Bryce Hall lives in a mansion with his best friends and has over 10 million followers on TikTok. But how did the star go from being a 15-year-old taking mirror selfies in Maryland to an influencer living in L.A. luxury? Buckle up, because we've got the tea.
A Bright Future
On August 14th, 1999, Ellicot City, Maryland grew a bit as it welcomed a baby named Bryce Hall. The little boy spent his childhood in the quiet, suburban town near Baltimore, where he was raised by a single mom.
"As a single mom, she worked really hard to raise me and has always been my number one supporter through everything," Hall wrote for People. At the time, the child's mother couldn't foresee her son's eventual rise to stardom.
"Thanks for 1k!" - the Early Stages of Hall's Career
Like many Gen Z adolescents, Bryce joined the social media world from an early age. As a high schooler, he was active on Instagram and tried to build an audience for his account. The teen captioned selfies with "Thanks for 1K" and "Everyone add me on Snapchat! I'll try to post daily stories!"
Hall had the drive and passion for Internet fame. He tried making a name for himself online as the influencer world was growing. When Bryce was 15 years old, the young man joined YouNow and Musical.ly. Posting on these apps would prove to be the early stages of his career.
With 30,000 Followers, Opportunity Came Knocking
The aspiring boy gained popularity on various sites. Before Vine shut down in 2014, Hall reportedly had over 30,000 followers on the app. He also attracted followers on Musical.ly, the lip-sync platform that later became TikTok. The suburban boy mostly posted content from his hometown, including a lot of mirror selfies.
But as Bryce's following grew, he traveled to different states and started networking. The teen soon began attending early social media conventions, including Press Play. These opportunities opened doors for the young creator, as he met and worked with other aspiring social media stars.
His Networking Paid Off
In 2015, Hall started a YouTube channel. The videos consisted mostly of pranks, challenges, and funny reaction clips. But the adolescent was not alone on screen. The conferences he attended gave him a chance to network, and the YouTuber collaborated with other upcoming social media icons.
At the early stages of his popularity, Bryce was seen on Instagram with Loren Gray, who was the biggest star on TikTok until Charli D'Amelio. The teenager also worked with Jacob Sartorious. But viewers would soon find out that the young creator's life was not all funny jokes and popular friends.
The Dark Truth
Bryce's online persona gave the impression of a happy, carefree teenager just trying to have fun and laugh a lot. It appeared like the young man was an amateur prankster with a lot of time and creativity on his hands. But as he grew in the internet world, the YouTuber revealed some darkness behind the screen.
In an interview with Hollywire, Hall said, "I got bullied so I went on a live-stream to kinda just make friends." It seemed that the young creator's initial motivation for joining social media wasn't to achieve stardom. But Bryce would soon taste some of the negativity that comes with rising fame, whether he wanted to or not.
Viewers Said He Was Lying
The revelation about his past with bullying possibly helped the aspiring influencer grow in popularity. After discussing the negative experiences, Bryce saw an increase in followers and views on his YouNow live streaming and other platforms. But it wasn't all rainbows and butterflies.
Some viewers didn't believe that the seemingly confident and out-going video-creator was bullied. One user, who said Hall "Went to my high school," claimed that the alleged victim had been mean "to everyone." But whether true or not, Bryce's disclosure would soon be overshadowed by something else.
"I Have a Girlfriend Now"
As Hall disclosed more information about his childhood and personal life, fans were interested in knowing more. Viewers were especially intrigued by the creator's romantic life or lack thereof. Many were perplexed that the good-looker rarely updated audiences about his love interests.
But Bryce put rumors and concern to rest when he posted a video titled I Asked Her To Be My Girlfriend. In the film, Hall asked Instagram star Elle Danjean to be his girlfriend. "I have a girlfriend! I'm glad she said yes, I have a girlfriend now," the new boyfriend said. But the excitement didn't last too long.
"A Little Bit of a Jealousy Issue"
After making their relationship public, the love birds introduced themselves to one another's viewers and filmed many YouTube videos together. But six months later, the pair broke up. "I think we both have like a little bit of a jealous issue," shared Bryce.
