Iman Gadzhi is a big name in the online space. He has a large following, evidenced by his large YouTube following of over 5.5 million subscribers and counting.
He is a polarizing figure online, with some people living by his words and some hating his guts.
So, let me dissect his online career and give you a dose of brutal honesty so that you can be in a better position to make up your mind about him.
Before we dive in..
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Key Takeaways (If you are in a hurry!)
- Iman Gadzhi is a digital marketer and YouTuber who dropped out of high school at 17 and built a successful online business focused on teaching social media marketing and entrepreneurship.
- His YouTube channel has 5.5 million subscribers and serves as a key marketing tool.
- His estimated net worth is around $85 million, primarily earned through his various business ventures and educational platforms.
- Pros: Gadzhi is genuinely successful, provides structured courses for beginners, emphasizes hard work, and has been involved in charitable work.
- Criticisms: He tends to oversimplify business expertise, often appears more focused on style than substance, provides limited personal attention in his courses, and allegedly tailors social media comments to maintain a positive image.
- VERDICT: Iman Gadzhi is legitimate, but you should approach his offerings with a critical mind.
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Who is Iman Gadzhi?
Iman Gadzhi is a YouTuber and digital marketer who made a name for himself in digital marketing after dropping out of high school at 17.
Originally born in Russia, he and his mom moved to the UK to live with his stepfather (he has more recently moved to Dubai).
So, how did it all start for him?
After dropping out of school, he jumped straight into the world of social media marketing, landing a few clients before officially starting his own agency, IAG Media. He still runs this agency as “a boutique firm, focused on delivering high return-on-investment campaigns for its clients while keeping a lean and profitable structure.”
From there, things snowballed. As his agency grew, people started asking him for advice on how to build their own marketing businesses.
He started an online course, Six Figure SMMA, to teach the Social Media Marketing Agency (SMMA) model. The course over the years eventually morphed into Agency Navigator and, more recently, Agency Accelerator.
He launched now-defunct GrowYourAgency.com, an educational platform teaching people how to start and scale their own agencies. It was his first real attempt at railing against the conventional education framework.
He recently founded the Digital Launchpad (launched as Educate.io), a platform offering courses on various subjects, not just from him but from other experts as well. He built it intending to revolutionize education, an industry he believes is outdated and in need of change.
Along the way, he started his YouTube channel posting workout videos at the age of 16. It now has 5.5 million subscribers (and counting) and morphed into a key marketing tool for his other ventures.
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What Do I Make of Iman Gadzhi?
Iman Gadzhi is one of those names that gets thrown around a lot in the online entrepreneurship space, and for good reason.
I think he’s well-spoken, sharp, and knows exactly how to market himself. When he talks about hard work, focus, and commitment, he’s saying the things people want to hear—the things that make you stop scrolling and pay attention. And it works!
The way he presents himself is honestly a masterclass in branding. Everything about him—from his body language to his clothes, his cars, his house, and even the way he speaks—exudes success.
His videos? Next level.
He clearly spares no expense on production, and compared to most influencers, they’re polished to perfection. And of course, there are the grand gestures, like gifting his mom an expensive house. Even if you’re a cold-hearted reptilian creature, that kind of thing still tugs at the heartstrings.
If you watch him closely, he positions himself as a modern renaissance man—someone who seems knowledgeable about a broad range of subjects, effortlessly tying together business, psychology, self-improvement, and finance.
The way he talks is to give you the impression that “it’s not just about making money; it’s about breaking free from the system.”
That’s where I think he starts to dip into the whole “see through the lies of the establishment” narrative, which, let’s be real, is catnip for the internet. He’s not full-blown Andrew Tate, but the “matrix” rhetoric is definitely there.
A prime example? His stance on traditional education. He rails against the college system, highlighting the crippling student debt and outdated curriculum that doesn’t prepare you for real-world success.
And, of course, he offers an alternative that you have to pay for—his own education platform, Educate.io Digital Launchpad.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with that. In fact, bashing college and selling an alternative is a formula a lot of online business gurus use these days. It’s trendy. It’s appealing. And it works.
That’s not to say he doesn’t go over the top sometimes. His videos can be dramatic to get your attention, and the whole “ditch the system, start an agency, make $10K a month” pitch can feel a bit formulaic.
But that’s the game. His approach gives you quick skill acquisition, hands-on experience, and the chance to build a business fast.
The flip side? Some industries still need traditional education. If you want to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer, you’re not skipping college for an online course. The alternatives that guys like Iman propose haven’t quite cracked training for those fields yet.
At the end of the day, why is he doing this? Because he wants you to buy into his vision—literally.
Whether it’s the Digital Launchpad or his agency model, the goal is to get you on board. And you know what? I don’t begrudge him for it.
