Joe Francis Biography
Joe Francis is an American businessman, film producer, and the creator of the Girls Gone Wild entertainment brand. Before releasing the direct-to-video film Banned from Television in 1998, Francis worked as a production assistant on the syndicated show Real TV.
Joe Francis Family
Raymond Francis and Maria Francis, both from Austria, are his parents. When Francis was seven years old, his family relocated to Newport Beach, California, where he attended Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Elementary School before moving on to a series of boarding schools. He lived in Laguna Beach at one point and attended Laguna Beach High School. His first job was as a clerk in a computer and video store.
Joe Francis Education
Francis studied Business Administration at the University of Southern California, with a focus on the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. He also studied film and television, earning a Bachelor’s Degree from the USC Entrepreneurial Program in 1995.
Joe Francis Wife
He is married to Abbey Wilson. The couple married in 2012 and together have two children; Athena Olivia Francis, and Alexandria Claire Francis.
Joe Francis Mexico House
Francis’ luxury estate in Mexico, which was destroyed by fire this week, had 12 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a massive game room, and other amenities. In August 2016, he and his partner Abbey Wilson showed off their oceanfront home. Celebrities such as the Kardashians, Selena Gomez, Eva Longoria, and Ashton Kutcher have frequently vacationed at the stunning villa.
The 40,000-square-foot Casa Aramara house had 12 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. Guests paid $35,000 per night for rooms with a “Anything” button. The west-central Mexico house also had a private beach, a swimming pool, a private movie theater, and a games room with a pool table and air hockey.
Why is Joe Francis in Jail?
In 2003, officials in Panama City Beach, Florida, attempted to stop the filming of Girls Gone Wild, prompting Francis to sue them for violating his First Amendment rights. Francis was arrested for racketeering by the same officials and released on bond. The judge disallowed most of the evidence at a hearing in July 2006 and dismissed most of the charges in January 2007. Francis pleaded guilty to record-keeping violations and was sentenced to community service and a $1.6 million fine. Later, Francis pleaded guilty to having contraband in his cell. He served 339 days in prison and paid more than $60,000 in fines.
Francis brought three women to his home in January 2011, which resulted in five charges: three misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment, one of assault causing great bodily harm, and one of dissuading a witness. Francis was found guilty on all five charges on May 6, 2013. He faced up to five years in prison and/or a $13,000 fine. Francis spoke with The Hollywood Reporter on May 22, calling the jurors “mentally… retarded” and suggesting they “should be euthanized.” He later apologized for his remarks but claimed that the media had manipulated him.
Francis was sentenced to at least 270 days in county jail, 36 months probation, a Level 3 Anger Management course, and a year of psychological counseling on August 27, 2013. Francis’ lawyers promptly filed a new trial petition. Francis was sentenced to 336 days in prison on March 25, 2015, after pleading no contest to child abuse and prostitution charges.
Joe Francis Bankruptcy
Francis’s company, GGW Brands, which owns the Girls Gone Wild entertainment brand, declared bankruptcy in February 2013. The bankruptcy was intended to prevent Wynn Resorts from seizing the company’s assets in order to repay Francis’ gambling debts. After failing to comply with the terms of his bankruptcy agreement, a U.S. District Court judge issued an arrest warrant for Francis in May 2015. He was reportedly living in Mexico with his girlfriend and their twin daughters in 2015. Extradition treaties between the United States and Mexico do not apply to civil contempt warrants.