Bert Kreischer rose to fame through an unusual path that began with a 1997 Rolling Stone article dubbing him “the number one partier in the country” during his college days. This notorious reputation caught the attention of Hollywood, with Oliver Stone’s production company initially optioning the rights to Kreischer’s wild life story.
In a twist of fate that would shape pop culture, Kreischer’s story allegedly became the inspiration for the 2002 cult classic film “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” starring Ryan Reynolds. According to Kreischer, a writer working on his life story script repurposed the material, changed the names, and sold it to National Lampoon.
When the film was released, Kreischer had an opportunity to pursue legal action. However, his manager Barry Katz offered him career-defining advice: “there’s two types of people in this business – people who work and people who sue.” Kreischer chose the former path, a decision that would later prove beneficial when he met producers who had worked on “Van Wilder” and maintained professional relationships rather than burning bridges.
This early brush with fame gave Kreischer the confidence to pursue stand-up comedy and relocate to New York to chase his entertainment dreams. Years later, he has established himself as one of comedy’s highest-earning performers, though his success stems more from business acumen than his stand-up talents alone.
Unlike solo performers such as Matt Rife or Nate Bargatze who can sell out arenas individually, Kreischer employs a shrewd business strategy of packaging his tours with multiple established headliners including Shane Gillis, Mark Normand, Ari Shafir, and Dave Attell. While this approach ensures strong ticket sales, it also means splitting revenue among more performers.
Despite recently dropping from the #2 position to #6 on Billboard’s highest-grossing comedy tours, Kreischer’s entrepreneurial approach to touring and marketing has kept him among comedy’s top earners. His focus on financial success is evident in his podcast appearances, where he frequently discusses earnings, rankings, and comparisons to other successful comedians.
Kreischer’s Commitment to the ‘Van Wilder’ Lifestyle in Middle Age
At a stage where many of his peers have settled into more moderate lifestyles, Kreischer continues to embrace the hard-partying persona that first brought him fame. This commitment to his “Van Wilder” image extends well into his middle age, with concerning health implications that have begun to manifest visibly.
The consequences of this lifestyle were highlighted during a sobering conversation with neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, who diagnosed Kreischer’s drinking pattern as “alcohol use disorder.” According to Huberman, Kreischer typically consumes 6-8 alcoholic drinks three days a week and 12-18 drinks on three other days.
Huberman didn’t mince words about the serious health implications, stating directly that alcohol is “a poison” and listing consequences including increased cancer risk and neurodegenerative effects. Despite Kreischer’s efforts to offset his drinking through regular exercise and occasional periods of sobriety like “Sober October,” Huberman emphasized that his current consumption levels remain dangerous, particularly warning about potential long-term cognitive decline.
Perhaps most revealing is Kreischer’s own admission that there’s “no amount of money” that would make him quit drinking, as he genuinely loves alcohol. Huberman suggested this might be related to a genetic variant present in approximately 8% of humans that leads to increased dopamine release when consuming alcohol.
This unwavering dedication to his party lifestyle has reportedly strained his professional relationships as well. During a recent podcast episode featuring Ari Shaffir, Kreischer learned that his behavior was “a factor” in Joe Rogan’s decision to end Sober October and replace the original crew with a new group for “Protect Our Parks.” According to previous statements from Rogan, Sober October was initially created as an intervention of sorts for Bert’s drinking habits.
Kreischer’s Turn to Makeup
The visible toll of Kreischer’s lifestyle choices has recently led him to make a significant change to his public image. The comedian, known for his unfiltered and often shirtless persona, recently admitted on Theo Von’s podcast that he has begun wearing makeup during his podcast appearances due to issues with facial redness and bloating.
“I feel phenomenal—I mean, I really feel phenomenal. And I will tell you that I felt good when I wasn’t on testosterone, but testosterone is just giving me like a zest for life, I think. I mean, the downfall is that my face is redder sometimes, so I have to get hair and makeup. Like, my face can get pretty red, but I think it’s from the testosterone. At least, that’s what someone told me.”