He’s an incredible marketer, and the results speak for themselves. Whether you think he delivers real value or not, he’s wildly successful in an era where attention is everything.
Millions of people listen to him, and that alone is something most people could only dream of achieving.
Now, let’s look at what he has to offer:
Iman Gadzhi’s Business Ventures
Alright, let’s talk about the businesses he’s built:
IAG Media
Well, first off, he’s the CEO of IAG Media, a digital marketing agency that helps businesses (mostly in the high-ticket space) scale using social media ads.
That’s where he started making serious money, and it’s a big part of his credibility when he talks about building agencies.
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Digital Launchpad (or Educate.io)
He has an online education platform called Educate.io, which is now called Digital Launchpad (it’s hard to keep up, and maybe it’ll be something else when you read this 😂).
It’s basically his answer to Andrew Tate’s The Real World—a subscription-based course platform where he sells his Agency Accelerator program.
You can get in for $37 a month, or if you go for the annual plan at $270, you get extra perks like live calls with him, mentorship from millionaire entrepreneurs, and access to an exclusive community.
It’s all designed to teach you how to start and scale a digital marketing agency, which, unsurprisingly, is what he’s best known for.
It was created to provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the online marketing industry.
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Flozy (AgenciFlow)
Then there’s Flozy, which used to be called AgenciFlow. This is his software company, built specifically for social media marketing agencies.
If you run an agency, you’ve got client onboarding, invoicing, team management, and a hundred other things to juggle—Flozy is supposed to streamline all of that.
Again, it fits perfectly with his brand since a huge chunk of his audience is trying to build agencies.
Gents Croquet Club
Now, if you’ve got some money to throw around and you want to rub shoulders with other high-flyers, there’s the Gents Croquet Club.
It’s marketed as an ultra-exclusive network where you get access to luxury experiences, events, and connections with high-net-worth individuals.
Think of it as something along the lines of Andrew Tate’s War Room—a mix of networking, lifestyle, and business opportunities for people who want to be in the “inner circle.”
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Iman Gadzhi YouTube
And of course, there’s his YouTube channel, which is massive, sitting at over 5.5 million subscribers. That’s where he really built his brand.
His content is a mix of business advice, motivational rants, and lifestyle vlogs showing off his travels, cars, and day-to-day life as a multi-millionaire entrepreneur.
But let’s be real—YouTube isn’t the business itself; it’s the marketing machine. The real money comes from getting people into his courses, software, and high-ticket networks.
Iman Gadzhi’s Net Worth and Finances
Iman Gadzhi’s net worth is estimated to be around $85 million.
He has earned his wealth through his various business ventures, including IAG Media and Educate.io.
What I Like About Iman Gadzhi
If you strip away all the hype, Iman Gadzhi does have some qualities that are hard to ignore.
He is Successful
Love him or hate him, he’s actually successful (look, I am writing about him!). It’s one thing to give advice on business and branding, but another to have the receipts to back it up.
You can’t really argue with the fact that he’s built a massive personal brand with millions of followers, and when someone like that gives advice on personal branding, it makes sense to at least hear them out.
The same goes for his SMMA business, IAG Media, which has pulled in millions over the years. Whether you like him or not, he’s got skin in the game, and that matters.
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His Courses Help Beginners
One of the things that makes his courses appealing is that they give you structure. Sure, you can find a lot of this information for free if you’re willing to dig through endless YouTube videos and blog posts, but that takes time.
What you’re really paying for with his programs is a shortcut—a way to get a clear, step-by-step process instead of piecing everything together yourself.
If you’re starting from zero and don’t even know what you don’t know, that kind of guidance can be useful. It’s not magic, and it won’t guarantee success, but it gives you a roadmap, and sometimes that’s all you need to get moving.
He Emphasizes Hard Work
Another thing you can’t really knock is the way he pushes people to work hard. Digital marketing, running an agency, launching a personal brand—none of it is easy.
You have to put in the effort, and if there’s one thing he’s good at, it’s hammering that point home.
He doesn’t sugarcoat the reality that success takes discipline and consistency, which, let’s be honest, is something a lot of people need to hear.
He Does Charity Work
Then there’s the side of him that not everyone talks about—his charitable work. He’s spoken about giving back and has been involved in initiatives that raise awareness about real issues.
It’s easy to be cynical about this kind of thing, especially when someone builds their brand around it, but at the end of the day, he’s using his platform to push for something beyond just making money, and that’s worth acknowledging.
My Criticism of Iman Gadzhi
If you are a big fan of Iman Gadzhi, you’ll want to skip this part:
Misleading About The Need For Expertise
One of Iman’s biggest claims to fame is agency building. However, as he sells his services or courses, he does a poor job of telling people what to expect when they get into this business.
