Heffernan was pressured by other company executives and members of Ignite’s board to sign off on the expenses as legitimate business charges, he claims. The company also paid $26,000 to boost Bilzerian’s Instagram followers and paid for the travel expenses of the rotating cast of models that permanently accompany Bilzerian wherever he goes, the suit claims. Red flags were first raised by the accountants doing the books in preparation for Ignite International Brands’s annual report, required by the Canadian Stock Exchange, where shares of the company are publicly traded.Īccording to the suit, the accountants flagged $843,014.06 in company expenses that appeared to be “personal in nature.” These included payments for charges racked up on one of Dan Bilzerian’s credit cards: a half-million dollar yacht rental a six-figure, two-night trip to London a $65,000 “Four Elements Guns & Star Wars Set” a $50,000 bed fame, a $75,000 paint-ball field, an $88,000 vault, “to name a few.” He became acting president of Ignite in November, after the exit of his predecessor, Jim McCormick, a former tobacco executive. Working out of a WeWork, Heffernan earned $275,000 a year as vice president of sales, according to his suit. Ignite pivoted from a recreational cannabis brand, to a CBD company, to a company that was happy to try to put the Ignite goat-skull logo on just about anything. At the time, the company was trying to find its niche.

Heffernan, a former executive with Procter and Gamble, joined Ignite on March 18, 2019. Heffernan is seeking damages for defamation, wrongful termination, and also for being terminated in violation of California state whistleblower protection laws. “Pools, trampolines,” the employee added, “his ‘personal events’ that had nothing to do with the business.” Dan would just have it wrapped with the Ignite logo, and all of a sudden it was an Ignite expense and he would send them the bill.” However, former Ignite employees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing professional repercussions, confirmed much of what Heffernan claimed in his suit. Bilzerian's lifestyle is funded almost entirely by investors in his failing company, Ignite. Dan Bilzerian, center, courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game.

Dan bilzerian