Dan Price Resigns Amidst Allegations of Assault

Is Dan Price the world’s best boss? For a time, people were asking that very question as they watched the entrepreneur and social media personality put his employees first. He made headlines in 2015 by cutting his own salary from $1.1 million to $70,000 to ensure that everyone working for his company, Gravity Payments, could also have a minimum salary of $70,000.

But there is plenty more happening behind the scenes with Price, including recent allegations of assault that saw him resigning from his position as CEO of Gravity Payments. The resignation occurred on August 17th, 2022 with Price saying he needed to focus on fighting the false accusations full time.

However, it is not an isolated incident, with other lawsuits and allegations appearing against the former CEO throughout the years.

In 2013, Price was arrested and charged with assault against an employee at an Irish pub in Seattle. According to a police report, he walked into the pub and sat down with a table of people he didn’t know. After refusing to leave, he was escorted out by the bar’s manager. It was during that time that he clawed him in the face and grabbed and broke his glasses. The charges were later dropped.

Moreover, while Price is best known for cutting his salary in 2015, the same year held some legal and personal trouble for Price. Earlier that year, his brother Lucas Price sued him for overpaying himself and minority shareholder oppression. The lawsuit eventually ended in favor of Dan Price, but during the proceedings, a lot of information came out.

Primarily, Lucas Price’s attorneys accused him of lying about the things he did to raise the company’s minimum salary. The “exaggerations” included him mortgaging his homes, selling stocks, and closing retirement accounts to cover the salary increase for employees.

More troubling still were accusations by his ex-wife Kristie Colón, who recorded a TEDx talk that same year. In the talk, she alleged he physically abused her, including slapping, punching, and waterboarding. The video was deleted, and Price denied her claims, but she stood by them.

Price’s pattern of abuse toward women is not limited to his wife. After his resignation, The New York Times posted an article detailing how he used his social media reputation to lure women, masking his abusive behavior.

One instance involves a 27-year-old model and artist who had a three-month relationship with Price in 2021 that ended when Price allegedly raped her. The Palm Springs Police Department investigated the matter, eventually turning it over to local prosecutors while recommending a felony charge of rape of a drugged victim.

The previous instances shine a light on the most recent allegations, which include charges of misdemeanor assault and reckless driving.

Price allegedly attempted to kiss a woman following a business meeting, grabbing her by the throat when she rejected his advances. Afterward, Price is said to have driven to a parking lot and performed “doughnuts” while she was in the car.

Like with previous allegations, Price pleaded not guilty. But with the former CEO resigning, it is clear he has his hands full as the cases stack up against him.