Seth Warshavsky, the controversial entrepreneur who played a pivotal role in shaping the adult entertainment industry’s early internet era, passed away in October at the age of 51. Reports indicate that Warshavsky died in Thailand of unknown causes.

Seth Warshavsky is a name most haven’t heard of, but you probably know his work. He’s the man who released the now infamous Pamela Anderson sex tape.

Known for founding Internet Entertainment Group (IEG), Warshavsky became a household name in the 1990s for releasing the infamous Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee sex tape, a move that not only catapulted him into the spotlight but also embroiled him in a series of high-profile legal battles.

Warshavsky was an early adopter of the internet’s potential to revolutionize the adult entertainment industry. Starting with profits from a phone sex operation, he established Clublove, a live-streaming adult website that later became the flagship of his Seattle-based company, Internet Entertainment Group.

Dubbed “the Bill Gates of smut” and “the public face of online porn,” Warshavsky claimed that IEG was earning more than $45 million annually at its peak, with $15 million in profit. By leveraging the burgeoning World Wide Web, IEG was among the first companies to explore the commercial potential of live adult content, streaming performances from a warehouse-turned-studio outfitted with multiple sets.

His ambitions extended beyond adult entertainment. Warshavsky also experimented with streaming plastic surgeries through the site Online Surgery, framing it as an educational endeavor akin to the Discovery Channel.

Warshavsky’s most infamous venture came in 1997 when IEG began streaming the stolen Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee sex tape.

Despite initially making the video available for free, Warshavsky convinced the couple to sign over their rights, allowing him to profit from its distribution.

The couple later sued Warshavsky and IEG for $90 million, ultimately being awarded $740,000 each in damages. However, by the time the judgment was rendered, IEG had collapsed, and Warshavsky had relocated to Bangkok, leaving the judgment unpaid.

Which is why the Pamela Anderson sex tape is no longer around.

The now infamous sex tape not only cemented Seth Warshavsky’s notoriety but also set a precedent for the intersection of celebrity, scandal, and online media, a phenomenon that continues today.

Warshavsky was no stranger to the limelight, frequently courting media coverage as a form of free advertising. In 1997, he appeared on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, and two years later, he was named one of Time magazine’s “50 Most Important People in Technology.”

However, his success was shadowed by controversy. Anderson sued him again over a separate sex tape featuring her and musician Bret Michaels, while actor Kelsey Grammer filed a similar lawsuit over private footage IEG obtained but never released. Meanwhile, accusations of inflated revenue claims and fraudulent billing practices surfaced in media outlets such as The Washington Post, which Warshavsky denied.

Despite his legal battles and polarizing reputation, Warshavsky’s impact on the adult industry is undeniable. He demonstrated how the internet could disrupt traditional business models, turning adult content into one of the web’s most lucrative sectors. His strategic use of media attention and innovative approaches to online streaming left an indelible mark on the industry.

Warshavsky’s life was not without its quirks. According to posts on his Facebook page, he remained in contact with friends and was reminiscing about his colorful escapades—throwing frozen TV dinners off a balcony and getting stuck in elevators—just weeks before his passing.

Seth Warshavsky leaves behind his family in Thailand, where he spent his later years. For better or worse, his story is a testament to the complexities of the early Internet era and the transformative power of digital innovation.