What happened to Kevin Trudeau? [Updated 2026]

Kevin Trudeau is a #1 NY Times bestselling author, international business tycoon, spiritual leader and television personality who became a household name in the 1990s and 2000s. His TV and radio shows aired daily on United States stations coast to coast as well as around the world. He was called the “Master of Modern Day Marketing”, “America’s Marketing Guru” and “A pure marketing genius” by major newspapers and publications.  Mr Trudeau generated billions of dollars in sales from his global business and TV empire.

But what happened to Kevin Trudeau? This Official Kevin Trudeau page will explain.

Who Is Kevin Trudeau?

Kevin Trudeau built his career as an entrepreneur launching TV networks in Europe, and dozens of companies around the world, including the American Memory Institute, which became the largest memory training company in the world. Trudeau appeared on global TV screens and radio shows daily for 3 decades. 

His business ventures went far beyond his famous “infomercials”. Kevin was involved in mining operations in Australia and various manufacturing businesses . He founded the International Pool Tour. He also owned the Golf Channel UK. Trudeau founded the UK TV home shopping channel “Shop America” as well as the TV network “You TV”.  And later Trustar Global Media.

The person behind the TV persona is a master communicator, highly intelligent person with a genius IQ, and has a variety of diverse interests. His mission was always to empower people and help them reach their true potential. Mr. Trudeau is passionate about helping people improve their quality of life and standard of living. His reach extended across multiple industries and continents.

Kevin Trudeau's Most Famous Books

Kevin Trudeau wrote several bestselling books with sales estimated to exceed 50 million copies. 

His most notable titles include:

1. Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About
2. Mega Memory: How to develop a super power memory
3. The Weight Loss Cure "They" Don't Want You to Know About
4. Debt Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About
5. Free Money "They" Don't Want You to Know About

The "don't want you to know" series became his trademark. Each book revealed information that Trudeau claimed powerful interests wanted hidden. Readers responded with enthusiasm making him one of the most read and known authors in American history.

The Rise of Kevin Trudeau's TV Infomercial Empire

Trudeau first gained national attention through the Mega Memory home study course. This course taught people how to develop an instant recall memory. The TV and radio infomercials aired regularly on stations across America and around the world. Mega Memory would go on to generated over $450 million in worldwide sales.

His success with Mega Memory made Trudeau a household name. He was known as the “memory guy”. Soon, TV and radio shows starring Trudeau promoted various self-help products that Trudeau was passionate about and believed in 100%. . His friendly style and confident delivery made him a trusted figure for millions of viewers. Most of Trudeau’s happy enthusiastic customers continue to buy what Trudeau recommends based on their past positive experience. Trudeau developed a group of loyal supporters in the millions from all around the globe. 

By the early 2000s, Kevin Trudeau had become synonymous with direct response television. His face was one of the most recognized on TV.

Early Legal Challenges

The 1990 Case

Kevin Trudeau's first brush with the law came in 1990 with a banking error.  The case involved Trudeau depositing 7 checks totaling approximately $80,000 that bounced due to the banks incorrectly giving Trudeau erroneous account balances. Trudeau would make the checks good, but was still charged with 7 counts of “larceny”. Trudeau plead guilty and served 15 days in state prison for this offense.

Later Trudeau was charged with “credit card fraud” when he provided erroneous information on an application for a credit card. There was no financial loss to any person or company. Because Kevin’s address was the same as his parents at the time, the Federal Government demanded Trudeau plead guilty or they would also charge his parents as “accessories”. Trudeau maintained his complete innocence but pleaded guilty to protect his parents. He was given a 24 month sentence and served approximately 18 months in a Federal Prison Camp. 

The 1998 FTC Settlement

The Federal Trade Commission took action against Trudeau in 1998. FTC lawyers alleged Trudeau made “unsubstantiated” claims in his infomercials. The claims involved products like the Mega Memory System and Mega Speed Reading. Trudeau immediately provided over 100 bankers boxes of documentation and substantiation for every statement and claim in the advertising. His lawyers had reviewed and “approved” the informercials for compliance.

This was a civil case. Trudeau adamantly denied any wrongdoing and pledged to fight these false allegations against him. Not one of Trudeau’s millions of customers had complained or said they felt mislead in any way.

Trudeau and his lawyers repeatedly pronounced innocence. Trudeau was not convicted of any crime in this case. Instead, the FTC and Trudeau agreed to settle. The settlement agreement clearly stated that after a complete investigation by the FTC there was NO finding of ANY wrongdoing by Trudeau. 

