Who Owns Zeus Network in 2025? The Real Facts Revealed

Lemuel Plummer holds majority control of Zeus Network in 2025, maintaining his position as both CEO and primary shareholder of the streaming platform he launched in July 2018. Working alongside co-founders DeStorm Power, Amanda Cerny, and King Bach, Plummer has built the network into a significant player in digital entertainment with over 100 million users and a $100 million valuation.

Zeus Network operates as the first subscription-based streaming service designed specifically by Millennials for their generation. The platform centers on reality programming and scripted content featuring social media influencers, offering subscribers access to exclusive shows for $5.99 monthly or $59.99 annually. Popular series include "Baddies," "Baddies West," "The Real Blac Chyna," and "Chrisean & Blueface: Crazy in Love."

However, commercial success hasn't shielded the network from significant challenges. Zeus faces ongoing controversies around content that critics describe as exploitative, particularly regarding the portrayal of Black communities. These issues, combined with serious legal disputes involving the co-founders, have created uncertainty around the platform's future leadership structure.

The ownership dynamics that seemed stable since 2018 now face scrutiny as legal battles and public criticism intensify. Understanding who controls Zeus Network requires examining not just the current shareholder structure, but also the mounting pressures that could reshape its leadership in the months ahead.

Current ownership structure and key stakeholders

Lemuel Plummer retains majority control of Zeus Network, though the ownership landscape reflects both stability and underlying tensions. The 38-year-old CEO maintains controlling voting rights that have shaped every major decision since launch, while the original co-founder structure remains intact despite recent challenges.

Plummer's controlling position and media legacy

Plummer's path to media ownership began in Detroit, where his parents operated three television stations. This early exposure to broadcast operations gave him industry insights that most entrepreneurs lack. At 20, he secured a first-look deal with BET Networks, producing series including "The Mo'nique Show".

What distinguishes Plummer's approach: He invested personal capital to establish Zeus rather than relying solely on external funding. This direct financial commitment strengthened his controlling position and decision-making authority. Combined with his production background, Plummer's investment created a foundation that has remained largely unchanged since 2018.

The CEO role gives him operational control, while majority ownership ensures strategic direction aligns with his vision. This dual position has proven essential as Zeus navigated both rapid growth and recent controversies.

Co-founder contributions and current roles

The founding team brought established digital audiences that proved crucial for Zeus's early traction:

Andrew "King Bach" Bachelor leveraged his status as Vine's most-followed creator, bringing 16.2 million followers to the platform. The Canadian-American entertainer's transition from digital content to traditional entertainment provided Zeus with crossover appeal.

Amanda Cerny contributed her 4+ million Vine following and YouTube presence. Her audience helped establish Zeus's initial subscriber base during the critical launch period.

DeStorm Power, at 48, added experience as both musician and YouTube creator. His content strategy insights influenced Zeus's programming direction, particularly in reality television formats.

Each co-founder maintains minority ownership stakes, though exact percentages remain undisclosed due to the company's private status.

Private company structure and investment backing

Zeus operates independently without parent company oversight. This private structure means ownership details aren't subject to public disclosure requirements that affect publicly traded companies.

Beyond the founding team, Zeus has attracted strategic investors including Jonathan Rogers from NBC Universal Media and Harold Lewis from Variety. These industry veterans provide guidance while allowing Plummer to maintain operational control.

Key implications of private ownership:

• Content decisions remain internal without shareholder pressure

• Financial performance details stay confidential

• Strategic pivots can happen without quarterly reporting constraints

• Valuation discussions occur privately among stakeholders

The $100 million valuation reflects investor confidence, though Zeus's private status means financial specifics remain largely undisclosed. This structure has enabled rapid content expansion while shielding internal operations from public scrutiny.

Zeus Network's origins and business evolution

Zeus Network launched in July 2018 when TV producer Lemuel Plummer partnered with three social media powerhouses to create something the streaming industry hadn't seen before. The collaboration represented a shift away from traditional media gatekeepers toward a creator-first philosophy that would define the platform's identity.

Plummer's media industry foundation

Plummer's path to Zeus began in Detroit, where his parents owned three television stations. This early exposure to media production gave him practical industry knowledge that most young entrepreneurs lack. At 22, he secured a first-look deal with BET Networks, producing successful series including "The Mo'nique Show" and "The Family Crews".

