Hometown Hero

 

As my few days with Duncan in Englewood came to a close, I no longer thought of Duncan as the quintessential “bad boy” we see on YouTube. Of course, that’s not to say he doesn’t love his fair share of pranks. He did, after all, show me how to blow up a toilet in the middle of touring his studio. But he’s surprisingly more of a down-to-earth “momma’s boy” than a too-cool-for-school “bad boy.”

Duncan and the vehicle he used for Hurricane Ian relief

Duncan and the vehicle he used for Hurricane Ian reliefDANNY DUNCAN

His mother has — and continues to be — a big source of motivation. Duncan said one of his major life goals was to buy his mom a house. He wanted it so bad that he changed his phone and laptop backgrounds to show photos of the house he hoped to buy, which served as a daily reminder. Then in 2017, Duncan saved up enough to make that dream a reality.

“I didn't have $400,000 and I couldn't get a loan,” Duncan said, referring to the price of his mom’s home. “I remember I put $150,000 down on that house and I got a private loan at a 10% interest rate…[then] I just paid 30 grand a month for ten months until it was paid off.”

Nowadays, Duncan isn’t just trying to buy a home. He’s trying to buy his hometown — or at least, become one of its largest land owners. His recent 94-acre purchase of undeveloped land was originally zoned for 320 houses — until Duncan outbid other buyers, not wanting to see another swathe of Florida’s nature destroyed.

“I have a lot of ideas,” Duncan says about his plans to develop the land. “I want to have a nice little farm here and my warehouse here. I want to build a dirt bike track…This is where I want to live the rest of my life.”

Of all of Duncan’s purchases, however, none may be more symbolic than when he bought the former Englewood Sun newspaper building for $508,000. It’s a metaphor for how influence is shifting from traditional media outlets like the Englewood Sun to digital media stars like Duncan, who plans to use the land to start his own mini-golf chain.

Luckily for Englewood, Duncan is largely using his influence for good when it comes to his hometown. When Hurricane Ian devastated Englewood in September of last year, Duncan flew back from Los Angeles instantly. Driving in from Georgia, Duncan purchased packs of bottled water, generators, and emergency supplies. The next day was spent working with first responders to distribute supplies and clear debris.

All in all, Duncan is proving that creators aren’t just limited to online merch drops, brand deals, and viral videos. Creators can sell out retail stores and launch wildly successful businesses — all while wearing a shirt boasting “Virginity Rocks.”