The sudden and shocking demise of 25-year-old social media influencer Ben Bader has unveiled heart-wrenching new details. Bader was found "unresponsive" at Admiral's Cove, a private members club in Jupiter, Florida, at around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, according to Shawn Reed, a spokesperson for the Jupiter Police Department.
"He was discovered by fellow residents and appeared not to be breathing," Reed told the Daily Mail. Emergency crews rushed to perform lifesaving efforts on the young TikTok star before transporting him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The cause of his death remains unknown.
Reed stated that Bader's death is still under an "active investigation," and law enforcement has not ruled out the possibility of foul play.
Bader, a Miami-based social media star known for offering lifestyle and financial advice to over 200,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok, and X, had his death announced by his girlfriend, Reem, in a somber TikTok post over the weekend. Reem confirmed that Bader's cause of death was "unknown," but described it as "extremely sudden." She added that his parents are expected to learn more in the coming days.
"No one really knows and it seemed to have been extremely sudden," Reem said. "There were really no signs of this happening — we were supposed to get dinner that night and he seemed so normal." Reem shared that she had video chatted with Bader hours before his death. "I had just talked to him on FaceTime a couple hours before he passed and he was so happy and so normal and he was just smiling and being so funny," she said.
Bader's final video, in which he was giving his followers financial advice, was uploaded to TikTok on the same day that Reem announced his death. The influencer's grieving girlfriend shared that Bader had just celebrated his 25th birthday on Sept. 22.
Bader's family told TMZ in a statement Wednesday that he will be remembered as a "visionary who led with love, lived with intention, and turned his passions into helping others." "He made a profound impact on everyone who knew him through his wisdom, humor, and compassion," his family said. "Ben lived each day to the fullest, inspiring those around him to seek meaning, connection, and purpose in their own lives."
The influencer's devastated family added that he "will continue to shine through those he touched" and thanked fans for their support after his death. His family also noted that Bader was born prematurely at 28 weeks.
Friends and followers of the late financial influencer posted emotional tributes honoring Bader following his death. "You were such a talented writer. The world's lucky to have your mind & soul immortalized across platforms. I'll never forget our heart-to-heart," fellow creator Trina Nuance wrote in an Instagram post. Fellow influencer and friend Jimmy Farley wrote on Instagram that he "will forever thank God that I was lucky enough" to call Bader his friend. "I would do anything just to have you kick my ass in 1 on 1 or rap Nobody's Perfect in the car one more time," Farley wrote. "I miss you already dude."
