Jake Paul's Real Name: Jacob Joseph Paul

Quick answer: Jake Paul's real name is Jacob Joseph Paul. He was born on January 17, 1997, in Cleveland, Ohio. He became famous for prank videos on Vine and YouTube and starred briefly on the Disney Channel. He turned pro as a boxer in 2020 and fights under the nickname "The Problem Child." His wins include a 2024 decision over Mike Tyson (Britannica; Library of Congress).

Real name and early life

Britannica's quick facts list "In full: Jacob Joseph Paul," born January 17, 1997, in Cleveland, with the bynames "The Problem Child" and "El Gallo de Dorado." The Library of Congress files him as "Paul, Jake." Its 2016 citation calls him a writer and actor known for Bizaardvark.

Britannica says he is the son of Greg Paul, a real estate agent, and Pam Stepnick, a nurse, and the younger brother of Logan Paul. His parents divorced when he was seven. In a 2023 episode of Netflix's Untold, he described them as "really strict" and alleged that his father physically abused him as a child. In high school he played football, basketball, and wrestling, and for a time he hoped to become a Navy SEAL.

Career highlights

In 2013 he and Logan began posting six-second comedy and prank clips on Vine. By the time Vine shut down in 2017, he had more than 5 million followers there. He started daily YouTube vlogs in 2014, dropped out of high school at 17, and moved to Los Angeles. In 2016 he created Team 10, an influencer management collective. His 2017 song "It's Everyday Bro" was widely panned but reached number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100.

From 2016 to 2018 he played Dirk Mann on Disney Channel's Bizaardvark. Britannica says the network fired him midway through season two after stunts that included jumping on a news van.

He won an amateur boxing match against YouTuber Deji in 2018 and made his pro debut in January 2020 with a first-round TKO of Ali Eson Gib. Later that year he knocked out former NBA player Nate Robinson. In 2021 he moved to Puerto Rico and cofounded Most Valuable Promotions, which signed champion Amanda Serrano. His first pro loss was a split decision to Tommy Fury in 2023. He beat Mike Tyson by unanimous decision in November 2024 and Julio César Chávez Jr. in June 2025. About six months after the Chávez fight, Anthony Joshua knocked him out in the sixth round, breaking his jaw.

He also cofounded the venture firm Anti Fund in 2021 and the betting company Betr. He got engaged to Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam in 2025.

Name notes for searchers

Jake is short for Jacob, and Joseph is his middle name. "The Problem Child" and "El Gallo de Dorado" are fight nicknames, not legal names.