Dhar Mann

Dhar Mann
Born	(1984-05-29) May 29, 1984
Occupation(s)	Businessperson, film producer, YouTube personality, social media influencer
Known for	Founder of Dhar Mann Studios

Dharminder "Dhar" Mann (born May 29, 1984) is an American businessperson, film producer, YouTube personality, and social media influencer. He is the founder of Dhar Mann Studios, a production company that creates short scripted videos primarily distributed via YouTube. Aimed at a youthful demographic, the videos deliver ethical teachings through unexpected narrative twists. The studio independently funds and produces its projects and has amassed a combined social media audience surpassing 136 million followers. Its YouTube channel alone boasts over 25 million subscribers and more than 17 billion views in total.

Referred to as the “Moral Philosopher of YouTube” by The New York Times, Mann ranks among the top global creators of scripted digital content.

In 2010, Mann co-established weGrow, a hydroponic retail outlet specializing in medical cannabis cultivation supplies, which ceased operations two years later following legal conflicts. In 2013, he was convicted for defrauding the city of Oakland, California, through his real estate enterprise MannEdge Properties.

In July 2025, Mann was included in the first-ever TIME100 Creators list, highlighting the most impactful digital content creators worldwide.

Early life

Dharminder Mann was born on May 29, 1984, to Surinder Mann and Baljit Singh Mann, who immigrated from India. The Singh family owns Friendly Cab, a taxi company based in Oakland, California, along with several local real estate firms managing over 130 properties since 1980.

Mann’s upbringing took place in a single-bedroom apartment in the Bay Area that he shared with three other families. His parents concentrated on running their businesses and have stated they "provided money for activities" rather than dedicating time.

Early career and legal issues

At age nineteen, Mann initiated a real estate business and over the following decade launched multiple ventures including luxury car rentals and mortgage refinancing services.

In January 2010, Mann partnered with former stockbroker Derek Peterson to co-found weGrow, a hydroponics retailer focused on cannabis cultivation supplies. They operated a store in Oakland and had plans to franchise in eight states. The business closed in early 2011 amid lawsuits filed by Peterson claiming unpaid debts and accusing Mann of operating a "hydroponzi scheme." Mann’s representative denied these allegations, describing them as retaliation following a reduction in their partnership; Mann successfully countersued for monetary compensation and equity.

In 2012, Mann was charged with thirteen felony counts of fraud connected to a municipal beautification initiative while managing MannEdge Properties. Prosecutors later reduced the charges to five felonies in 2013, to which Mann entered a no contest plea. He was sentenced to five years probation, fined $10,000, and ordered to pay restitution. In 2021, Mann indicated that this conviction had been expunged.

In 2015, Mann launched LiveGlam, a subscription-based cosmetics company that initially provided online makeup tutorials featuring beauty influencers. Starting with limited capital, the brand expanded internationally under the leadership of Mann and Creative Director Laura Avila.

Dhar Mann Studios

Founded in 2018 by Dhar Mann, Dhar Mann Studios is a video production company specializing in content for social media outlets such as YouTube. Headquartered in Burbank, California, the studio occupies a 125,000-square-foot space, employs roughly 200 individuals, and collaborates with close to 2,000 actors each year. While the company initially focused on producing motivational videos, it later transitioned to creating morality plays.

In 2021, Mann entered into an agreement with the Creative Artists Agency and introduced a mobile application designed for streaming videos produced by his studio. That same year, Dhar Mann Studios earned the Audience Honor for Best YouTube Presence at the Shorty Awards due to its impactful social storytelling, including an autism awareness film that successfully raised over $17,000 to support Special Olympics initiatives.

By 2024, Mann formed a partnership with production firm Studio71, appointing former MTV executive Sean Atkins as president and COO. He was also nominated for the Favorite Male Creator category at the 2024 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and secured the number two spot on Forbes Top Creators list with estimated earnings of $45 million. In 2025, he retained this ranking with projected income reaching $50 million.

Videos

Recurring performers frequently appear in the studio’s productions. A profile by The New York Times characterized Mann’s YouTube content as "timely narratives" marked by a "thin and absolutist" moral outlook and titles that are "openly click bait." Meanwhile, Vulture described these videos as "feel-good" stories promoting kindness and decency.

In 2023, the studio debuted Jay & Mikey, a comedic children’s series featuring characters originally introduced in Mann’s earlier short film collection. Shaun Dixon and Kaido Lee Roberts returned to reprise their roles.

By mid-2023, Dhar Mann Studios’ YouTube channel had accumulated more than 11 billion views.

Workplace scandal and actors' protest

In February 2023, numerous actors associated with Dhar Mann Studios staged sudden protests outside the facility to voice concerns over inadequate working conditions and insufficient compensation. Actor Charles Laughlin stated that requests for a direct meeting with Mann were denied and claimed actress Jessica Ruth Bell was terminated following these demands. Both Laughlin and Colin Borden alleged that actors who spoke out faced dismissal, with many struggling to cover their living expenses.

In response to these events, Mann released a statement refuting the allegations, accusing protesting actors of disseminating misinformation, and outlining the studio’s operational policies along with hourly wage details.

Other activities

In 2022, Mann launched the podcast Dhar & Jay Show in collaboration with podcaster Jay Shetty, featuring guests such as Charli D'Amelio and Winnie Harlow.

Personal life

Mann became engaged to businesswoman Lilly Ghalichi—known from the reality television series Shahs of Sunset—in 2014; however, their relationship ended later that year. He met his current fiancée Laura Avila in 2015; together they have two daughters born in 2020 and 2021.

Toward the end of 2020, Mann purchased a mansion in Calabasas previously owned by media figure Khloé Kardashian. Alongside family real estate holdings in Oakland, Mann and his brother Harmit own multiple properties throughout the city.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Outcome
2022	Streamy Awards	Scripted Series	Template:Nom
2024	Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite Male Creator	Template:Nom
2025	Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite Male Creator	Template:Nominated