Andrew Tate (right) and his brother Tristan Tate, who have posed as billionaires on social media. [Reuters]
Andrew Tate (right) and his brother Tristan Tate, who have posed as billionaires on social media. [Reuters]

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate, who have posed as billionaires on social media, acknowledged in court that the superyacht and supercars they flaunted were all borrowed.

According to the Guardian and the New York Post, the brothers' lawyers disclosed the admissions in a 28-page bail petition filed with a US court on Tuesday (local time). The brothers were arrested in Miami on July 18 and remain in detention as they fight extradition to the United Kingdom.

Their lawyers said the $2.1 million Aston Martin and two Bugattis worth a combined $12 million that appeared in their social media videos were all leased vehicles.

The $50 million superyacht "Obsidian Blade" was likewise "not owned by the Tate brothers," the filing said, adding that the pair were paid to promote the vessel on social media.

Describing the brothers' social media operation, the lawyers wrote: "The more exaggerated and outrageous the posts, the more views and likes they receive, which translates directly into revenue. They are playing a character."

The admissions came as the defense sought to counter prosecutors' claims that the brothers posed a significant flight risk if released.

Prosecutors cited the brothers' self-reported wealth, their lavish assets and their holdings in virtual assets as grounds for the flight risk argument. Video footage in which Andrew claimed to hold up to eight passports — from the United States, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Nigeria, Poland and the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, among others — was also submitted as evidence.

The lawyers shrugged off those claims as well, calling them "jokes."

Andrew faces dozens of charges in the United Kingdom, including rape, human trafficking and assault. Last month, British prosecutors added 19 further charges, including possession of child sexual abuse material. His brother Tristan has been indicted on one count of sexual assault, two counts of rape and three counts of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

The brothers are also under separate investigation in Romania, where they lived from 2016, on charges of human trafficking, rape, forming a criminal organization and money laundering. They have denied all charges brought against them in the United Kingdom, Romania and the United States.


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