Ric Flair ‘wants to bury’ talent agency with $10M lawsuit over alleged ‘digital fraud’ tied to his image and likeness

Mike Crisolago

Fri, September 11, 2026 at 6:40 PM GMT+3 6 min read

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

With his glittering robes, flowing blonde hair, cocky strut and trademark "Whoo!" catchphrase, Ric Flair became one of pro wrestling's most recognizable legends over a near 50-year career.

But outside the ring, Flair, 77, is battling a new opponent, against which his blistering chops and patented figure-four leglock can't help.

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Flair — real name Richard Morgan Fliehr — is suing talent management agency FAM Networks for $10 million after alleging the company essentially tricked him into signing a contract that surrenders "an irrevocable, perpetual, sublicensable license over his name, image, likeness, accounts and commercial identity throughout the universe."

The complaint, filed on Sept. 5 in New York, describes the alleged conduct as "consistent with digital fraud" and is asking for at least $5 million for "compensatory damages for breach of contract" and another $5 million for "compensatory and punitive damages for fraudulent inducement," along with interest and attorney fees.

Neither Flair nor FAM Networks returned Moneywise's request for comment, but The Independent reached the multi-time world champion at his Florida home and he told them the contract has already cost him "at least" $250,000 in lost revenue.

Flair's comments also suggested he's as fired up for the court battle as he was when he'd step in the ring, telling The Independent that he "wants to bury" the folks at FAM.

Flair says a lucrative promise became a costly trap

Flair's lawsuit alleges that on Dec. 5 of last year, he opened an email with a document from FAM Networks and signed it fourteen minutes later, "without the benefit of legal counsel, without a single attorney reviewing a single word on his behalf, and in direct contradiction of a contractual recital FAM itself drafted declaring that the agreement had been negotiated with counsel."

The complaint says that FAM agreed to book "speaking engagements and in-person appearances" with Flair receiving a 90% royalty, "collaborative projects" for 50%, as well as restore and monetize his Facebook page resulting in a "a six-figure monthly income stream," among other opportunities.

Instead, the suit alleges that "FAM delivered none of them" and instead simply reposted old content on Flair's Facebook page while collecting $15,000 to $20,000 in monthly revenue from it without producing any accounting.

The suit also alleges that FAM transferred Flair's Facebook page into their "corporate business portfolio," making itself the owner and costing Flair an advertising campaign deal "that would generate significant revenue."

The suit adds that "The ownership Mr. Fliehr was told he was retaining — the agreement's very first substantive provision — is entirely illusory," called the contract a "trap" and alleged FAM engaged in essentially an identical case in New York last year. The defendant in that case is reportedly American ufologist Steven Greer.

A trial date hasn't been set yet, but the FAM lawsuit isn't Flair's first legal action in recent memory. In 2025, he joined boxing legend Mike Tyson in suing executives at a cannabis company for $50 million, alleging, as Bloomberg Law noted, "'brazen RICO conspiracy' involving fraud and 'shameless self-dealing.'" That lawsuit is ongoing.

And in August, Flair posted multiple times on X to threaten with litigation those who he says have taken his iconic ring robes and are attempting to sell them, including one missing gold robe that he claims a buyer offered him $200,000 to purchase.

That said, Flair's social media habits have come under scrutiny — including by his own daughter and fellow pro wrestler Charlotte Flair (real name Ashley Fliehr).

In a recent interview, Charlotte noted that she and her father often fight about comments he makes on social media and that he sends her AI images of himself with others. "I have to tell him daily, 'That AI image is not real,'" she added.

The growing threat to older Americans' money

Flair's FAM lawsuit accuses the company of "digital fraud," though a court will ultimately determine if that accusation holds merit.

In America, however, confirmed financial fraud cost people over 60 around $4.9 billion in 2024, according to the FBI, with investment scams leading the way at $1.8 billion followed by tech support, confidence/romance and business email scams.

The Justice Department warns that signs of financial exploitation in elders can include sudden changes in bank accounts of financial documents, unpaid bills despite having the funds, unexplained asset transfers or new names added to an elder's bank card.

AI scams are also becoming more sophisticated, with older adults targeted by voice cloning, deepfake image and video fraud, among others techniques.

As such, the Justice Department recommends regular checks of financial statements, setting up bank account alerts, making your financial wishes clear to your family, preparing a power of attorney and a will with a lawyer and keeping all financial documents securely locked away.

The FTC, meanwhile, says to never transfer or move money for anyone who reaches out unsolicited and, rather, to disconnect and contact whatever organization or group they claim to represent to verify financial requests.

Other experts suggest combating AI scams by having a designated trusted advisor monitor an older person's bank accounts and financial behavior, setting up call screening to intercept spam calls and establishing "safe words" with loved ones to identify themselves when getting in touch.

In the end, taking such simple precautions could save you or your loved ones a small fortune, along with the untold cost of anger and regret that comes with falling victim to scammers.

Ric Flair ‘wants to bury’ talent agency with $10M lawsuit over alleged ‘digital fraud’ tied to his image and likeness

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