Andrew Tate's lawyers say supercars and yacht were rented to fake wealth

Lawyers for Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have told a US court that the pair's online image as "uberwealthy" figures was manufactured to boost engagement, rather than a reflection of genuine wealth. According to the filing, the brothers' business model depends on attention, and the more outlandish their posts, the more views — and income — they generate.

The submission follows the brothers' arrest in Miami on 18 July, after British police sought their extradition over an investigation into rape, assault and facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation. They remain at a federal detention centre in Florida and continue to deny wrongdoing on X.

Rented cars, borrowed yacht

The lawyers said a $2.1m Aston Martin and Bugattis worth $5m and $7m shown in Tristan's videos were rented rather than owned. A "superyacht" featured in promotional videos does not belong to the Tates either — they were paid to advertise it. The valuation of Andrew's watch collection, the filing says, is based on a third-party enthusiast publication rather than verified ownership. Claims of unlimited crypto and cash reserves, and Andrew's past statements about becoming UK prime minister, were dismissed by his lawyers as hyperbole.

The filing also addressed a so-called Mexican "passport" bearing the name Vladimir Scorpius, describing it as a cardboard prop used for a Halloween costume rather than evidence of a covert identity.

Multiple legal proceedings

Andrew Tate, 39, and Tristan Tate, 38, were arrested in Miami on 18 July. Britain's Crown Prosecution Service announced new charges in July concerning alleged offences against four victims between 2010 and 2017. Separately, Andrew Tate faces a civil lawsuit in England from four women alleging sexual violence; three reported allegations to Hertfordshire police in 2014 and 2015, though the case was later dropped. The brothers are also engaged in legal proceedings in Romania.