Social media heavyweight Jackson O’Doherty put his ‘Playboy Mansion 2.0’ up for sale in 2022, fetching $3.1m for his dream party home. Picture: Supplied
Millionaire prankster Jackson O'Doherty opens up about “character-building” events sparked by a break-up with OnlyFans co-star Maddy Belle that led to the sale of ‘Playboy Mansion 2.0’.
The social media star with millions of fans across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter, knew he was serious about the need to completely overhaul his life when he listed his dream home for sale at the height of his influencer party lifestyle.
In a delayed quarter-life crisis, Mr O'Doherty started asking questions of himself after his relationship with then girlfriend Maddy Belle broke down early last year, combined with chronic back pain requiring treatment and medication in the midst of a hectic party lifestyle.
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Jackson O'Doherty pictured at Octagon House last year with his Blue English Staffy 'Jax'. Picture: Nigel Hallett.
“It was a pretty character building year for me last year,” Mr O”Doherty said. “A lot of people don’t understand and just make assumptions about public relationships, that it’s not as legit as a normal one … but that’s definitely not the case. We loved each other and we had a lot of fun, but the relationship ended. We stayed friends but even if it’s good or bad terms, there’s a period of pain in order to get over the break-up and get used to life without each other.”
It took him months to bounce back, he said, though he and Ms Belle handled it “very maturely”. The couple had survived the pandemic very successfully after making around $4m in one year alone via their adult entertainment subscriptions on Only Fans.
The house-warming party for Octagon House was worth $100,000 with an array of the best party props on the Gold Coast including jetpacks in a specially set up pool.
OnlyFans millionaire Jackson O’Doherty’s parties went all out including the house-warming over Halloween 2021.
“Then I just got motivated to sell the house,” Mr O'Doherty said. “I was just going through a bit mentally at the time. I was a bit sick of all the partying, having hundreds of people around, having to question who was real and who wasn’t. Most people have always been pretty good to me and I haven’t had any issues or dramas with really anybody.”
He said the idea of maintaining a large home when he planned to be overseas a fair bit was also off-putting.
“I was just spending so much time overseas. It was expensive to keep the maintenance going. What’s the point of spending $30,000 to $40,000 a year on maintenance just for a house that I’m not going to be in all the time.”
Jackson O'Doherty with friend Harry Mcsoriley at his old home. Picture: Nigel Hallett.
Privacy issues were also being raised, given people were coming off the street “knocking on my door”.
“A lot of people knew where I lived and no one ever caused harm but that was getting annoying,” he said.
“It’s probably the only place on planet earth I want to be left alone. Anywhere else, in the gym or restaurant, cafe, grocery store, the beach, people can come up to me absolutely. I don’t mind. I’ve always been very friendly. I’ve never been rude anyone.”
“I just wanted a bit more privacy. I’m back in my old place, which is in a gated community, it’s a lot more private now.”
Twin giant dementors at one of four gallery spaces leading from Jackson O'Doherty's cavernous living room in Octagon House. Picture: Nigel Hallett
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The dream home – Octagon House – was sold by Place Kangaroo Point for $3.1m mid last year to the founders of Queensland adult shop Naughty But Nice Megan and Steven Parrella, complete with wraparound pool, tennis court and a central octagonal party room so huge Mr O’Doherty’s two giant dementors were dwarfed inside it.
The dementors are now gathering dust in storage – waiting for the day the social media heavyweight feels ready to commit to another giant home.
He’s happy Octagon House fetched a tidy $200,000 profit at least, just months before surgery curing his “vicious cycle” of pain and parties.
“It was just a nightmare. It wasn’t a very good quality of life, that’s for sure, but surgery was a good move,” he said. “It was a long recovery. It took me a few months before I was up and about again. But I’ve been training.”
“I’m in great physical shape and I feel great mentally. Everything’s starting to really come together again. I’ve been very patient and stuck to healthy habits for a while. I’ve backed off the partying.”
Jackson O'Doherty has backed off the partying focusing on hitting peak fitness.
Mr O'Doherty said while he planned to go overseas a few times this year, “Gold Coast is home for now”.
His tips for anyone struggling to cope is “don’t ignore it. Seek help”.
“If you’ve not got close family members to talk, talk to a friend or see a doctor, try to speak with a therapist. That doesn’t mean you’re crazy. It doesn’t mean you’re weird. It doesn’t mean you’re different. I’ve done a lot of therapy. I’ve been on antidepressants before. I’ve been through a lot of my own stuff that people wouldn’t know about behind closed doors. It happens to the best of us.”
His current focus is hitting peak fitness through exercise and a good food regimen.
“If you buy a Ferrari, you’re not going to go and put like really cheap crappy petrol in it. I’m not saying that people need expensive things, but if you’re filling your body with McDonald’s every day and not going to the gym or getting much sleep and eating ****load of sugar, you can’t expect to feel good. It’s just impossible.”
“Traumas happen in life. People go through things. That’s why I encourage anyone to seek help, speak to someone, get it off your chest, it’s better than keeping it in.”