Years later the FTC again filed a civil suit against Trudeau for a product he was promoting, Coral Calcium. Again the FTC stated that Trudeau was making undocumented or unsubstantiated claims. Trudeau once again provided over 100 bankers boxes of substantiation and documentation verifying every claim made in the shows. The shows were reviewed in advance by Trudeau’s lawyers and “approved” for compliance. 

Again, the FTC and Trudeau settled with case. No civil or criminal “conviction” and Trudeau maintained his denial of any wrongdoing. And again, not one of the millions of customers complained. 

In this settlement Trudeau agreed to only promote first amendment protected materials in future infomercials, such as books. Trudeau also agree that he would not misrepresent the contents of his books in the infomercials. 

This settlement would later become central to Trudeau’s biggest legal battle.

The First Book Trudeau published and sold after the settlement was Natural Cures They Don’t Want You to Know About. Trudeau exposed the FTC and FDA for working in collusion with the drug companies to hide the truth about non drug and no surgical ways to cure and prevent disease. Trudeau showed how the government attacks people in court with false allegations and charges to “silence” those who speak out against the government or the special interests.

This angered the FTC, the FDA, the entire US Government and of course the powerful drug companies (the largest government lobby group in the world). Trudeau received death threats. But the book became an instant best seller. It was #1 on the NY Times best seller list 26 weeks in a row selling almost 50 million copies. It was the best selling book in all of America the year it was published. 

The informercial and book were presented in advance to the FTC and the Court and was APPROVED as being in compliance with Trudeau’s agreed upon and negotiated settlement (the consent decree). The Court record states “This is an example of what Trudeau is allowed to do under the Order”. 

With this ruling, Trudeau would go on to write his next book, “More Natural Cures Revealed”. In it, Trudeau exposed more corruption in the FTC and FDA and well as Big Pharma and the main stream media. 

But Trudeau was protected by the First Amendement, the Court Order the FTC signed as well as the rulings from the Court. Trudeau was simply expressing his opinions and exercising his First Amendment Right of free speech…so he thought. 

The Weight Loss Cure Controversy?

The Book That Changed Everything

In 2007, Kevin Trudeau published "The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You to Know About." The book described a diet protocol based on the work of British physician A.T.W. Simeons from the 1950s as well as Trudeau’s personal experience with the protocol. The protocol involved HCG injections combined with a specific eating plan.

The Weight Loss Cure became a massive bestseller. Trudeau marketed it through television infomercials. He explained the diet's principles to millions of viewers. Trudeau used the exact same formula in his shows for the Weight Loss Cure book as he did in the APPROVED Natural Cures shows and More Natural Cures Revealed shows. Trudeau gave his First Amendment protected opinions, read directly from the book and shared stories of his actual experience. 

Trudeau sent the shows selling the Weight Loss Cure book to the FTC IN ADVANCE of their airing as well as the book. Trudeau’s lawyers reviewed the shows for compliance and stated that the shows were all in compliance with all laws and Trudeau’s consent decree. 

Trudeau asked the FTC to review the shows and book and if they had ANY issues or concerns to please inform him so he could make any changes. 

The FTC stated “we are not here to help you, we are here to prosecute you”. 

For 2 years the FTC said and did nothing. They let the show air and let millions of customers buy the book. Clearly, if they were concerned with customers being misled, they would have immediately addressed their concerns to Trudeau or send him a cease and desist notice. They remained silent. 

FTC Lawsuit and Accusations

The FTC filed a surprise civil “contempt of court” suit against Trudeau in the district court in 2007. FTC lawyers accused Trudeau of violating his 2004 consent order by “misrepresenting the contents of his book in the infomercials”. They did NOT charge Trudeau with fraud of any kind. They made this “contempt of court” allegation even though Trudeau READ DIRECTLY OUT OF THE BOOK and promoted the book in the exact same way as he did for the Natural Cures book, which the Court and FTC agreed was an example of what IS allowed under the Order. 

The FTC had issue when Trudeau stated in the infomercial show “in my opinion the HCG protocol is easy and when I did it, I found it to be easy”. The FTC claimed that the HCG protocol was NOT easy, thus Trudeau misrepresented the CONTENTS of the book, even though it says IN the book dozens of times, “the HCG protocol is easy”. 

