Fabian Thylmann
{{Short description|German businessman (born 1978)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Fabian Thylmann
| image =
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| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|6|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Aachen, West Germany
| death_date =
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| other_names =
| occupation = Angel investor, entrepreneur
| years_active = 1999–present
| known_for = {{ubl|Aylo}}
| notable_works =
| spouse =
| children = 4
}}
Fabian Thylmann (born 5 June 1978) is a German businessman who was the founder and managing partner of the Internet pornography conglomerate Manwin (now Aylo).{{cite web|last1=Morris|first1=Chris|title=Meet the New King of Porn|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2012/01/18/meet-the-new-king-of-porn.html|website=CNBC|access-date=19 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129164718/http://www.cnbc.com/id/45989405|archive-date=29 November 2014|url-status=live|date=18 January 2012}} In October 2013, he sold his stake in the company, which was at the time the largest pornography operator in the world.{{cite web|last1=Pardon|first1=Rhett|title=Fabian Thylmann Sells Stake in Manwin to Company Management|url=http://www.xbiz.com/news/news_piece.php?id=170250|website=XBIZ.com|accessdate=19 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025223413/http://www.xbiz.com/news/news_piece.php?id=170250|archive-date=25 October 2013|date=18 October 2013}}
Life and career
Thylmann was born in Aachen. He started computer programming when he was 17.{{cite web|last1=Wallace|first1=Benjamin|title=The Geek-Kings of Smut|url=http://nymag.com/news/features/70985/index4.html|website=New York Magazine|accessdate=19 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010205213/http://nymag.com/news/features/70985/index4.html|archive-date=10 October 2014|page=5|date=30 January 2011}} His breakthrough came in the late 1990s when he developed software called NATS (Next-generation Affiliate Tracking Software), which enabled website operators to track users' clicks on advertisements and links so that they could be paid commission.{{cite web|last1=Buse|first1=Uwe|title=Harnessing the Internet: The German Porn King's Revolutionary Model Page 1|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/fabian-thylmann-and-his-revolutionary-porn-business-model-a-873802.html|website=SPIEGEL ONLINE|accessdate=19 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019124851/http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/fabian-thylmann-and-his-revolutionary-porn-business-model-a-873802.html|archive-date=19 October 2014|page=1|date= 20 December 2012}} Thylmann used the money he made with NATS to buy various Internet pornography companies, and in March 2010, he established Manwin by acquiring the companies Mensef and Interhub. Manwin bought Pornhub, YouPorn, RedTube, Brazzers, Twistys.com, Mofos and other pornography websites.
= Sale of Manwin =
In October 2013, Thylmann stepped down and sold Manwin for €73 million, for undisclosed reasons.{{cite web|title=Germany's 'Porno King' gives up empire|url=http://www.thelocal.de/20131021/52493|website=The Local|publisher=The Local Europe GmbH|accessdate=21 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205041536/http://www.thelocal.de/20131021/52493|archive-date=5 December 2013|location=Berlin, Germany|date=21 October 2013}}
Upon the sale of Manwin, Thylmann wrote in a letter to employees: {{bquote|It is with a sad heart that I have to announce that I have decided to sell Manwin to Manwin's top management team. Please believe me that this decision has been one of the hardest in our lives for both my wife and myself. [...] Both myself and Manwin are at a stage where I can no longer add significant value to the best of my ability. I hope I have taught all of you and management the right values to be able to continue the company in the best possible way and I am looking forward to following its development.{{cite web|last1=Pardon|first1=Rhett|title=Fabian Thylmann Sells Stake in Manwin to Company Management|url=http://www.xbiz.com/news/news_piece.php?id=170250|website=XBIZ.com|accessdate=21 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025223413/http://www.xbiz.com/news/news_piece.php?id=170250|archive-date=25 October 2013|date=18 October 2013|quote=""}}}}
According to a 2016 interview with EU-Startups, Thylmann claimed that he didn't miss the "adrenaline" and responsibilities that came with running Manwin, stating that he was working on "fun relaxing projects".{{Cite web|last=Ohr|first=Thomas|date=15 September 2016|title=Interview with Fabian Thylmann - the German entrepreneur who once built the biggest adult entertainment company in the world|url=https://www.eu-startups.com/2016/09/interview-with-fabian-thylmann-the-german-entrepreneur-who-once-built-the-biggest-adult-entertainment-company-in-the-world/|access-date=14 December 2020|website=EU-Startups|language=en-US}}
= Extradition and indictment =
In December 2012, Thylmann was extradited from Belgium to Germany on suspicion of tax evasion. He did not contest the extradition order, although he reportedly denied avoiding paying tax.{{cite news|last=Staff writer |title='Porn king' detained on suspicion of tax evasion |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/9750009/Porn-king-detained-on-suspicion-of-tax-evasion.html |work=The Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group |access-date=21 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224105743/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/9750009/Porn-king-detained-on-suspicion-of-tax-evasion.html |archive-date=24 December 2014 |date=17 December 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news | last = Paterson | first = Tony | title = Fabian Thylmann, 'the ruler in the Realms of Lust', is arrested for alleged tax evasion | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/fabian-thylmann-the-ruler-in-the-realms-of-lust-is-arrested-for-alleged-tax-evasion-8411926.html | work = The Independent | publisher = Independent Print Ltd. | date = 12 December 2012 | access-date = 9 November 2015 }}
In April 2015, Thylmann was indicted by the Cologne, Germany federal prosecutor on tax evasion charges.{{cite news | last = Pardon | first = Rhett |url=http://www.xbiz.com/news/193606|title=Fabian Thylmann reportedly indicted on tax evasion charges|work=XBIZ | publisher =Adnet Media | date = 20 April 2015 | access-date = 9 November 2015 }}{{cite news | last = Denim | first = Sue | title = Fabian Thylman indicted on tax evasion charge | url = http://www.ynoteurope.com/fabian-thylmann-indicted-tax-evasion-charges/ | work = YNOT Europe | publisher = YNOT Group | date = 22 April 2015 | access-date = 9 November 2015 }} The charges were dropped when he paid 5 million euros{{Cite news|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/kriminalitaet/steuerverfahren-gegen-porno-koenig-thylmann-eingestellt-14534864.html|title="Porno-König" kauft sich mit fünf Millionen Euro frei|date=19 November 2016|access-date=19 November 2016}} but he still faces a suspended sentence in another case.{{Cite news|url=http://juve.de/nachrichten/verfahren/2016/11/millionenauflage-steuerverfahren-gegen-porno-unternehmer-thylmann-eingestellt|title=Millionenauflage: Steuerverfahren gegen Porno-Unternehmer Thylmann eingestellt|date=19 November 2016|access-date=19 November 2016}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Erotica and pornography}}
- {{twitter|ftyl}}
{{Manwin}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thylmann, Fabian}}
Category:German computer programmers
Category:German expatriates in Belgium
Category:German pornographic film producers
Category:People extradited from Belgium
Category:People extradited to Germany