His production company, L. Plummer Media, created hit shows like the "Preachers" franchise for Oxygen before Zeus existed. This background in unscripted content became crucial when developing Zeus's programming strategy. Plummer understood both the creative and business sides of content production, knowledge that would prove essential for building a sustainable streaming platform.

Strategic partnerships with digital creators

Plummer's vision required collaborators who already commanded massive online audiences. DeStorm Power, Amanda Cerny, and King Bach each brought distinct strengths to the founding team. Bach had dominated Vine as its most-followed creator before transitioning to acting.

Cerny leveraged her 4+ million Vine followers into broader entertainment opportunities. Power combined his music career with YouTube content creation, attracting over 3.1 million subscribers.

"We always worked with platforms, helped blow up platforms, and make those platforms millions and millions of dollars, as opposed to just being something by the creators for the creators," Power explained. This frustration with existing platforms extracting value from creator content became Zeus's core differentiator.

Building the business model

Rather than pursuing venture capital funding, Zeus developed through strategic creator partnerships. The team chose a subscription model—$5.99 monthly or $59.99 annually—to ensure direct revenue from engaged audiences rather than relying solely on advertising.

Plummer's approach broke industry conventions: "We want to greenlight people, not shows". This philosophy attracted influencers and reality stars who brought established fan bases to the platform. Content creators could maintain creative control while accessing professional production resources and distribution infrastructure.

The strategy worked because it addressed a real market gap. Traditional networks offered limited opportunities for digital creators to develop long-form content, while existing streaming platforms rarely featured influencer-driven programming.

Zeus positioned itself at the intersection of these trends, creating exclusive content that appealed specifically to millennial viewers seeking authentic, unfiltered entertainment.

Zeus Network ownership structure and leadership dynamics

The ownership framework of Zeus Network operates through a concentrated power structure that shapes every aspect of the platform's operations. While the co-founder arrangement suggests collaborative leadership, the reality reveals a more centralized control system.

Ownership breakdown and voting control

Lemuel Plummer: ~51% majority stake Plummer's controlling interest gives him decisive power over all strategic decisions, from content greenlight approvals to partnership negotiations. This majority position means he can override any opposition from minority shareholders when conflicts arise.

Co-founder distribution: ~30% combined King Bach, Amanda Cerny, and DeStorm Power each hold approximately 10% equity stakes. While significant on paper, these minority positions limit their influence on major business decisions without forming coalitions.

External investors and employees: ~19% The remaining ownership includes strategic investors like Jonathan Rogers from NBC Universal Media and Harold Lewis from Variety, plus early employee equity packages.

This distribution has remained relatively stable since 2018, though the private company status means exact percentages aren't publicly disclosed. Industry sources confirm these approximate figures reflect the current ownership reality.

Decision-making hierarchy and operational control

Plummer operates Zeus Network through a centralized management approach where major decisions flow through his approval. Content acquisitions, marketing budgets exceeding $50,000, and strategic partnerships all require his direct sign-off. This structure enables rapid decision-making but concentrates risk in a single executive.

The co-founders maintain advisory roles in their areas of expertise—Bach focuses on talent relationships, Cerny handles influencer partnerships, and Power contributes to content strategy. However, their input serves as recommendations rather than binding decisions.

Strategic investors and industry connections

External investors function primarily as advisors rather than active managers. Rogers and Lewis participate in quarterly strategy sessions and provide industry insights, but day-to-day operations remain under Plummer's oversight. This arrangement has allowed Zeus to benefit from traditional media expertise while preserving its creator-first philosophy.

The investor structure has supported Zeus's growth without diluting Plummer's control. These relationships have proven particularly valuable for distribution partnerships and industry credibility, helping the platform secure content deals that might otherwise be inaccessible to a startup streaming service.

Serious controversies threaten Zeus Network's stability

Zeus Network's commercial success faces significant challenges from mounting legal disputes and public criticism. The allegations from co-founder DeStorm Power have created the most serious threat to the platform's leadership structure and reputation.

DeStorm Power's fraud allegations and legal battle

DeStorm Power publicly accused Lemuel Plummer of fraud and financial misconduct in 2024. Power claims he invested over $130,000 of his personal funds into Zeus Network projects with promises of repayment that never materialized.

