FaZe House

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Lore & Background

The culture of FaZe was forged in the shared spaces of Plainview and Los Angeles, turning individual creators into a cohesive media family. In 2014, Thomas "Temperrr" Oliveira and Richard "Banks" Bengtson created the first FaZe shared home in Plainview, New York, specifically to facilitate lifestyle content alongside their gaming achievements. This innovation allowed them to produce the ILLCAMS series and other personality-driven videos that set them apart from other Call of Duty channels focused solely on winning. By 2017, Bengtson expanded this vision to Los Angeles with the Clout House, a new shared home for YouTubers that solidified their status as internet celebrities. These residences were not just living quarters but content factories where late-night gaming sessions and spontaneous challenges defined the brand's identity during its peak growth years.

In Their Own Story

The transition from a digital clan to a physical brotherhood began in earnest in 2014 when Thomas "Temperrr" Oliveira and Richard "Banks" Bengtson launched the first shared home in Plainview, New York. This move was strategic, designed to merge their gaming content with lifestyle vlogs, creating a unique product that resonated with millions of subscribers. The success of this model led to a major expansion in 2017 when Bengtson moved operations to Los Angeles to start the Clout House. Here, YouTubers lived together, generating content that blurred the lines between professional esports and daily life. This environment allowed for the creation of iconic moments and series that helped FaZe reach one million subscribers by 2012 and eventually become a publicly traded company. The shared homes became the heart of the organization, where members like Frazier Khattrri (FaZe Kay) and others lived, played, and created until financial pressures and internal disputes reshaped the landscape in 2024 and 2025.

Reader's Guide

The FaZe House concept is best understood as the physical manifestation of the organization's strategy to dominate social media. It began in 2014 with the first shared residence in Plainview, New York, created by original CEO Thomas "Temperrr" Oliveira and COO Richard "Banks" Bengtson. This location was intended to facilitate a blend of gaming and lifestyle content, distinguishing FaZe from other competitive clans. In 2017, the model expanded with the opening of the Clout House in Los Angeles, led by Bengtson, which housed various YouTubers and became a hub for viral content. These homes were essential to the brand's growth, allowing members to collaborate on series like ILLCAMS and maintain a constant stream of personality-driven videos. Although the organization faced significant turmoil later, including the shutdown of FaZe Media in December 2025 following a member exodus, the legacy of these shared residences remains central to the group's history as a pioneer in influencer-based esports entertainment.

Did You Know?

• The first FaZe shared home was created in Plainview, New York, in 2014 by Thomas "Temperrr" Oliveira and Richard "Banks" Bengtson.
• In 2017, the organization expanded to Los Angeles with the opening of the Clout House, a new shared residence for YouTubers.
• The group originally debuted on YouTube as FaZe Sniping on May 30, 2010, founded by three players before adding Ted "Fakie".
• By 2012, the channel had reached one million subscribers largely due to the popularity of their ILLCAMS trickshotting series.
• Richard "Banks" Bengtson served as both COO and a founder of the shared home concept before becoming CEO in October 2023.

Origins and Early Innovation

FaZe began in May 2010 as a Call of Duty clan named FaZe Sniping, founded by Eric "CLipZ" Rivera, Jeff "House Cat" Emann, and Ben "Resistance" Christensen. The group quickly distinguished itself from competitors who focused solely on tournament victories by prioritizing personality-driven content and trickshotting innovations within Modern Warfare 2. Their breakthrough arrived with the addition of Ted "Fakie", leading to the creation of the viral ILLCAMS series, which helped them reach one million subscribers by 2012. While expanding their YouTube presence, they simultaneously established competitive teams for events like the Call of Duty Championship and Counter-Strike Majors. A pivotal moment in their lifestyle branding occurred in 2014 when original CEO Thomas "Temperrr" Oliveira and COO Richard "Banks" Bengtson launched the first shared residence in Plainview, New York. This move facilitated a unique blend of gaming and daily life content, setting the stage for future expansions like the Clout House in Los Angeles.

Corporate Expansion and Public Markets

The organization's trajectory shifted dramatically as it evolved from a YouTube clan into a publicly traded entity. After securing early investments from figures like Sebastian Geurts and Greg Selkoe, FaZe attracted high-profile backers including musicians Ray J, Offset, and Swae Lee, alongside athletes such as Ben Simmons and Nyjah Huston. In 2021, they announced a merger with B. Riley Principal to list on NASDAQ, aiming for a billion-dollar valuation and rebranding as the voice of youth culture. Although they officially went public in July 2022, the initial valuation settled at $725 million, significantly lower than projected. The company faced immediate financial headwinds, including stock prices dipping below one dollar in early 2023, which triggered delisting warnings and forced a 20% staff reduction. Despite reporting revenue increases between 2021 and 2022, the organization struggled with substantial losses and leadership instability during this volatile period.

Controversies and Leadership Turmoil

FaZe's rapid ascent was marred by significant internal scandals that tested its reputation and management structure. A major controversy erupted in 2021 involving member FaZe Kay and others who promoted Save the Kids, a cryptocurrency later revealed to be a pump-and-dump scheme. The organization responded by removing Kay and suspending several other members, though one was later reinstated after proving lack of involvement. Financial pressures compounded these issues, leading to the departure of board member Snoop Dogg in April 2023. The situation culminated in September 2023 with the immediate termination of CEO Lee Trink, who had previously expressed deep concern over the company's financial viability and stock performance. These events highlighted the fragility of their business model as they navigated economic uncertainty and regulatory scrutiny.

Restructuring and Recent Decline

In an effort to stabilize its future, FaZe Holdings underwent a major corporate restructuring in late 2023 and early 2024. An agreement was reached for GameSquare to acquire the parent company through an all-stock deal, leading to the formation of two distinct entities: FaZe Esports and FaZe Media. This split aimed to separate competitive gaming operations from internet media ventures. However, this strategic pivot faced a catastrophic setback in December 2025 when a mass exodus of members caused the entertainment division, FaZe Media, to shut down completely. Despite earlier successes like co-owning CTRL supplements and releasing the film Crimson, the organization's inability to retain its core talent ultimately led to the collapse of its media arm, marking a significant contraction from its peak as a global lifestyle brand.