This revelation came after viewers had been speculating about changes in his appearance in recent episodes. Kreischer attributed these skin problems to side effects of his testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) usage, which has resulted in a puffy, red face that he now feels compelled to cover with makeup during filming.
The need to now wear makeup suggests the physical manifestations of his lifestyle may be becoming too apparent to ignore, marking a departure from the unvarnished image that has been central to his brand. This development is particularly significant for a comedian who has built his career on authenticity and an unapologetic embrace of his flaws.
TRT and Rogan’s Influence
Kreischer’s use of testosterone replacement therapy comes with its own set of complications, especially when combined with his existing health concerns. According to Kreischer himself, he was introduced to TRT through his friend and fellow podcaster Joe Rogan, adopting the therapy to help maintain his party lifestyle despite the potential health risks.
During an appearance on Theo Von’s podcast “This Past Weekend,” Kreischer enthusiastically shared his experience with TRT, stating “I’m on testosterone out the f***ing gills right now” and “I f***ing love it.” He detailed the benefits he’s experienced, including improved libido, increased strength, and what he perceives as better overall health.
“I feel alive, I’m stronger than I’ve ever been in my entire life, I’m healthier than I’ve ever been,” Kreischer claimed, even suggesting that “testosterone is reparative to liver cells” and has helped repair previous liver damage.
However, his enthusiastic embrace of TRT seems to overlook how this hormone therapy might interact with his already concerning lifestyle choices. The combination of TRT side effects, heavy alcohol consumption, and what was recently revealed to be an extremely poor diet consisting mainly of heavily processed foods appears to be taking a visible toll on the comedian’s appearance, necessitating his new makeup routine.
During a recent podcast with Chris Distefano, an analysis of Kreischer’s regular food choices showed almost everything he consumes scoring dangerously low on health ratings. This trifecta of TRT usage, alcohol consumption, and poor nutrition represents a potentially dangerous combination that medical professionals would likely advise against.
Comedian Bert Kreischer also revealed he underwent a hair transplant procedure during an appearance on Theo Von’s podcast “This Past Weekend.”
During the conversation, Kreischer confirmed he got the procedure done near La Cienega Boulevard, explaining it was performed by a reputable doctor after experiencing hair thinning due to stress.
“I got it a couple years ago. I had so much stress that my hair started getting thin,” Kreischer said. The comedian shared that the procedure involved taking hair from the back of his head and transplanting it to the front.
Kreischer described the procedure, noting they “inject all this stuff in your head” including pain reducers that “starts to come down your face.” He joked that at one point he looked like “the guy from Ghostbusters.”
When asked by Von about his results, Kreischer indicated his hair has improved, suggesting the stress-related hair loss he experienced previously has reversed: “I think my hair that I lost because of stress actually grew back.”
The Party Can’t Last Forever
Bert Kreischer’s journey from college party legend to successful comedian illustrates both the power of embracing one’s authentic personality and the potential dangers of carrying youthful excesses into middle age. While his business acumen has secured him financial success in the comedy world, the physical toll of his lifestyle choices is becoming increasingly difficult to hide.
The introduction of makeup to his routine and his reliance on testosterone therapy suggest an attempt to maintain the appearance of vitality while continuing behaviors that undermine it. The concerns raised by friends and experts like Dr. Andrew Huberman highlight a growing disconnect between Kreischer’s public persona and the biological reality of aging.
As Huberman gently suggested, complete sobriety could enhance Kreischer’s performance even further. His genuine concern for Kreischer’s longevity was evident when he noted that while some heavy drinkers might live into their 70s or 80s, “it’s generally not a pretty picture.” He emphasized that Kreischer is “loved by his family” and it would “be great to keep him around a long time.”
For now, Kreischer appears committed to his established brand and lifestyle, even as it requires increasingly visible interventions like makeup and hormone therapy to maintain. The question remains whether he can eventually find a balance that preserves both his comedic identity and his long-term health, or if these recent developments are simply the beginning of more serious consequences to come.
