Josh Taekman built a career by turning creative hustle into business success. He started in hip-hop’s marketing scene during the 1990s and later used those same skills to build EBOOST — a clean energy brand that reached thousands of stores across the U.S. His story shows how experience in one world can open doors in another when you understand people, culture, and timing.
Today, Taekman isn’t just known for being Kristen Taekman’s husband from The Real Housewives of New York City — he’s a hands-on entrepreneur who helped shape modern wellness marketing. From music to consumer products, his career reflects a rare mix of creativity, strategy, and persistence that keeps evolving with every new venture.
Josh Taekman – Quick Biography Summary
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Josh Taekman |
| Birth Year | 1969 (Northern California, USA) |
| Age (2025) | Mid-50s |
| Education | University of Arizona |
| Career Start | Mailroom intern → VP of Marketing at Bad Boy Entertainment (1990s) |
| Other Ventures | Founder of Buzztone Agency; CEO & co-founder of EBOOST; investor in AMPD BRANDS & PLTFRM Co. |
| Net Worth | Approx. $20 million (estimated) |
| Spouse | Kristen Taekman (married October 23, 2004) |
| Children | Son: Cassius (2008), Daughter: Kingsley (2012) |
| Philanthropy | Board member, Playing For Change Foundation (music education initiatives) |
| Notable Events | Ashley Madison 2015 data breach; handled publicly and remained married |
| Public Persona | Low-key social media presence, focuses on business, family, and philanthropy |
Josh Taekman Early Life and Education
Josh Taekman grew up in Northern California, in a small suburb outside San Francisco. Online profiles list his birth year as 1969, placing him in his mid-50s as of 2025. Public records on his exact birth date remain sparse.
In a 2020 interview with Scott D. Clary, Taekman said: “I grew up in Northern California, in a small little suburb outside of San Francisco.” He attended the University of Arizona, where he developed an interest in marketing and business. The college years gave him exposure to brand building that would shape his later ventures.
The gap between his California childhood and his first music industry job remains largely uncharted. This pattern is common for entrepreneurs who gained attention only after building successful companies.
Josh Taekman Breaking Into Music Marketing
Taekman entered the music business through the mailroom during the 1990s. According to his HuffPost profile,He joined Bad Boy Entertainment, the label co-founded by Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. His role grew from intern-level tasks to Vice President of Marketing.
Taekman explained in his podcast interview: “I started in the mailroom… as a glorified intern… and then worked my way up.” His VP title focused on business development, brand partnerships, and cross-promotional deals. This approach treated music as a platform for broader commercial opportunities.
The Bad Boy years gave him a network and a playbook for launching products through cultural influence. Watching how hip-hop artists built personal brands taught him lessons he would apply to wellness products a decade later.
That entertainment foundation became the base for everything that followed—a rare advantage most supplement founders never have. His story shows how learning from culture, not just business, can teach practical marketing instincts that textbooks rarely cover.
Founding Buzztone Agency
After leaving Bad Boy, Taekman launched Buzztone Agency, a marketing and branding firm. The agency grew to over 30 employees and landed clients including Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Sony Pictures, and Nike. Buzztone operated during the early 2000s when brands were just starting to use music and street culture for mainstream campaigns.
The agency work showed Taekman how to scale services and manage multiple accounts while keeping creative edge. He built systems for pitching, executing campaigns, and retaining Fortune 500 clients. These operational skills would matter when he shifted from selling services to building physical products.
Running an agency also revealed the limits of that business model. Client work meant constant pitching and project-by-project revenue with no long-term equity building. This realization pushed him toward founding a product company where he could own the brand. That turning point highlights how many creative entrepreneurs evolve — moving from selling ideas for others to building something they truly control.
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Josh Taekman Creating EBOOST
In 2007, Taekman and business partner John McDonald co-founded EBOOST after struggling to find clean energy supplements. According to the EBOOST official website “In 2007 Josh Taekman and John McDonald set out to find a cleaner way to fuel their busy days…” They positioned the brand as “Clean Fuel for a Better You,” targeting health-conscious consumers before wellness went mainstream.
That timing mattered — Taekman spotted the wellness shift years before big beverage companies caught on, showing how early awareness can create staying power.
EBOOST launched as a powdered supplement mix, then expanded into ready-to-drink beverages and energy shots. The product line emphasized natural ingredients, non-GMO sourcing, and vitamin blends. The Playing For Change Foundation board page notes that Taekman focuses on EBOOST as his primary business identity.
By 2020, EBOOST had reached over 4,000 locations across the U.S. On his personal website, he wrote: “The hardest part of any product is not getting on the shelf it’s getting OFF the shelf… we are now live at 300 Walmart’s.” This retail footprint demonstrates the brand’s move from niche wellness shops to mass-market distribution—a shift that separates hobby brands from real businesses.
Current Business Ventures
Taekman serves as CEO of EBOOST while investing in other consumer packaged goods brands. His LinkedIn profile lists involvement with AMPD BRANDS (sold at Costco) and PLTFRM Co. These ventures keep him at the intersection of wellness, retail strategy, and brand development.
His Instagram bio (@jmtaekman, approximately 8,800 followers) identifies him as “PLTFRM / AMPD / PLAYING FOR CHANGE ORG / FOUNDER EBOOST / INVESTOR CPG.” The multiple brand mentions indicate he’s diversifying rather than staying with a single company. This approach mirrors how many founders move from operators to investors once their first venture stabilizes.