"...When other people come into the equation, it's just not too healthy," Hall said as he explained why the couple called it quits. "When you are not in a healthy relationship you shouldn't stay in it and try to force it to be something it's not." The upcoming star soon had his mind elsewhere.
TikTok Exploded and So Did Bryce Hall
Bryce was slowly gaining followers on the different platforms where he created content, but a change outside of his control accelerated Hall's stardom. After Musical.ly became TikTok in 2018, the app became a cultural phenomenon. When the social networking site rose to fame, Bryce rose along with it.
The 20-year-old went viral when he posted a video lip-syncing to Sean Kingston's Beautiful Girls with his friends and the renowned artist himself. "Me and the boys were singing it and then [Sean Kingston] hopped in," Hall told. But the overnight success soon brought attention to some harder parts of the influencer's past.
Trouble in Paradise
Before becoming a TikTok star, the aspiring star was featured in Jawline. The documentary followed Bryce and others as they tried to make it as online celebrities in the social media world. At the time, Hall was working with manager Michael Weist, and the two were featured together in the film.
The Hulu creation documented the deterioration of the youngster and his supervisor's relationship. Bryce accused Weist of deleting his vlog channel and hacking his Twitter. In turn, the manager claimed that Hall had spoken disrespectfully to Weist's mother. The pair went their separate ways but the fight did not end there.
"I Am Glad It Is Over"
Bryce accused his manager of inappropriate behavior. The young adult took to Twitter and said Weist was trying to "Hide the truth by hacking" social media accounts. It wasn't long before Michael took legal action against the aspiring celebrity. He sued the former client for defamation, and eventually settled outside of court.
Hall later issues a public apology to the former manager. "I made some harsh statements about Michael and regret making those statements," he said. "I am sorry for what happened and I am glad it is over." But the damage had already been done, and the proof was in Bryce's bank statements.
"I Didn't Have Any More Money"
The lawsuit was settled outside of court and Hall issued a public apology. But the rising star later alleged that his legal team took that route due to a dwindling bank account. "I had this manager... and he was stealing a ton of money from me," Bryce shared.
"I had to pay all of my money to my lawyers and we had to settle in arbitration because I didn't have any more money," he said. "I think I had $4,000 to my name in 2018." The digital celebrity's experience would lead him to voice some potentially controversial opinions on influencer life.
"They Need To Stop Flexing Like They Have All the Money in the World"
After experiencing his financial downfall, Hall shared some advice for other influencers. "They need to stop flexing like they have all the money in the world," the star said. Bryce discussed what he perceives to be reckless spending by other celebrities and warned, "These numbers aren't going to stay like this forever."
As per his own spending habits, the TikToker stated, "Sure, I party hard but at the end of the day, it's like 'Make your money and then party hard.' Celebrate, that's the point." The young man wasn't shy about his love for parties, but some habits would soon lead to trouble.
"I Am the Life of the Party"
"I'm kind of known as the crazy guy at parties... I am the life of the party," Hall shared. But the creator reportedly took his partying too far when he behaved inappropriately off his balcony at an influencer convention. "...The people I was with, who are bad influences, by the way, they were daring me..." Bryce later claimed.
"My mind wasn't in the right and I just said 'Hey, there's a balcony right here to my left' and everyone was like 'Do it, you won't,'" elaborated the star. The social media icon apologized to the convention, Playlist Live, but was nonetheless banned from the annual event. Little did Hall know, more scandal was around the corner.
Drama Followed Him To L.A.
As his fame was on the rise in 2018, Bryce moved to Los Angeles. The big partier had by then been involved in a few feuds with others in the online community, some of which were staged for his content. But none matched the drama that erupted when Hall fought with his friend, Zach Clayton.
After Clayton accused Bryce of having been aggressive, the latter was involved in a Twitter fight with YouTuber Tana Mongeau. The digital icons had a back-and-forth where they accused each other of several things, including being unfaithful. Few could have predicted how the bickering would end.
