Tim Tebow Pauses Life Surge Involvement Amid Allegations
Life Surge attracted a large crowd to the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City last spring for a day of motivational speakers and opportunities to enroll in investment and real estate training. Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow was one of the featured speakers.
Now, however, Tebow is pausing his relationship with the organization following serious allegations about its sales practices. The allegations emerged from a joint investigation by the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast and Mother Jones.
“The allegations are extremely, extremely serious, and it’s something that we take very serious,” Tebow told reporters in Gainesville, Florida. “And so for us, we’re having our team do an investigation but also pausing our relationship until we can learn more about the facts to be able to understand more.”
Yahoo Sports, citing the investigation, reported that Tebow has received between $50,000 and $100,000 to headline introductory events where admission may cost as little as $30. Attendees are later offered additional classes covering the stock market and real estate, with some advanced programs costing tens of thousands of dollars.
During the introductory events, audience members can enroll in three-day “impact classes” for $97. Those participants are then eligible to enroll in SurgeU, which offers more extensive real estate and stock-trading instruction. Mother Jones reported that the packages range from approximately $10,000 to $40,000.
The company presents the training as a way for Christians to increase their financial resources and use them for what it calls “Kingdom impact.” The investigation alleged that some prospective students were encouraged to obtain credit, borrow against their homes or draw from retirement savings to pay for the programs.
One couple lost $40,000
One couple interviewed by Mother Jones said they placed approximately $40,000 on interest-free credit cards after meeting with a Life Surge financial counselor. The couple said their stock-market investments produced no profit and they eventually obtained a home-equity loan to cover the remaining credit-card balance after the interest rate increased to 29 percent.
Life Surge disputed allegations that it pressures customers to assume debt they cannot afford. In a statement provided to the podcast, the company said enrollment is voluntary and that financing is handled by independent companies. It also said fewer than 3 percent of its event customers enroll in training beyond the initial Impact Class.
“I was at an anti-human trafficking conference yesterday and the team shared with me when we were leaving, as we were flying to Alabama for an event,” Tebow said. “Kind of caught off guard with some of it, and I think that’s why we’re really trying to understand more of the facts to really learn it.”
Tebow last appeared in an NFL game in 2012. Since leaving professional football, he has played minor-league baseball, worked as an ESPN analyst and testified before Congress about online child exploitation.
–Alan Goforth
Editor’s Note: Metro Voice has previously chosen not to enter into an advertising agreement with Life Surge.
