Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow said Friday he is pausing his relationship with Life Surge, a Christian-branded wealth-building seminar company facing complaints that its programs left attendees drowning in debt.
Life Surge reportedly pays Tebow between $2 million and $4 million to appear at its events, according to TMZ. Tickets to those events run $20 to $100, but the company pitches attendees on its “SurgeU” programs, which promise to teach investing and real estate strategies that lead to wealth. Further tiers of training reportedly cost as much as $50,000.
According to the report, attendees are encouraged to take out interest-free credit cards, home equity loans, or cash out their 401(k)s to pay for the advanced courses, which are marketed as quick, easy paths to financial success. In practice, the strategies taught are described as complex and time-consuming, and many customers reportedly end up with high-interest debt that spirals out of control.
Life Surge markets its courses alongside a religious message, telling customers that building wealth carries a “Kingdom Impact” for Christians and helps them do God’s work.
Some customers have filed complaints with the Federal Trade Commission alleging high-pressure sales tactics and insufficient disclosure that financial losses remain possible even after completing the training.
“I am so devastated that Christians like Tim Tebow made me trust in something that has taken so much money from me,” one attendee wrote in a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. “This is evil, especially because I’m disabled on a limited income.”
Tebow spoke with reporters on Friday and voiced concern about the allegations, saying he was pausing his involvement with the company.
Life Surge has pushed back on the accusations, saying it never trains its salespeople “to pressure customers into borrowing or taking on debt they cannot afford,” and that it “does not ask its headline speakers to promote or endorse Impact Classes or advanced training programs.”