"There's Always 2 Sides To Every Story"
As accusations flew back and forth, some followers speculated whether any of it was true or if the influencers were engaging in a publicity stunt. Other viewers were desperate to know exactly what happened. "There's always 2 sides to every story," said the digital celeb.
In the end, it was Hall who issued an apology and admitted his wrongdoing. "I apologized to Zach and I feel horrible... There is nobody else and nothing else to blame other than myself and I take up for it," he tweeted. Fans were disappointed in the creator's behavior, but good things were soon coming Bryce's way.
He Was the Unofficial Leader of Sway House
By January 2020, Hall had become one of the young faces that were iconic in the TikTok universe. The video creator reached another high in his career when he was invited to be one of the founding members of Sway House, a TikTok collective founded by TalentX Entertainment.
Bryce moved into the Los Angeles mansion with the likes of Kio Cyr, Quinton Griggs, Jaden Hossler, Griffin Johnson, Anthony Reeves, and Josh Richards. The social media figures lived, worked, and partied together. It wasn't long before Hall was viewed as the unofficial leader of the pack and led the group into some trouble.
Sway House vs. Hype House
The Sway House team succeeded in creating content that attracted more viewers and followers. They quickly became one of the most popular social media homes, arguably second only to Hype House. So fans were likely not surprised when a feud erupted between Hall and Hype House leader Chase Hudson, also known as Lil Huddy.
Bryce and fellow Sway House member Josh Richards publicly accused Lil Huddy of trying to message Richards' girlfriend on Instagram. They claimed the incident occurred when Chase was already dating the TikTok icon, Charli D'Amelio. It wasn't evident whether the allegations were true, but Hall became busy with something much bigger.
Party Animal University
Amidst multiple viral videos, various scandals, and public feuds, Hall had undoubtedly become a social media star. The celebrity was publicly and fiercely proud of his party-boy reputation. But learning from past mistakes, Bryce decided to take the wild image he had cultivated and turn it into money in the bank.
The young star started a merchandise line called Party Animal. The creative sold t-shirts, sweaters, and socks. Most of the apparel had the logo for "Party Animal University," or "PAU," which became a common reference for Hall and his crew. The entrepreneur would soon be seeing some big money.
"That's My Primary Source of Income"
With the take-off of his online fame, Bryce was able to financially recover from past difficulties. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the star's net worth is about $2 million. "I'm doing $1 million quarterly on merch sales. That's my primary source of income," shared the businessman. The influencer also shared his fortune.
"... I now see what having no power can have on someone," Hall said after losing electricity in his home. "I decided to donate a portion of my upcoming merch sales to [No Kid Hungry]. Hoping to do my small part to help those in need in LA..." Yet while the celeb shared love for the city, some Californians wanted him out.
Partying in the Hollywood Hills
While Sway House's partying habits were gaining them tons of viewers, surrounding homes took issue with the new neighbors. The New York Times reported that the once quiet Bel Air street where the boys lived had become unbearably chaotic. "In the morning we hear paintball guns. I don't think they sleep," one neighbor said.
Other neighbors talked about endless noisy partying, delivered packages blocking the street, and "zombielike" teens standing around. They claimed the mansion was occasionally more like a nightclub. The group's behavior would lead to dire consequences.
A Petition for Bryce To Be "Unproblematic"
Shortly after the article in the Times was released, the Sway House members left the Beverly Hills neighborhood. The group said the move was a result of fans showing up uninvited to their home. Unlike before, the group split up into different residences, with Hall and two others going to a Hollywood Hills mansion.
Not all viewers were happy with the reputation Bryce had developed. "Petition 4 Bryce to stay out of drama and b unproblematic," wrote a follower. The influencer himself likely didn't guess that his habits would soon become intolerable even for himself.
"I Regret Those, Immensely"
Since getting big in the social media scene, Bryce cultivated a wild boy, party animal reputation for himself. He reportedly behaved recklessly at a few gatherings and got in feuds with a variety of other influencers. Throughout most of it, the creator recorded his adventures and tweeted about the drama.