Here’s my take on it: Running an agency can be lucrative, but you have to be a skilled person, put in the work, and spend a lot of time and sometimes resources building a sustainable brand with a solid reputation.
The problem I have with Iman is that he makes it look like you don’t need the domain expertise yourself because you will just outsource everything (he is a big fan of outsourcing). Now, I have nothing against outsourcing, but you must have some expertise yourself, even as you hire people to work for you.
Otherwise, how are you going to win clients when you don’t know what you are selling? What if they ask you a targeted question about how you will handle their marketing campaigns, and all you have up your sleeve is a bunch of platitudes that you’ve memorized? That won’t cut it, and you will lose prospects.
There is no way around it: you must know your subject matter to sell it to clients and hire people. That, coupled with hard work and consistency, can propel you to the income levels that Iman talks about.
Oh, and for the majority, it will not take weeks or months. It will take years to get to those income levels.
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He is More Style Than Substance
The guy knows how to market himself—there’s no denying that. If you’re in the online business space, you need to stand out, and he’s nailed that side of things. But does all that flash translate into real, actionable substance? That’s where things start to fall apart a little.
A lot of people walk away from his courses feeling like they got the hype but not the depth.
When it comes to the actual nuts and bolts of building a successful agency—or whatever business model he’s pushing—the details can sometimes be a bit… thin.
If you were expecting a step-by-step masterclass that hand-holds you through the process, you might be disappointed.
His Students Don’t Get Personal Attention
His courses are packed with students. Think about it—how much personal attention do you think you’re actually getting in a sea of thousands?
The coaches, if they’re even as involved as advertised, are likely stretched thin. You’re not getting one-on-one mentorship here; you’re getting something much more hands-off.
For some, that’s fine. But if you’re the kind of person who learns best with direct guidance, you might find yourself feeling a little lost.
Allegations of Tailoring Comments
It is alleged that when he posts on social media, be it YouTube, TikTok, or elsewhere, he and his team delete negative comments, and they have an army of people posting positive messages (I am not referring to the organic followers).
To be clear, these are just allegations, and it is undeniable that he actually has followers who live and die by what he says.
Which leads me to my next point:
He Targets a Younger, More Impressionable Audience
Just like most online influencers you’ll find online these days, Iman Gadzhi targets younger people, sometimes 16 or younger.
Younger people in those age brackets are easier to sell to, especially if you come at them with a message that will resonate with them.
Now, this is an issue across the board with most online influencers because older people tend to be harder to sell to anyway.
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Is Iman Gadzhi Legit?
The answer is yes, but there are some serious caveats.
If you’re asking whether his methods work, the answer is yes—if you’re willing to follow him to the bitter end. The people who truly commit to what he preaches, who absorb every word and execute relentlessly, do see results.
But that’s the thing—you have to buy in completely, and not just financially. His whole philosophy demands total immersion, and not everyone is built for that.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. A friend of mine once made an observation that stuck with me.
He told me that rather than buying a course on marketing and personal branding from Iman, you’ll probably learn more just by watching how he markets himself. That shifted my entire perspective.
Every product launch, every YouTube video—it’s all one big, carefully orchestrated marketing play. Even when he talks about the economy, it’s not just an analysis.
It’s designed to make you see him as this authority figure who’s figured something out that others (including mainstream experts) either don’t know or are deliberately hiding from you.
He builds this siege mentality with his audience, where you start to feel like he’s the only one telling you the truth. And once you’ve bought into that, when he turns around and says, “Hey, if you want to master personal branding, I’ve got just the thing for you,” you’re already primed to trust him.
That’s the real genius of Iman Gadzhi—his ability to sell himself. Because if you take a step back and look at the numbers, his actual business history tells a slightly different story from the one he pushes.
His agency, which made him an expert, wasn’t groundbreaking compared to others.
But he took that spark, fanned it, and turned it into the foundation of a brand that now prints money. And yeah, the real money came later—from his education business and YouTube.
That’s not to say everything he teaches is worthless. Some people have clearly benefited from his courses, and for that, he deserves credit.
But the way he markets himself—especially the aggressive, fear-based approach aimed at young men—raises some valid questions. His whole pitch is designed to make you feel as if you don’t take action right now, you’re going to be left behind, stuck in mediocrity while other guys get rich.
And that fear? That urgency? That’s what makes the sale.
At the end of the day, Iman Gadzhi isn’t some scam artist pulling a total con. He’s just an extremely skilled marketer who knows how to sell. If you’re aware of that going in, you’ll be able to see through the hype and make a more informed decision about whether his world is one you actually want to buy into.
Before You Go…
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