If you’ve spent more than five minutes on TikTok since 2019, you know the face. Josh Richards. He’s the guy who basically helped define the "soft boy" aesthetic before pivoting into a full-blown venture capitalist and media mogul. But for someone who has lived his most formative years under the glaring sun of Los Angeles, people are often surprised by his actual roots.
So, where is Josh Richards from exactly?
He isn't from California. He isn't from some glitzy suburb in New Jersey or a beach town in Florida either. Josh Richards is actually a proud Canadian. Specifically, he hails from a town called Cobourg, located in Ontario, Canada.
It’s a small, scenic spot about an hour’s drive east of Toronto. Think quiet streets, a nice beach on Lake Ontario, and a vibe that is about as far from the Sunset Strip as you can possibly get. It's the kind of place where people know their neighbors, and "influencer" wasn't exactly a career path discussed at the local high school.
From Cobourg to the Hollywood Hills
Born on January 31, 2002, Josh grew up with his parents and two younger siblings in a fairly standard suburban setting. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School in Cobourg. Back then, he wasn't worrying about venture capital rounds or podcast metrics; he was just a kid playing hockey—a true Canadian stereotype, honestly—and trying to figure out how to make people laugh.
His transition from a small-town kid to a global star happened fast. Like, "blink and you missed it" fast.
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He started posting on TikTok (then still figuring itself out) in early 2019. By the time he was 17, he made the massive call to drop out of high school and move to Los Angeles. That’s a heavy move for a teenager. Imagine leaving your hometown in Ontario where the biggest news might be a new Tim Hortons opening, only to land in a mansion with five other guys whose every move is tracked by millions of people.
That’s exactly what happened when he co-founded the Sway House.
The Canadian Identity in an American Market
It’s interesting because Josh doesn’t really have that thick, "Ooot and aboot" Canadian accent most Americans expect. He’s got more of that neutralized, Gen-Z internet dialect. But he has never shied away from his roots. In fact, being Canadian is a huge part of his "origin story" in the business world.
While a lot of his peers were just focused on the next viral dance, Josh seemed to have a weirdly mature business head on his shoulders. He often credits his upbringing and a sort of "outsider" mentality for his drive.
- Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario (raised in Cobourg).
- Nationality: Canadian.
- High School: St. Mary's Catholic Secondary School (didn't finish).
Where is Josh Richards from? Not just a location, but a mindset
People ask about his hometown because they want to know how a kid from the Ontario suburbs ended up partnering with Mark Wahlberg. It’s a valid question.
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Josh didn't just stumble into success; he treated social media like a job from day one. He founded TalentX Entertainment because he saw how creators were being ripped off. He launched Ani Energy because he wanted a product he actually used. He’s currently the Chief Strategy Officer of Triller—though that's been a bit of a rollercoaster—and he runs Animal Capital, a $15 million venture fund.
That "hustle" is something he often traces back to his early days in Canada. He had his first "company" at 13 selling hockey merch. It’s that classic small-town ambition. When you're from a place like Cobourg, you either settle into the local rhythm or you look at the horizon and decide to jump.
Addressing the "L.A. Local" Misconception
Because he’s been in L.A. since he was a minor, there’s a whole generation of fans who genuinely think he’s a SoCal native. He’s so deeply embedded in the Barstool Sports ecosystem through the BFFs podcast with Dave Portnoy that he feels like a fixture of American media.
But if you look at his business moves, he still keeps ties to the North. He’s one of the most successful Canadian exports in the digital age, right up there with the likes of The Weeknd or Bieber in terms of sheer platform reach, even if the "medium" is different.
The reality is that Josh Richards is a product of the Toronto suburbs who happened to master the American attention economy. He still goes back to Ontario to see his family, and he hasn't traded in his Canadian passport for a permanent tan just yet.
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What you should take away from the Josh Richards story
If you're looking at Josh as a blueprint, the location is the least important part. It's the pivot that matters. He didn't let the fact that he was from a small Canadian town stop him from competing in the biggest pond in the world.
Actionable Insights for Creators and Entrepreneurs:
- Don't wait for permission. Josh moved to L.A. before he was even legally an adult because he knew where the opportunity was.
- Diversify immediately. He knew the "dancing teen" shelf life was short. He started companies while he was still trending.
- Use your "otherness." Being the Canadian kid in a sea of L.A. influencers gave him a slightly different perspective on how to manage fame.
Whether he’s in a boardroom or on a red carpet, the answer to where is Josh Richards from will always be Cobourg, Ontario. It’s the place that gave him the foundation to build an empire that now stretches far beyond the Canadian border.
If you want to track his trajectory, look at his recent investments in companies like Sillybandz or his production deals with CrossCheck Studios. He isn't just a "TikToker" anymore; he's a business entity that happens to have a very famous face.
Keep an eye on his venture capital moves. If you're interested in how Gen Z is shifting the economy, his portfolio at Animal Capital is a better indicator of the future than his latest dance video.