The situation becomes more complex with tax implications—Power alleges that he, King Bach, and Amanda Cerny continue receiving K1 tax documents showing they earn "millions of dollars from the Zeus network as partners," forcing them to pay taxes on money they never received.

The allegations escalate beyond financial disputes. Power stated, "To be totally transparent, we had a falling out because a good friend of ours, who is now a successful Latin artist and used to be Lemmy's assistant, told us that he sexually assaulted her".

These accusations have moved from social media into costly courtroom battles, with Power revealing they've "spent over a million dollars on lawyers already" fighting Plummer for approximately two years.

Content-related criticism and cast member concerns

Zeus Network faces sharp criticism for programming choices, particularly shows featuring volatile relationships. Critics have accused the network of "capitalizing on domestic violence and glorifying it as a normal part of relationships," especially regarding "Chrisean Rock & Blueface: Crazy In Love".

The criticism extends beyond individual viewers—former cast members have launched petitions against Zeus shows, specifically targeting the "Baddies" franchise with allegations of "sex trafficking, sexual assault, physical assault, coercion, intimidation, theft, pandering and financial abuse".

Cultural representation concerns

Critics argue Zeus Network perpetuates harmful stereotypes through its programming choices. The platform has been criticized for "exploitative content toward Black people through perpetuating negative tropes and stereotyped images of Blackness".

Specific concerns include the over-sexualization of Black women and portraying cast members as "overly aggressive and violent". Shows frequently feature "the exchange of expletives and fighting" between cast members, raising questions about responsible media representation and the network's impact on cultural perceptions.

These controversies have created uncertainty around Zeus Network's future direction and leadership stability, particularly as legal battles continue and public pressure mounts.

Plummer's majority control of Zeus Network appears secure for now, but the platform faces unprecedented challenges that could reshape its leadership. The legal disputes with co-founder DeStorm Power represent more than internal conflicts—they threaten the collaborative foundation that originally defined the network.

Content criticism has intensified beyond typical media scrutiny. Former cast members, advocacy groups, and viewers have raised concerns about shows that allegedly exploit participants and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. These aren't passing controversies; they represent sustained pressure that could affect advertiser relationships and subscriber growth.

The private company structure that once protected Zeus from public oversight now feels like a liability. Without transparency requirements, the platform operates with limited accountability while facing serious allegations about both financial practices and content ethics.

Zeus Network succeeded by giving creators control over their content—a revolutionary approach in 2018. That same creator-first philosophy now faces its biggest test. Can the platform maintain its identity while addressing fundamental questions about leadership and responsibility?

The streaming landscape has evolved dramatically since Zeus launched. New platforms emerge constantly, and established networks have adopted creator-friendly models. Zeus no longer holds a monopoly on influencer-driven content, making reputation management critical for future growth.

Whether Zeus Network thrives or struggles will depend on how effectively it addresses these mounting pressures. The ownership structure that enabled rapid growth must now demonstrate it can handle serious challenges while maintaining the trust of creators, subscribers, and industry partners.

FAQs

Q1. Who are the current owners of Zeus Network?

Zeus Network is primarily owned by Lemuel Plummer, who holds the majority stake. Co-founders King Bach, Amanda Cerny, and DeStorm Power also maintain minority ownership positions in the company.

Q2. Is Zeus Network a publicly traded company?

No, Zeus Network operates as a private company. It does not have public shareholders and is not listed on any stock exchange, allowing for greater control over content decisions and business strategy.

Q3. What is the subscription cost for Zeus Network?

Zeus Network offers a subscription-based service priced at $5.99 per month or $59.99 for an annual subscription, providing access to exclusive content featuring social media influencers and reality programming.

Q4. Has Zeus Network faced any legal challenges?

Yes, Zeus Network has encountered legal issues, including a lawsuit from co-founder DeStorm Power alleging financial misconduct. The company has also faced criticism and potential legal action regarding the content of some of its shows.

Q5. What type of content does Zeus Network primarily offer?

Zeus Network specializes in reality shows, comedies, and dramas that cater to millennial viewers. The platform features unscripted content and original programming created by and starring social media influencers and celebrities.