Derek Moneyberg, the self-proclaimed “world’s best wealth coach,” has recently sparked controversy within the MMA community. Allegedly, he claimed to have earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in just three and a half years. The post featuring him surrounded by respected former fighters has raised questions about the legitimacy of his martial arts credentials.
Spencer Cornelia, known for exposing fraudulent online gurus, recently conducted an extensive investigation into Moneyberg’s background. In his video, Cornelia reveals a pattern of questionable claims and activities. The controversy centers on whether Moneyberg’s black belt was legitimately earned or simply purchased through his considerable wealth.
While it’s technically possible to earn a black belt in BJJ within three and a half years, as demonstrated by legendary fighter BJ Penn, there’s a crucial difference. Penn competed publicly and had verifiable records of his ability, earning his first non-Brazilian victory at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Moneyberg, however, has never competed in any public tournament and has no sparring footage available to verify his skills.
The BJJ community’s frustration stems from the apparent devaluation of a belt that typically takes dedicated practitioners 8-12 years to achieve. Critics argue that Moneyberg’s wealth allowed him to assemble the “best coaching staff ever” and essentially buy his way to a black belt without earning it through legitimate competition or public demonstration of skill.
Cornelia’s investigation reveals that Moneyberg, whose real name is Dale Bushkovski, has a history of controversial activities. Allegedly, court documents from 2012 show a civil forfeiture case involving a property connected to d**g trafficking, where Moneyberg’s personal documents were found. While he was never charged with crimes related to this property, the connections raise questions about his past.
The investigation also uncovered Moneyberg’s previous career as a dating coach with Real Social Dynamics, where he allegedly earned substantial income teaching pickup techniques. His transition to wealth coaching appears to be part of a pattern of monetizing his online presence through various schemes.
Perhaps most tellingly, Moneyberg’s social media presence appears heavily manipulated. His Instagram posts consistently receive between 40,000-43,000 likes, suggesting automated engagement, while his 4.1 million followers are suspected to be largely fake accounts.
The black belt controversy has exposed allegedly what many see as a pay-to-play culture creeping into martial arts. The concern is that allowing wealthy individuals to purchase credentials without earning them through competition undermines the integrity of the entire ranking system.
Moneyberg’s response to the criticism has been defensive, claiming that BJJ practitioners are “broke losers” who can’t accept that someone could achieve their rank in record time. However, he has refused to compete or provide any evidence of his skills.