The Shadow Network of Bernd Bergmair: From Pornhub’s Hidden Ownership to Sanctioned Russian Oil Deals
Overview
Austrian businessman Bernd Bergmair accumulated substantial wealth while remaining largely invisible behind the corporate layers of MindGeek, the former parent company of Pornhub. As survivors and anti-trafficking advocates accused the conglomerate of monetizing child sexual abuse and sex-trafficking content, new reporting by Reuters now connects Bergmair to a potential acquisition of Lukoil’s sanctioned international assets — raising difficult questions about how profits from the porn industry may intersect with Russian energy interests.
Background: Who Is Bernd Bergmair?
Various reports place Bergmair’s net worth between $1.5–2 billion, though these estimates derive from older valuations of MindGeek, preceding major lawsuits and the 2023 takeover by Ethical Capital Partners (ECP). His control of the group was routed through a layered network of holding companies incorporated in Luxembourg, Cyprus, and other jurisdictions.
Investigative reporting by Wiener Zocker helped bring Bergmair into the public eye, identifying him as the one-time dominant shareholder of MindGeek (now renamed Aylo) (Sources: Wiener Zocker, Wikipedia).
A Reuters exclusive has since revealed that Bergmair approached the U.S. Treasury regarding a possible purchase of Lukoil’s international portfolio — a set of global refineries, fuel stations and oil-field stakes valued at approximately $22 billion and coordinated from Vienna.
From Anonymous Porn Magnate to Prospective Oil Investor
Raised near Linz and having worked at Goldman Sachs, Bergmair amassed his wealth quietly through corporate vehicles that controlled MindGeek — the multinational operator of Pornhub, RedTube, and YouPorn. His role was exposed in 2020–2021 through investigations by the Financial Times and other media, prompting political scrutiny in Canada.
MindGeek/Aylo has since been hit with large-scale civil lawsuits in the U.S. and Canada, alleging that the company knowingly hosted and profited from:
- videos involving minors
- non-consensual and coerced sexual content
- material tied to sex-trafficking operations
(References: GovInfo, The New Yorker)
Although the company denies wrongdoing, it has implemented verification and moderation reforms while deleting millions of unverified videos.
The Traffickinghub Campaign and Laila Mickelwait
U.S. anti-trafficking activist Laila Mickelwait, founder of #Traffickinghub, remains one of the most vocal critics of Pornhub/MindGeek. Her petition and advocacy work accuse the company of enabling the exploitation of trafficking victims and minors.
On social media, Mickelwait has repeatedly described MindGeek/Aylo as an organization of extreme harm and has emphasized that the resulting damage to victims is “incalculable.” She was also the first to publicly identify Bergmair as the concealed majority owner, revealing a decades-long anonymity secured through offshore structures. (References: traffickinghubpetition.com, endsexualexploitation.org, X post, X post)
Ownership Questions After the ECP Takeover
In March 2023, Canadian private-equity fund Ethical Capital Partners (ECP) acquired MindGeek and later rebranded it as Aylo. The firm positions itself as a compliance-oriented owner seeking to reform the company. The identities of the sellers and details of the transaction remain undisclosed.
Reuters and other reports now consistently refer to Bergmair as the former majority owner.
Scam-Or Project has found no public evidence that he retains economic interests in Aylo through ECP or affiliated entities, although private-equity opacity continues to fuel speculation.
Legal Exposure of MindGeek/Aylo: Key Findings
Jurisdictional Overview
MindGeek/Aylo and several executives face coordinated legal actions in:
United States
- Federal district courts in California and New York
- FTC administrative proceedings
- State-level cases (e.g., Utah)
- Criminal prosecutions of collaborators such as GirlsDoPorn
Canada
- Quebec Superior Court class action
- Federal privacy investigations
- Regulatory oversight after the ECP acquisition
International
- Exposure tied to Luxembourg, Cyprus, and Ireland entities
Key Defendants Identified in Litigation
| Name | Role | Allegations |
|---|---|---|
| Bernd Bergmair | Majority owner (former) | Accused in U.S. lawsuits of overseeing a criminal racketeering enterprise |
| Feras Antoon | CEO | Named as co-conspirator in trafficking-related claims |
| David Tassillo | Executive | Implicated in sex-trafficking and CSAM lawsuits |
| Corey Urman | VP Product | Named in Quebec litigation |
| Corporate Entities | MindGeek S.à.r.l., MindGeek USA Inc., MG Freesites Ltd., Aylo Holdings | Accused of hosting CSAM, facilitating trafficking, enabling non-consensual content |
Allegation Categories Across Jurisdictions
- Hosting child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
- Facilitating or profiting from sex trafficking
- Monetizing non-consensual content
- Misleading claims about moderation and safety controls
Financial Exposure Summary
| Action | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Class Action | $600M+ | Pending certification |
| FTC Settlement | $15M | Finalized Sept 2025 |
| U.S. Deferred Prosecution Agreement | $1.84M | Completed Dec 2023 |
| California Litigation | Confidential | Multiple settlements |
| GirlsDoPorn Judgments | $13M | Paid to victims |
Criminal Liability
Though certain partners like GirlsDoPorn operators received long prison sentences, MindGeek/Aylo itself has not been criminally convicted. Instead, the company relied on deferred prosecution agreements and civil settlements — a standard corporate risk-mitigation approach.
Nigeria: Reputation Washing?
In November 2024, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) in Nigeria awarded Bergmair an honorary doctorate in recognition of his “achievements” and a donated solar power facility. The accolade contrasts starkly with unresolved allegations tied to MindGeek/Aylo’s leadership and historic operations. (Source: guardian.ng)
The Lukoil Question: Where Does the Money Lead?
With Bergmair now reportedly operating from London and Vienna while pursuing sanctioned Lukoil assets, several pressing questions emerge:
- Who are his partners and financiers behind the potential acquisition?
- Are historical MindGeek profits being funneled into the Russian energy sector?
- What did executives know — and when — about illegal content on MindGeek sites?
These issues remain open.
Call for Information
Scam-Or Project, in cooperation with Wiener Zocker, continues to investigate Bergmair’s global business structures and potential acquisition plans.
Insiders, victims, employees, financial institutions, or advisors with relevant knowledge may contact investigators confidentially via the Scam-Or Project whistleblower section.