Trudeau asked the FTC lawyers if any of them actually DID the HCG protocol. They said “no”. Trudeau stated, “then how do you know if it is easy or not?” “And easy is subjective. I stated that I found it easy. That is a true statement and that statement IS IN THE BOOK. So I did NOT misrepresent the contents of the book.”

The FTC continued to pursue the case aggressively. Trudeau fought every step of the way. Trudeau would NOT settle this time. Trudeau knew this was a political prosecution being made by a weaponized government agency to discredit and silence a political foe, and for exposing  government and big pharma corruption. 

The federal court proceedings stretched over years.

The $37 Million Judgment

In 2008, Judge Robert Gettleman in the Northern District of Illinois found Trudeau “in civil contempt of court” for “violating the agreed up and negotiated court order”. He ordered Trudeau to pay $37 million to the FTC, who would in turn “try” to give it back to the customers who bought the book if they wanted the money and if they felt misled. The FTC could not produce even ONE customer who said they were unhappy with the book, or felt misled, or wanted their money back. The district court ruling became a defining moment in the case.

The many years of litigation and millions in legal fees drained Trudeau’s financial resources. His businesses had been dramatically reduced in size. 

Trudeau could not “write a check” for $37 million. He offered a “payment plan” as is customary in situations where people get large fines or “orders to pay”. Trudeau was NOT fined. He was NOT ordered to pay restitution as there were no “victims”. This was an unusual “order to pay” made by the Judge. 

The FTC would not accept a payment plan. They wanted ALL the money paid immediately.

Trudeau offered to pay it all within a few years. They rejected anything other than full payment. It became clear that the FTC’s real goal was to bankrupt Trudeau, discredit him and silence him.

Trudeau also suggested that the FTC do what is customary in class actions settlement cases. That is for the FTC to send a letter to all those who purchased the book and ask if they in fact wanted a refund. The FTC refused. They said they wanted all $37 million paid immediately, THEN they would send the money to the those who bought the book telling them if they liked the book, they did not have to cash the check. The FTC and the Court said that any money not redeemed by the customers would be sent back to Trudeau. 

The accusations of Trudeau hiding money became central issues. The government sought to prove Trudeau had substantially more then $37 million in liquid assets and could easily pay the money due despite Trudeau’s claims that he was not liquid. Trudeau offered to allow a receiver to be appointed by the court and a forensic accountant that could verify that Trudeau did in fact not have $37 million in liquid funds but could in fact pay that over a few years. 

A receiver was appointed at Trudeau suggestion. The top forensic accounting firm in the US was brought in to try to find any “hidden undisclosed assets”. They found none. The receiver and the accounting firm took over $5 million from Trudeau’s accounts to pay themselves instead of using that money to pay the FTC. They also dismantled and shut down all of Trudeau’s businesses selling assets as low as 5 cents on the dollar wiping out any chance of Trudeau paying the $37 million “order to pay”. 

Criminal Contempt Charges

The Escalation

Trudeau always contended that the Government could not produce even one person out of the millions who bought the book that said that they wanted their money back or that they felt mislead. There were no victims. This case was over a first amendment protected book.

Trudeau went on his radio show and expressed his outrage of this baseless case, the activist judge, and the rulings against him that many legal scholars said were outrageous. Top lawyers repeatedly stated that they have never in all their years seen such one sided rulings by a Judge who obviously was not even reading Trudeau’s lawyers court filings. 

The judge was blatantly biased against Trudeau. 

Trudeau told his radio listeners that the first amendment also allows citizens to “petition government officials if they have grievances”. Trudeau encouraged his listeners to petition the judge as is their first amendment right, if they had a grievance with the case and if they liked the book! Trudeau gave out the Judges email address that was found on the internet. 

Immediately the Judge was flooded with emails from purchasers of the book expressing their displeasure with the way the Government and the Court has treated Trudeau. They said they loved the book and did not feel misled.

This angered the Judge. He called Trudeau to court immediately and held Trudeau in contempt, sentencing him on the spot to 30 days incarceration. Trudeau instantly appealed under First Amendment issues. The appeals court granted Trudeau’s request for a stay within a few hours. Trudeau would go on to win his appeal. 

This angered the Judge even more.

This is when the Judge took a dramatic step. The Judge, NOT the FTC, said that Trudeau should NOW be charged with criminal contempt of court. This was after years of civil litigation. This itself was unprecedented and totally unheard of. 

This meant that in addition to the civil contempt case, Trudeau was now charged with criminal contempt. This was after almost 10 years from the time the FTC was given the Weight Loss Cure show to review. 

