Who is Brian Johnson? Everything to know about Netflix's Untold: The Liver King subject

American fitness expert Brian Johnson, 48, rose to prominence in the late 2010s for his promotion of an "ancestral lifestyle" including consuming raw organ meats and adhering to nine fundamental values. Some call him the Liver King.

His claims that he developed his physique naturally were called into question in late 2022 when stolen emails exposed his significant usage of anabolic steroids. Directed by Joe Pearlman, the most recent installment of Netflix's Untold series, Untold: The Liver King, recounts Johnson's rise to popularity, the ensuing scandal, and his complex personal story, featuring interviews with Johnson, his family, and business contacts.

Details about Netflix's Untold: The Liver King subject, Brian Johnson, explored

Born on March 2, 1978, at Puerto Rico's Naval Air Station Ceiba, Brian Michael Johnson was the son of a United States Air Force pilot. When his father passed away unexpectedly when he was still an infant, his mother raised him with the family soon relocated, to San Antonio, Texas.

He suggested a comeback to our ancient ways of life, which he outlined in nine tenets: eating, moving, sleeping, protecting, connecting, weather, fighting, and bonding. His performance attracted millions of spectators looking for both motivation and morbid curiosity on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

A supplement company co-founded by Johnson, Ancestral Supplements, exploited his cult-like following by offering organ-based tablets and powders that replicated his raw diet without the visceral preparation. By 2022, he reportedly earned more than $100 million a year from his brand and endorsements, which included sponsorships and commercials.

Attendees paid a premium to see primal-style workouts and ancestral challenges carried out by Johnson himself at live events on his Texas ranch-turned-retreat, which let him reach a larger audience. Revealed in private emails in December 2022, the discovery that Johnson spent over $11,000 monthly on anabolic steroids and human growth hormone directly undermines his long-held claim of a completely natural regimen.

After his first denials, he published a video in which he confessed to taking 120 mg of testosterone per month and expressed sorry for misleading his fans. When a possible $25 million class action lawsuit was dismissed due to findings generated by unhappy customers, his image suffered greatly.

Barbara, a former dentist and co-owner of a dental office, now operates Krowa, a beauty and wellness company providing animal-derived skincare products. She still supports the same ancestral beliefs that started the problem.

A part of Netflix's Untold series, Untold: The Liver King (70 minutes) will debut on May 13, 2025, under Joe Pearlman's direction and Bitachon 365 and Candle True Stories production. Interviews with Johnson's family, business partners, nutritionists, and himself provide a multifaceted picture of him that the video offers.

Johnson is shown as a self-made celebrity, a devoted family man, and a contentious artist who distorted reality for the sake of his profession. Johnson's narrative emphasizes the risks of health misinformation and influencer culture. Nutritionists are worried that his backing of raw meat ignores current nutritional studies and might cause bacterial illnesses.

Though it acts as a cautionary tale about authenticity and the commodification of health, some argue that Johnson's toxic masculinity is supported by his typical apex male, primal appetite. Brian "Liver King" Johnson's path from being a bullied child to being a raw-meat authority and a multimillion-dollar businessman reveals the risks and rewards of being famous online.

Though his advocacy for ancestral life reached millions, the steroid issue shattered his dream of living entirely in nature. Untold: The Liver King, a Netflix original, explores this paradox by offering an enlightening perspective on persona vs. person, the cost of deception, and the complex terrain of modern health culture.

​

Divya Burman is a journalist at Primetimer 

She has completed her graduation in English Literature, which fuelled her interest in writing. A curious learner, Divya isn't scared to move out of her comfort zone and reviews her work from a critical point of view.

Divya has multiple years of work experience, including at companies like TechWhoop and Vimana. She also worked as a programme facilitator at MyCaptain.

Divya is also fond of research and keeping herself up to date on the latest trends in the world of fashion. In her free time, she indulges in music and reading and loves to watch films.