In a recent video on his YouTube channel, former WWE star Maven Huffman addressed the ongoing legal situation involving WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr., also known as “The Million Dollar Man,” and his two sons, Ted DiBiase Jr. and Brett DiBiase. The family has been implicated in a massive welfare fraud scandal in the state of Mississippi, which Maven characterized as a significant legal challenge for the wrestling legends.
Background of the Heart of David Ministry
To provide context for the current situation, Maven detailed the history of Ted DiBiase Sr.’s post-wrestling career. In 2001, DiBiase Sr. founded a nonprofit organization called Heart of David Ministry, based in Mississippi. For years, DiBiase Sr. traveled throughout the United States and the world, speaking at churches and public events to share his Christian faith. For more than a decade, the ministry operated with relatively small amounts of funding.
Maven referenced a 2016 article by Ben Houser of ESPN.com to illustrate the ministry’s financial standing at the time: “On this warm summer night, DiBiase had just completed a one-hour sermon, sharing his life story. In the speech, DiBiase was honest and vulnerable, traits contrary to his once popular heel persona. Afterward, DiBiase had an alter call, where he prayed and the congregation of 250 took an offering for him. It was the first of three sermons in three days, and DiBiase collected $3,500 for his ministry, Heart of David”.
The Catalyst: Brett DiBiase and the Department of Human Services
The situation shifted in 2017 when Brett DiBiase, the younger son of Ted DiBiase Sr., was hired by the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) as a deputy administrator. The MDHS is the state agency responsible for controlling Mississippi’s welfare funds. While Brett was not the primary decision-maker regarding the distribution of these funds, he worked closely with the executive director of the department, John Davis.
Maven explained the mechanism through which the funds were allegedly diverted: “Now, how did all this happen? Well, the Mississippi Department of Human Services would give money to nonprofits which would then, in turn, contract with DiBiase Jr.’s companies to provide services such as leadership training and food assistance coordination. DiBiase Jr. even got a contract to create a motivational program to help teach people public speaking”.
Allegations of Misused Funds and Fraud
State records and investigative reports indicated that Heart of David Ministry received roughly $1.7 million to $2.1 million in welfare funds over the course of several years. Prosecutors alleged that these funds, which were intended for needy families, were spent inappropriately. One specific trip documented in state reports included a $3,000 airplane ticket and an $1,800 luxury hotel stay at the Fairmont in Santa Monica, California.
Furthermore, state audits alleged that Ted DiBiase Sr. “never performed” some of the work he was paid to do using these funds. Brett DiBiase was also heavily scrutinized for receiving $824,000 from the Department of Human Services for what were described as “non-significant services.” One such service was teaching drug abuse classes in Mississippi, despite investigators finding no evidence that Brett possessed the appropriate qualifications for the role. Additionally, reports suggested that welfare money was used to pay for Brett’s own drug abuse treatment at a high-end recovery center in Malibu, California.
Regarding the lack of internal oversight, Maven noted the influence of the department’s director: “John Davis, the executive director of the department, had near total authority and the department had almost no internal safeguards. Since Davis approved the payments to Brett, everyone below him assumed it was all okay. That’s why it didn’t raise any red flags… that is, until it did”.
Legal Outcomes and Pending Trials
The welfare scandal became public knowledge in February 2020. Since then, members of the DiBiase family have faced varying legal consequences. Brett DiBiase left his position at the Department of Human Services and later pleaded guilty in both state and federal court. He was ordered to repay $824,258 and faces a maximum of five years in prison, though his cooperation with investigators may result in a lighter sentence.
Ted DiBiase Sr. did not face criminal charges, but he was ordered to repay $722,000 in a civil court case. Heart of David Ministry officially shut down in early 2025. DiBiase Sr. has denied any wrongdoing and filed a defamation lawsuit against the Mississippi State Auditor, alleging that the auditor’s public statements portrayed him as criminally responsible.
Ted DiBiase Jr. chose a different legal path, pleading not guilty to 13 counts included in his indictment. If found guilty, he faces up to 45 years in prison and the requirement to repay millions of dollars. Prosecutors allege that Ted Jr.’s companies, Priceless Ventures LLC and Familiae Orientem, received more than $3 million from the nonprofits between 2017 and 2019.
Reflections on the Million Dollar Man’s Legacy
Maven concluded the video by reflecting on his own personal disappointment regarding the situation. “I remember seeing the Million Dollar Man and working with the Million Dollar Man and holding him in such high reverence, such high regard. I remember watching him as a kid, being such a fan, thinking he was one of the best bad guys, one of the best heels the business has ever offered,” Maven shared.
He expressed his views on the allegations of intent and knowledge: “I refuse to believe he did not know what was going on. Of course he knew. I refuse to believe he did not engage in any wrongdoing. Of course he did. And I refuse – and one of the things I hate more than anything is when people fall on the wrong side of the law or morality, their immediate go-to is Christianity. It makes Christians look bad by trying to provide themselves an out, an excuse. And all it is, is greed and weakness”.
Maven stated that the scandal has irrevocably changed his perception of the wrestling legend: “Do I think the Million Dollar Man’s legacy is damaged? Yes, I actually do. When I think of all the people he damaged, all the people he took from, and then once he was found out, with his lies… I think that will forever make people think differently. It definitely makes me look at him differently”.