Although never being charged with fraud in relation to any of Trudeau’s businesses or marketing, never having any unhappy customers, and never violating any statue or law, Trudeau now faced the possibility of prison time. 

A single vindictive Judge in Chicago claimed Trudeau willfully and with criminal intent, violated his court order. But his “court order” was a negotiated agreement, a contract, a settlement. Yet the Judge, after 10 years of looking at the case, suddenly determined that Trudeau willfully and with criminal intent violated “his” court order. 

Judge Gettleman said that Trudeau would be able to “prove his innocence” in court. Trudeau pointed out that he was to be presumed innocent and it was the government’s obligation to prove him guilty. Trudeau told the judge his constitutional right was being violated when the Judge said Trudeau must prove his innocence. Trudeau also pointed out that the Judge was obviously biased and prejudiced against him.

The Judge said, that if Trudeau would be found guilty or if Trudeau pleaded guilty, he would impose a prison sentence of NOT MORE than 6 months. The judge asked Trudeau to “simply plead guilty and I will sentence you to NO MORE than 6 months in prison, and I am not saying I will impose 6 months, just not MORE than 6 months.”

Trudeau was defiant claiming complete innocence. “I will not plead guilty to willfully and with criminal intent, violating our agreed upon settlement. I never violated that agreement, and even if I did, I did not do so with criminal intent as I was following the advice of my lawyers when they said everything I was doing was 100% in compliance with all court orders and settlement agreements.”

This angered the Judge. 

Without explanation, Judge Gettlemen transferred the criminal contempt of Court Case to Judge Guzman, known as the “hanging judge”. 

The Trial in November 2013

A trial took place in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. In the trial, Trudeau was forbidden to claim he believed he was simply exercising his First Amendment rights of free speech when he gave his opinions about the Weight Loss Cure and shared his personal experience. 

Trudeau could not claim that he believed he was following the court order by reading directly out of the book and following the same outline that was approved by the court relating to the Natural Cures book. Trudeau could not claim that he was following the advice of his lawyers when they said, after reviewing the book and infomercial, that it was in complete compliance with the order. 

Without the government providing even one customer who said they felt misled or wanted their money back for their purchase of the Weight Loss Cure book, in November 2013, the court convicted Kevin Trudeau of criminal contempt, saying that Trudeau willfully, deliberately, and with criminal intent, went on public TV and violated the court order by not accurately representing the contents of the book that Trudeau himself wrote.

Trudeau's lawyers argued that his client's First Amendment rights protected his book and all the marketing of his book. The defense claimed the government was punishing Trudeau simply because of  the content of his speech. Trudeau’s lawyers pointed out that Trudeau had exposed the corruption in the FTC, the courts, the FDA, the drug companies and the main stream media, and that this was why, without not a single unsatisfied book purchaser,  the government was so adamant about silencing Trudeau.

The criminal contempt of court conviction set the stage for sentencing.

The Prison Sentence

Ten Years Behind Bars

In March 2014, Judge Ronald Guzman handed down the prison sentence. The judge ordered NO fine and No restitution, because there were no victims. Yet he sentenced Kevin Trudeau to10 years in federal prison. This was one of the longest sentences ever given for contempt of court in American history.

The judge explained his reasoning. He said he was sending a message to others who “think like Trudeau”. 

America’s thought police was now in full force, punishing people for their opinions and speech when those opinions potentially can cause financial harm to the major lobbying groups and special interests. It was the weaponization of government against those who exercise their First Amendment Rights of free speech. It was a political witch hunt with not one “victim”. 

Trudeau began his sentence at the Metropolitan Corrections Center in Chicago. After six months, he was transferred to Federal Prison Camp in Montgomery, Alabama.

Life in Federal Custody

During his time in federal custody, Kevin adamantly maintained his innocence. He argued that the government violated his right to free speech. His worldwide supporters maintained websites advocating for his release. The millions that bought the Weight Loss Cure book would post their success with the program and how it was “easy”. They did not want their money back. They loved the book. 

Trudeau served over eight years of his sentence in Federal Prison and many more months on home confinement. He would go on to serve several years of supervised release where he would have to report to his probation officer on a regular basis. His books continued to circulate. Millions of of supporters around the world followed his case.

Trudeau Left Federal Custody

Early Release for Good Conduct

In January 2022, Trudeau was transferred to home confinement. He served approximately eight years of his ten-year sentence. Federal guidelines allowed for early release based on good behavior.

