Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.<\/p>\n
Editor\u2019s note: the story has been updated with a reaction by Polymarket.<\/p>\n
Nick Shirley, Riley Gaines and Brian Krassenstein were among more than 800 people who allegedly received money from Polymarket\u2019s chief marketing officer through a personal PayPal account, according to a Politico investigation published Friday.<\/p>\n
Matthew Modabber, Polymarket Chief Marketin Officer, sent at least $350,000 to content creators between January 2025 and February 2026, the report said. Total transfers from the personal account, which is reportedly registered to an email tied to a salad shop Modabber co-founded, topped $2.5 million.<\/p>\n
The Undisclosed Influencer Operation <\/p>\n
About two dozen creators promoted Polymarket on X after taking payments from Modabber, posting at least 490 times without disclosing a paid partnership, Politico found.<\/p>\n
Don’t Miss:<\/p>\n
Roughly a third framed shifts in betting odds as \u201cBREAKING\u201d or \u201cNEW\u201d news updates.<\/p>\n
One anonymous influencer said Polymarket fed them scripts and dictated post timing: \u201cThey actually told us, \u2018This one needs to get out now,\u2019 as if we were cattle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shane Ginsberg, a 19-year-old who runs marketing outfit Street Poller, allegedly received over $77,000 to deploy a network of 50-plus creators conducting supposedly unscripted man-on-the-street interviews.<\/p>\n
In one clip, Ginsberg casually mentions he bet $5,000 on Donald Trump, then directs the interviewee to download Polymarket.<\/p>\n
From The Pentagon To Dinesh D\u2019Souza\u2019s Wife <\/p>\n
Modabber\u2019s payments reportedly extended into politically sensitive territory. Recipients included Amjed Yacu, who now serves as deputy digital director at the Defense Department, and Debbie D\u2019Souza, wife of pardoned filmmaker Dinesh D\u2019Souza.<\/p>\n
Polymarket separately said this week it is terminating its contract with George Santos, who is under CFTC investigation for allegedly betting against his own State of the Union attendance on rival Kalshi.<\/p>\n
See Also: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your \u2018Safe’ Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time<\/a><\/p>\n The Comeback And The Hypocrisy <\/p>\n The report lands as Polymarket prepares its return to US trading. The company spent $112 million last year on a federally regulated exchange after the Trump administration dropped two investigations.<\/p>\n Donald Trump Jr. is a Polymarket investor and a paid adviser to Kalshi.<\/p>\n The CFTC and several states are currently in a legal fight over prediction market regulation.<\/p>\n Last August, an X user wrote: \u201cThe cultural relevance and brand recognition of Polymarket is something that cannot be faked.\u201d Modabber shared the post on his own account, adding: \u201cCANNOT BE FAKED.\u201d<\/p>\n A Polymarket spokesperson responded to Benzinga\u2019s request for comment by saying that Polymarket\u2019s marketing partnerships and influencer relationships are conducted in compliance with applicable disclosure obligations and platform standards.<\/p>\n Image: Shutterstock<\/p>\n Read Next:\u00a0<\/p>\n Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market <\/p>\n Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.<\/p>\n Arrived <\/p>\n Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100<\/a>. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.<\/p>\n Vinovest <\/p>\n Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000<\/a> \u2014 sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you.<\/p>\n FarmTogether <\/p>\n Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000<\/a> \u2014 fully managed, with no landlord headaches.<\/p>\n EquityMultiple <\/p>\n For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000,<\/a> with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.<\/p>\n Fundrise <\/p>\n Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate<\/a> and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.<\/p>\n EnergyX <\/p>\n