The shift from hands-on CEO work to portfolio management suggests he’s applying lessons from EBOOST to help other brands. His entertainment background continues to shape how he builds and markets new brands. Each venture builds on the same creative and strategic skills he learned early in his career, rather than starting from scratch every time.
Josh Taekman Net Worth and Financial Standing
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Josh Taekman’s net worth at approximately $20 million. This figure reflects his EBOOST ownership stake, agency profits from Buzztone, and returns from CPG investments. No public financial audit confirms the exact total.
The $20 million ballpark makes sense given EBOOST’s national distribution and multiple brand stakes. If EBOOST maintains 4,000+ retail locations, the company likely generates several million in annual revenue. His music industry and agency years also contributed base capital before EBOOST launched.
Private entrepreneurs rarely disclose full financial details, and valuations shift with market conditions. The number indicates success but doesn’t capture the full picture of assets or debts. Readers should treat any net worth figure as an informed estimate rather than verified fact.
Josh Taekman Marriage to Kristen Taekman
Josh Taekman married model and reality television personality Kristen Taekman (née Carroll) on October 23, 2004. A 2024 People magazine reported the couple has been together for over 20 years. They are raising two children in Los Angeles.
The couple has son Cassius, born June 18, 2008, and daughter Kingsley, born January 24, 2012. Kristen reflected: “I am very proud of our relationship and I think we’ve come a long way… we are stronger than ever.” She also addressed past tension around filming reality TV with young children at home.
Josh appears alongside Kristen at red-carpet events and philanthropic functions. Their public presence balances business networking with family appearances. They maintain a lower profile than many reality TV families despite Kristen’s visibility on Bravo.
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The Ashley Madison Incident
In 2015, the infidelity-focused website Ashley Madison suffered a major data breach. Josh Taekman’s name appeared in the leaked database, creating public scrutiny. He responded with a public statement apologizing to his wife and family.
Kristen stated publicly that Josh never cheated on her and that the incident did not end their marriage. The couple worked through the situation and remain together as confirmed in their 2024 interview. The event became a case study in crisis management for public figures dealing with leaked private information.
Reddit discussions on r/RealHousewives include user opinions about the incident. These represent viewer reactions rather than verified facts about the couple’s private life. The public handling of the breach showed how private entrepreneurs manage reputation damage differently than corporate executives.
Josh Taekman Philanthropic Work
Taekman serves on the board of the Playing For Change Foundation, a nonprofit that builds music schools worldwide. The organization supports music education initiatives in underserved communities. His music industry background aligns with the foundation’s mission to use music for social change.
He attends foundation galas and fundraising events with his wife. Their appearance at one Playing For Change event, noting their support for music education. The philanthropic work connects his entertainment roots with current social impact efforts.
The foundation role gives Taekman a public platform beyond business ventures. Supporting music education circles back to where his career started at Bad Boy Entertainment. This type of board service is common among entrepreneurs applying business skills to nonprofit challenges while maintaining industry connections.
Public Persona and Media Presence
Taekman maintains a relatively low media profile compared to his reality TV star wife. His Instagram account focuses on business ventures, family photos, and philanthropic activities. The account’s moderate following suggests he’s using social media for professional networking rather than pursuing influencer status.
He has appeared on business podcasts to discuss his career trajectory from music marketing to CPG entrepreneurship. These appearances position him as a source of entrepreneurial advice rather than celebrity content. The format allows him to share lessons about building distribution and pivoting between industries.
His public identity splits between “EBOOST founder” and “Kristen Taekman’s husband.” The dual identity is common for spouses of reality TV personalities who maintain separate careers. Unlike some reality show partners, Taekman avoids appearing regularly on camera—a deliberate boundary that protects his professional credibility.
Josh Taekman Career Evolution and Impact
Josh Taekman’s career shows how skills can travel across very different industries. What he learned in music marketing—like building buzz and understanding culture—helped him later in business. Running an agency taught him how to pitch ideas, manage teams, and work with big brands. Those early lessons showed him that success often depends more on creativity and timing than on big budgets.
When he moved into wellness with EBOOST, he used the same mix of strategy and storytelling. Instead of just selling products, he focused on real relationships, credibility, and smart visibility. His journey proves that adapting what you already know can open new doors—and that steady growth often beats chasing the next big trend.
FAQ’s about Josh Taekman
What is Josh Taekman’s net worth?
His estimated net worth is approximately $20 million based on EBOOST ownership, agency work, and CPG investments.
How did Josh Taekman start his career?
He started in the mailroom at Bad Boy Entertainment in the 1990s, working up to Vice President of Marketing.
Is Josh Taekman still married to Kristen Taekman?
Yes, they married on October 23, 2004, and remain together with two children in Los Angeles.
What is EBOOST?
EBOOST is a natural energy supplement brand co-founded in 2007, now distributed in over 4,000 U.S. locations.
What happened with Josh Taekman and Ashley Madison?
His name appeared in the 2015 data breach; he apologized publicly and the couple worked through it together.
What companies does Josh Taekman own?
He serves as CEO of EBOOST and holds stakes in AMPD BRANDS and PLTFRM Co.
Does Josh Taekman have children?
Yes, he has two children with Kristen: son Cassius (born 2008) and daughter Kingsley (born 2012).
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