specifics before making major decisions.