Eventually, the alleged misconduct seemed to catch up to Hall's consciousness. "Biggest regret of my life... all the controversies I've ever been in... I regret those, immensely," the star confessed in a video titled Answering the Questions I've Been Avoiding. But the scandals would soon be overshadowed by a romantic interest.
Addison Was "The Best Girl" He'd Ever Dated
In October 2019, the young man posted the first of many videos with celebrity Addison Rae. Rumors about the influencers dating soon surfaced. Addison addressed the relationship in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. "We got super close and we were really really really good friends," she said.
But the duo continued making content together and teasing fans with hints that they were romantically involved. A few months later, Hall admitted in an interview that Addison was "The best girl" he'd ever dated and that she was a good influence on him. But the relationship quickly got complicated.
"Addison Can Do Whatever She Wants"
When the couple stopped appearing together in videos, break-up rumors swirled. "Addison can do whatever she wants as fast as she wants, we're working on ourselves and I wish nothing but the best for her," Hall wrote. "Breakups/splits suck but I promise you time does heal everything and that's what I'm following."
The star then expressed some regret. "... Not too happy with my judgment/choices lately," Bryce said. "And with the time I'm setting aside I'm going to learn and at least attempt to fix my flaws." The TikToker was likely referring to choices both in and out of his relationship, as he was involved in heavy controversies once more.
A 21st Birthday Rager
Hall's face was featured once again on news sites after he had troubles with the law. The party boy apparently broke social distancing guidelines in May and road tripped with friends around the west coast. L.A. officials noticed the misconduct after Bryce threw a huge 21st birthday party, with over 100 mask-less guests.
"These parties can be really out of control nightclubs," said L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer. "There can be hundreds of people, loud music long into the night, and cars that block the street for emergency vehicles." Some followers were later surprised at how the young influencer responded to the allegations.
"I Had Let My Mom Down"
After facing legal repercussions for his actions he took during the west coast road trip, Bryce published a letter expressing regret. A remorseful Hall wrote about disappointing his mother. "... I had let my mom down. As a single mom, she worked really hard to raise me and has always been my number one supporter..." he said.
The young man apologized to fans for not setting a good example. "I'm more focused than ever before and am constantly working hard on my brand and have never been more excited to post amazing content for my fans..." the creator assured. Bryce couldn't have predicted the kind of backlash he would soon face from viewers.
Hall Was Offended by the Messages
After news broke about the digital celebrity's big birthday bash, online users wrote unkind messages to Hall. One said people would be hurt by his, "Reckless decisions and you don't care, why would they care about you." The star was upset by the followers' words and responded, "These comments can hurt anyone."
Other fans came to the influencer's defense. "You try to clown him but he basically changed social media almost single-handedly to let people just do what they want and not have to make... fake content to get a bag," wrote a supporter. Bryce shortly pushed the haters aside and made a career move that surprised many.
"There Was a Business Strategy Behind That"
A few months after the latest scandal, Hall announced he was launching a financial podcast called Capital University. "I never really showed anybody the business side of me. That's originally why I started the podcast," he said. "Coming up from social media, and blowing up on TikTok, there was a business strategy behind that."
Bryce was motivated by his past financial mistakes to create content that would educate and assist others. "I always thought money was an object," the entrepreneur shared. "I was spending money before I even had it." The influencer may have expected some mixed reactions from viewers, but he soon had a message for them.
"I Don't See the Hate"
After the aspiring finance guru released his first podcast episode, many were quick to deem it unsuccessful. Some thought the young man was ill-equipped to be discussing finances and dolling out advice. Others advised him to stick to the partying. Hall had a very clear message for them.
"I don’t see the hate, I see it being the number one podcast in business and number 9 podcast in the world right now with only one podcast up? Maybe I'm missing something," the host wrote. It's hard to tell what step the famous influencer will take next. But it seems certain that he won't be stopping anytime soon.