FaZe Clan

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The organization's identity was forged in the early days of YouTube, where founders CLipZ, House Cat, and Resistance built a reputation for high-skill gameplay rather than tournament victories. The arrival of key members unlocked their most popular series, ILLCAMS, which blended personality-driven content with gaming skill. This formula propelled them to one million subscribers by 2012. In 2014, CEO Tim 'Temperrr' Oliveira and COO Richard 'Banks' Bengtson created the first shared home in Los Angeles, California, blending lifestyle vlogs with competitive gaming. The brand evolved further in 2017 when the Clout House was established in Los Angeles as a collaborative project among various creators, not a FaZe Clan property. While the organization secured major esports victories like the ELeague CS:GO Premier title, its cultural footprint expanded through celebrity investors and a public listing on NASDAQ in July 2022. The brand faced turbulence with stock delisting risks, internal controversies over cryptocurrency promotions, and leadership changes before a 2024 split separated its media and esports arms.

In Their Own Story

The journey began on May 30, 2010, when FaZe Sniping debuted on YouTube. By 2016, the organization acquired G2 Esports' Counter-Strike lineup, winning second place at the ELEAGUE Major in Boston 2018 and securing a $500,000 championship at ELeague CS:GO Premier that same year. The brand's corporate ambitions peaked on June 10, 2021, when it became the first esports team on the cover of Sports Illustrated. A merger with B. Riley Principal followed, listing FaZe Holdings Inc. on NASDAQ in July 2022, though valuation dropped to $725 million. Financial struggles mounted in 2023; stock prices fell below one dollar, prompting a 20% staff layoff and the termination of CEO Lee Trink in September. An acquisition by GameSquare in October 2023 led to a May 2024 restructuring that created FaZe Media under Banks' leadership. Despite initial investment from DraftKings co-founder Matt Kalish, internal disputes over contracts and ownership culminated in December 2025 when key creators like JasonTheWeen, Adapt, and Stable Ronaldo departed, forcing the immediate shutdown of FaZe Media.

Reader's Guide

FaZe Clan's evolution is defined by distinct eras. It started as a Call of Duty trickshot clan before pivoting to professional esports in 2012 with teams competing in major championships. The organization expanded its influence through strategic leadership changes, bringing in Lee Trink and Greg Selkoe, and securing funding from high-profile figures like Jimmy Iovine by late 2019. The public listing phase (2021–2023) brought global visibility but also financial instability, highlighted by the Save the Kids token controversy involving members FaZe Kay, Jarvis, Teeqo, and Nikan. Following a leadership shakeup in 2023, GameSquare acquired the parent company, leading to the formation of two entities: FaZe Esports for competition and FaZe Media for content. The media arm attempted a reboot with new creators like PlaqueBoyMax and Lacy but collapsed by late 2025 due to contract disputes and an ultimatum from Matt Kalish regarding his agency, HardScope. Today, only the esports division remains active.

Did You Know?

• FaZe Sniping debuted on YouTube in October 2009, founded by three players who innovated trickshotting in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
• In July 2022, FaZe Clan listed on NASDAQ, though its valuation dropped from an expected $1 billion to $725 million.
• The organization faced a major controversy in 2021 when members promoted the 'Save the Kids' token, which was revealed to be a pump-and-dump scheme.

Origins and Early Innovation

FaZe Clan began on May 30, 2010, as FaZe Sniping, founded by Eric 'CLipZ' Rivera, Jeff 'House Cat' Emann (now Timid), and Ben 'Resistance' Christensen. They built a reputation for innovating trickshotting in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The channel's popularity surged when Ted 'Fakie' joined, leading to the launch of their signature ILLCAMS series. Unlike other channels focused on winning tournaments, FaZe prioritized personality-driven content, becoming one of the first popular YouTube video game channels. By 2012, they reached one million subscribers and began branching into esports competitions like the Call of Duty Championship and CS:GO Majors. In 2014, original CEO Thomas 'Temperrr' Oliveira and COO Richard 'Banks' Bengtson established the first FaZe shared home in Plainview, New York, to facilitate lifestyle content alongside gaming.

Esports Dominance and Corporate Expansion

In January 2016, FaZe acquired G2 Esports' Counter-Strike: Global Offensive lineup. This roster secured second place at ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018 and won the ELeague CS:GO Premier in 2017 with $500,000 in prize money. In 2017, Bengtson moved operations to Los Angeles, opening the Clout House for YouTubers. Corporate leadership shifted in 2018 when Greg Selkoe became president and Lee Trink took over as CEO. Throughout 2019, the organization attracted investors including musicians Ray J, Offset, and Pitbull; basketball players Ben Simmons and Jamal Murray; and actor Chris O'Donnell. In December 2019, FaZe closed a Series A round led by Jimmy Iovine and NTWRK. By June 2020, they co-owned CTRL food supplements, and in 2021, they became the first esports team on Sports Illustrated's cover.

Public Markets and Financial Turbulence

FaZe Clan announced a merger with B. Riley Principal in 2021 to become a public company, listing as FaZe Holdings Inc. on NASDAQ on July 20, 2022, at a valuation of $725 million. That same year, member Frazier Khattri (FaZe Kay) was involved in the Save the Kids token pump-and-dump scheme, leading to his removal and the suspension of Jarvis, Teeqo, and Nikan. Financial pressures mounted by 2023; stock prices fell below one dollar in January, triggering delisting notices. In February 2023, 20% of staff were laid off. The company reported $14 million in losses for the first two quarters of 2023. Following Snoop Dogg's departure from the board in April, CEO Lee Trink was terminated on September 11, 2023, with Christoph Pachler appointed as interim CEO.

Restructuring and Recent Decline

In October 2023, GameSquare agreed to acquire FaZe Holdings. By May 6, 2024, the Esports World Cup Foundation included FaZe in its Club Support Program. On May 14, GameSquare announced the formation of FaZe Media, led by CEO Richard 'Banks' Bengtson, spinning off the media division from FaZe Esports. Matt Kalish invested $11 million for a 49% stake. However, tensions rose, and on March 31, 2025, GameSquare divested its remaining 25.5% stake in FaZe Media. On July 28, Bengtson stepped down following accusations of scamming fans via the MLG meme coin. By December 25, 2025, creators including Adapt, JasonTheWeen, and Stable Ronaldo announced their departure, citing an ultimatum from Kalish to join his agency HardScope or go independent. FaZe Media was subsequently shut down, leaving FaZe Esports as the sole operating entity.