When Trudeau was transferred from federal prison to home confinement, he faced strict conditions. The court restricted him from earning more than a small monthly salary. He was banned from advertising his businesses. Yet the court still demanded he pay $37 million to the FTC.

Supervised Release Conditions

When Trudeau was released from home confinement, he remained under federal supervision. Federal probation authorities monitored his activities. Restrictions limited his business dealings and financial transactions.

For Trudeau, these conditions created an impossible situation. He virtually could not earn money to pay the government. Trudeau did not know if he still owed the government money and if so, how much. In a shocking court hearing, Trudeau asked to speak to the judge directly. The judge was hesitant but agreed. Trudeau asked, on the record, “Your honor, do I still owe money and if so exactly how much do I owe?” You could hear a pin drop in the courtroom. The judge stood up, and walked out the door. NO ANSWER. . 

The FTC and court repeatedly told Trudeau to pay “the money” to the FTC. Trudeau repeatedly asked for an accounting of the receivers work, what they collected from selling Trudeau’s assets and companies, and how much in fees did they take for themselves. Trudeau repeatedly demanded to know exactly how much he owed. 

The FTC and court would not answer these questions for months on end. 

A Turning Point: Judge Recusal

In May 2024, something remarkable happened. Judge Gettleman, stating publicly for the first time that he was biased against Trudeau and could not be impartial, recused himself from the case. He transferred the case to Judge Kennelly, known as the smartest Judge in the courthouse. Judge Kennelly was known as a no nonsense Judge who would actually read every court filing himself. He was legendary as being fair, impartial and totally unbiased. He was the ideal Judge, an independent arbiter of the facts without any prejudice or bias towards any party. 

This recusal represented a landmark shift.

In the very first Court hearing with Judge Kennelly, the FTC made several statements of fact, accusing Trudeau of wrongdoing yet again. Judge Kennelly immediately stopped the FTC lawyer. The judge showed the FTC on his own computer screen the truth and reprimanded the FTC for LYING to the court. This was the first time in several decades that a Judge in Trudeau’s cases would not automatically agree with and believe the FTC’s lies. 

This set the tone. There was a new sherif in town. The FTC knew it. 

The 2024 Settlement

Resolution with the FTC

In 2024, Kevin Trudeau reached a complete and total settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. He agreed to pay $8 million in installments over time. This was far less than the original $37 million judgment. Most shockingly, the FTC said that the money would NOT go to people who bought the Weight Loss Cure book, but rather into their own coffers. This is what Trudeau had be saying all along. The FTC’s repeated party line was they wanted to reimburse the people who bought the Weight Loss Cure book because they were “harmed” by buying the book. But the FTC knew all along that no one was “harmed”, there were no victims. This was all about punishing Trudeau.

The settlement freed Trudeau. He is now permitted to market and sell his products again.

Key Facts About the Outcome

Here are the essential facts about Kevin Trudeau's legal journey:

• Trudeau served over eight years in federal prison and home confinement
• He was released early for good conduct
• Judge Gettleman admitted bias and recused himself
• Trudeau settled with the FTC for $8 million
• He was never charged with fraud or any crime related to his infomercials
• No customers ever filed any lawsuits against Trudeau
• The FTC could not produce even one person who said they were misled by Trudeau
• Trudeau can now legally market his products and services

What Is the FTC's View on Kevin Trudeau?

The FTC viewed Kevin Trudeau as  a scammer and someone who made false claims about his books in his marketing. They pursued him for what they called unsubstantiated and undocumented claims. The agency issued a press release about his case multiple times over the years.

However, it is worth noting that the main legal battles centered on contempt of court., NOT fraud or ANY criminal activity. It was about a BOOK and FREE SPEECH. The criminal case was about violating orders and Trudeau’s SPEECH. It was not about the actual content of his books. Trudeau was never convicted of fraud related to the information in his publications or any marketing of his products.

The settlement in 2024 closed the chapter between the FTC and Trudeau. Both sides agreed to terms that allowed Kevin to move forward.

Conclusion?

What happened to Kevin Trudeau is a story of success, legal battles, and eventual resolution. He rose to become America’s Marketing Guru, The Informercial King and The Master of Modern Day Marketing.  He faced criminal contempt charges and served time in prison. He emerged to settle with the government and regain his freedom.

The resulting legal cases and court proceedings lasted decades, costing Trudeau tens of millions of dollars in legal fees and several billion dollars in lost business.

Kevin Trudeau's story continues to unfold.