"Where is Homm?" - A concerned follower on Instagram asks about the whereabouts of Florian Homm, the person behind the personal website 'Schwarz' and the name of the high-priced investment club he once led.
Another person misses him as well: "I hope he is doing well." And a third person writes: "Am I the only one missing Florian Homm?" The fan base of the fallen investment guru has been waiting in vain for new videos and stories since the beginning of the year - normally, Homm publishes posts on his social media channels weekly. However, since last Wednesday, his websites, including FlorianHomm.net, Short-Selling.de, and InvestmentMasterSociety.de, are no longer accessible.
The website of his investor club, Florian-Homm.com, now refers to "The Investment Club", where Homm is no longer named as the initiator, but is still visible in many photos. Additionally, Homm has relocated his stock market newsletter domain from Switzerland to Germany.
There are many speculations about Homm: In the USA, he is still sought for his previous dealings and there is an international arrest warrant against him. He was already taken into police custody for a simple car accident. In Italy, he spent a year in pre-trial detention. He is accused of, among other things, manipulating stock prices of the shares held in his funds.
Homm asserts his innocence but has never appeared in court, neither in civil nor criminal proceedings. The Swiss prosecutor's office and the US Department of Justice accuse him of fleeing under a false name with a forged passport between 2007 and 2013.
Currently, his former right-hand man, Colin Heatherington, is standing trial in Los Angeles. He has already pleaded guilty at the start of the trial, admitting to being involved in conspiracies with Florian Homm.
A man's health condition also plays a role - his gray complexion and deep under-eye circles have become his trademark in his videos.
Did he possibly have to take a break for health reasons? However, the truth is simpler: Homm is said to have fallen out with his business partners and not paid outstanding invoices for six weeks.
As a reaction to that, his websites were shut down. "A dirty game is being played," says a former business partner who wishes to remain anonymous. The partners had secured the naming rights of Florian Homm and together, a year ago, had launched the Florian Homm Investment Club.
Despite prices of up to 50,000 euros for a membership, around 200 people joined. Most recently, a luxurious meeting took place at Schloss Möhlers in Herzebrock, where members gathered for gala dinners and fireworks. However, Homm has not been seen there for weeks. He explained his absence by stating that his business partner had disappeared abroad.
But he already lived in Spain before getting involved in the joint business with Homm. The rent for the castle continues to be paid to the Irish company FH Homm Investment Club Limited - however, the organization of the club is now in the hands of a PR expert from Düsseldorf. In a Youtube video, Homm now addresses his customers of the club, the stock market newsletter, and the study modules and explains: "There is a serious abuse of my name and my personality rights."
He no longer has access to his websites, email addresses, and social media channels. He accuses his former business partner of having transferred to the Homm Investment Club Limited, of which the revenues from the YouTube videos associated with Homm's name were supposed to flow, without his authorization, from the non-profit organization OLMOMS that he founded.
According to other business partners, Homms second wife, Katharina Homm, has increasingly taken control: "The cooperation became more and more difficult, there were loud attacks and manipulations." Therefore, the license agreement with Homm Investment Club Ltd., which also included regular appearances and the use of the castle for club members, was terminated. WirtschaftsWoche was unable to reach Florian Homm or his lawyer for a statement.
The club is now to be continued without Homm and at lower prices. However, without the illustrious figurehead from whom many wealthy people wanted to learn how to become billionaires, "The Investment Club" lacks an important driving force. Accordingly, prices have been adjusted and membership is now available for only 199 euros per year.
The former CEO of the right-wing liberal Degussa Gold Trade is still shown in a photo - he had spoken at an event hosted by Homm. The "new beginning" of the reformed Homm, who now targets the masses instead of the elite, is said to have financially paid off according to the partner.
Earnings in the millions: Homm reportedly made significant profits with around 200 club members, up to 4000 newsletter subscribers, and additional income from online training provided by the "Investment Master Society," promoted under his name. During the years from 2004 to 2007, when he was leading the hedge fund Absolute Capital Management, Homm gradually faded into the background.
Headline: "He briefly writes in his LinkedIn profile: "For years, he has been defending himself against various accusations from 2004 to 2007." He has also long since removed this notice from his websites. Although he was sentenced to imprisonment in Switzerland in 2021 due to a technicality, the verdict is considered null and void, and the trial must be reopened."
Homms former broker, Todd Ficeto, has already served a three-year prison sentence, although he consistently proclaimed his innocence. In early February, the trial against Homms employee Colin Heatherington, who had eluded justice in Canada for years, will continue.
Officially, Homm is not active in any of his companies - the legal risk would be too great. Since his arrest in Florence in 2014 and his subsequent release due to a lack of agreement with US authorities, Homm has not left Germany.
