Understand Your Rights. Solve Your Legal Problems
Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan’s new beer brand, Real American Beer, is caught in the middle of a federal lawsuit over intellectual property and trade secrets. Though Hogan himself is not a defendant, the case raises serious questions about ownership, branding rights, and the risks of high-profile celebrity ventures.
Terry Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, has long been one of the most recognizable figures in American pop culture. After decades in the wrestling ring and numerous media appearances, Hogan ventured into the beverage industry in 2023 with the launch of Real American Beer (RAB). The beer — a light lager marketed as affordable, nostalgic, and proudly patriotic — quickly gained traction among fans drawn to Hogan’s red-and-yellow branding and throwback marketing approach.
The beer positioned itself clearly in the domestic market, aiming for wide consumer appeal rather than niche craft beer fans. Hogan actively participated in promotional events, stating that the goal was to create something that “brings America back together, one beer at a time.”
But just one year after its launch, the brand is now entangled in a legal battle over intellectual property rights, executive misconduct, and corporate sabotage — raising many of the same questions seen in high-stakes creative industries, like video game development, where lasting IP protection is key to long-term success.
That controversy now unfolds in the shadow of Hogan’s death. On July 24, 2025, Hogan passed away at the age of 71. At the time of his death, his net worth was estimated at $30 million according to Finance Monthly, built from a storied wrestling career, television appearances, licensing deals, and entrepreneurial ventures like Real American Beer.
Although Hogan is not named in the lawsuit, his image and legacy are central to the brand's identity — and its future. The unfolding litigation raises broader concerns about how celebrity-driven businesses handle IP ownership, executive conduct, and legal safeguards during expansion. For Real American Beer, the battle over branding could define what comes next, now without its most visible face.
While Hogan served as the public face of Real American Beer, the business strategy and product development came from Carma HoldCo Inc., a celebrity licensing and branding firm. Carma is known for building partnerships with major public figures and previously helped develop other celebrity-backed ventures, including Ric Flair’s energy drink line and Mike Tyson’s cannabis brand, Tyson 2.0.
According to Carma, the idea for Real American Beer was developed in-house in early 2023. The company entered into discussions with Hogan and members of the Busch brewing family—who owned rights to the “Real American Lager” trademark—about launching the beer as a joint venture. Carma says it invested significant time and resources into brand development, design, marketing strategies, and product concepts, all of which it considered confidential business assets.
In its recently filed complaint, Carma claims that two of its former top executives—Chad Bronstein, the company’s then-president, and Nicole Cosby, former chief legal and licensing officer—acted in bad faith during the early development of the Real American Beer brand.
According to Carma, Bronstein attempted to structure the venture in a way that would give himself a personal ownership stake, creating a clear conflict of interest. Cosby, the company alleges, knowingly approved the arrangement despite her legal oversight role. Following an internal investigation, both executives were terminated in November 2023.
However, Carma contends that the misconduct didn’t end there. The company alleges that after their dismissal, Bronstein and Cosby—operating under a new entity called Rahm Inc.—continued private discussions with Hulk Hogan and members of the Busch brewing family, ultimately filing federal trademark applications for Real American Beer and related brands. The beer was subsequently launched without Carma’s involvement, using materials the company claims were confidential and proprietary.
The case echoes broader patterns of alleged executive overreach and investor deception in high-profile corporate litigation. In a parallel example from the financial sector, Levi & Korsinsky, LLP recently filed a class action lawsuit against ICON plc, alleging that company leadership misled investors about the state of their client contracts and revenue pipeline while painting a picture of stability and growth.
Like the Hogan beer case, that lawsuit raises key questions about fiduciary responsibility, strategic transparency, and the legal consequences of corporate misrepresentation—regardless of industry.
Filed in federal court in Illinois, the lawsuit alleges multiple claims against Bronstein, Cosby, and Rahm Inc., including:
Breach of contract
Misappropriation of trade secrets
Tortious interference with contractual and prospective business relationships
Violation of the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA)
Violation of the Illinois Trade Secrets Act
Carma asserts that Rahm used proprietary branding materials, marketing strategies, and confidential business plans originally developed under Carma’s direction. The company is seeking at least $10 million in damages, restitution from the former executives, and an injunction prohibiting Rahm from using any disputed intellectual property.
While Hulk Hogan is not named as a defendant, his role is central to the lawsuit. Carma had entered into an ambassador agreement with Hogan during the early stages of development, but the company now believes he was persuaded by Bronstein and Cosby to abandon that arrangement and move forward with Rahm instead.
To date, Hogan has not made public comments about the dispute, and his legal representatives have not issued any statements. At present, he remains the face of Real American Beer, which has continued to expand distribution and recently entered into promotional partnerships with WWE.
In a separate legal matter, Hogan and the RAB brand are facing a personal injury lawsuit stemming from an incident during a promotional event in Ohio. In 2024, a woman attending an event at Thirsty Cowboys in Akron alleges she was struck in the head by a thrown beer can, resulting in a laceration that required ten stitches and may have caused permanent scarring. That case is proceeding independently and has no direct connection to the intellectual property suit.
From a legal perspective, Carma’s claims fall squarely under business tort and intellectual property law. If the court finds that the executives misappropriated trade secrets or breached fiduciary duties, the financial and reputational consequences for Rahm Inc. could be significant.
The suit also highlights the increasingly common risk of executive misconduct in high-stakes celebrity branding deals. When a venture is built on intellectual property, marketing materials, and confidential plans, the loss of internal alignment can result in costly legal entanglements — especially when the celebrity at the center chooses to switch allegiances.
The litigation is in its early stages. Depending on the evidence presented, the parties may choose to settle privately, or the case could proceed to trial. If Carma prevails, the outcome could include monetary damages, an order transferring ownership of trademarks, or restrictions on further use of the disputed branding.
For consumers, the short-term availability of Real American Beer is unlikely to change. However, depending on the outcome, the beer may eventually be rebranded or withdrawn from market circulation.
Real American Beer is currently operated by Rahm Inc., but ownership is being contested in court.
Carma HoldCo alleges its former executives stole confidential business plans and branding to launch the beer independently.
Hulk Hogan is not a defendant, but his decision to partner with Rahm rather than Carma is a central issue.
A separate personal injury lawsuit against Hogan and RAB is also ongoing.
The case raises broader concerns about IP rights, executive ethics, and the legal risks in celebrity product launches.
Is Hulk Hogan being sued over Real American Beer?
No, he is not a defendant in the IP lawsuit. However, he is named in a separate personal injury case related to a promotional event.
Who owns the Real American Beer trademark?
The trademark is currently registered by Rahm Inc., but Carma is contesting the ownership in federal court.
What are the claims in the lawsuit?
The lawsuit includes allegations of breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference, and violations of state and federal IP laws.
Will the beer be pulled from shelves?
Possibly, depending on the outcome. If Carma wins or a settlement is reached, the brand may be rebranded or shut down.
Curious how the Real American Beer battle compares to other major IP clashes? Check out our breakdown of the Top 5 Trademark Disputes of All Time—from Apple vs. Apple Corps to the Burger King territory wars.
