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| caption = Chahal in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|7|17}}
| birth_place = [[Tarn Taran Sahib]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]],
| nationality = American
| occupation = Entrepreneur
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'''Gurbaksh Singh Chahal''' (born July 17, 1982) is an [[Indian Americans|Indian-American]] entrepreneur who has founded, managed, and frequently sold several internet advertising companies.
Chahal founded his first advertising network at the age of 16 and two years later became a millionaire after selling it to [[ValueClick]] for nearly $40 million.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Manraj Grewal|date=2018-04-06|title=With an eye on artificial intelligence, NRI looks to replicate Silicon Valley in Punjab|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/with-an-eye-on-artificial-intelligence-nri-looks-to-replicate-silicon-valley-in-punjab/story-E0hsrv78IerQUgjY39VAmK.html|access-date=2021-07-14|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714114430/https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/with-an-eye-on-artificial-intelligence-nri-looks-to-replicate-silicon-valley-in-punjab/story-E0hsrv78IerQUgjY39VAmK.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, he co-founded [[BlueLithium]], which went on to become the fifth-largest internet advertising network in the United States before being sold to Yahoo in a $300 million deal.<ref name="Times online">{{Cite web |last=Blakely |first=Rhys |date=September 5, 2007 |title=Yahoo snaps up BlueLithium in $300m deal |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article2391674.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706001036/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article2391674.ece |archive-date=July 6, 2008 |access-date=March 1, 2015 |website=
In 2010, ''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]'' named him to its list of the 15 best young entrepreneurs of the year.<ref name=":17" /> In April 2011, ''[[Men's Health]]'' called him one of "The World’s Richest and Fittest Guys", reporting his net worth to be $150 million.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sine|first=Richard|date=2011-04-11|title=The World's Richest and Fittest Guys|url=https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a19540258/worlds-fittest-richest-guys/|access-date=2021-08-05|website=[[Men's Health]]|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422143408/https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a19540258/worlds-fittest-richest-guys/|url-status=live}}</ref> The next year, Chahal was listed among the 25 richest entrepreneurs under the age of 30 by ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' magazine, and in 2013 he was one of [[Ernst and Young]]'s [[Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award|entrepreneurs of the year]].<ref name=":18" />
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== Early life ==
Chahal was born on July 17, 1982, in [[Tarn Taran Sahib]], a city near [[Amritsar]] in India's [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] state, in a [[Sikhs|Sikh family]]. He was the youngest of four children.<ref name="Indiatoday" /><ref name=":7" /> His father, Avtar Singh, was a police officer and mother, Arjinder Chahal, was a nurse in [[Tarn Taran Sahib]]. In 1985, during the aftermath of the [[Khalistan movement|Khalistani insurgency]], Chahal's parents emigrated to the United States, his father having won a [[green card]] lottery.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Chahal|first=Gurbaksh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jiH8UqXUKvgC|title=The Dream: How I Learned the Risks and Rewards of Entrepreneurship and Made Millions|date=October 23, 2008|publisher=St. Martin's Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-230-62108-4|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=September 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924121454/https://books.google.com/books?id=jiH8UqXUKvgC|url-status=live}}</ref> Chahal was raised by his grandmother for a short time. He emigrated the following year, at age four. The family lived in a one-bedroom apartment in [[San Jose, California]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Carson|first1=Mel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|title=Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media|last2=Springer|first2=Paul|date=October 3, 2012|publisher=Kogan Page Publishers|isbn=978-0-7494-6605-3|pages=40|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173255/https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bever |first=Lindsey |date=August 12, 2016 |title=The rise and fall of a Silicon Valley mogul accused of domestic violence |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/08/12/the-rise-and-fall-of-a-silicon-valley-mogul-accused-of-domestic-violence/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812193424/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/08/12/the-rise-and-fall-of-a-silicon-valley-mogul-accused-of-domestic-violence/ |archive-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-03-29 |title='Being Different Is Cool' |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gurbaksh-chahal-radiumone_n_1376013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129002244/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gurbaksh-chahal-radiumone_n_1376013 |archive-date=November 29, 2023 |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> His father took a job with the Postal Service and his mother worked as an nurse's assistant.<ref name=":3" /> He has two elder sisters — Nirmal and Kamal, and an elder brother Taj Chahal; the latter two had worked with Chahal in his ventures.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Zinko|first=Carolyne|date=October 26, 2008|title=Advice from young millionaire Gurbaksh Chahal|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|url=https://www.sfgate.com/style/article/Advice-from-young-millionaire-Gurbaksh-Chahal-3264414.php|access-date=January 6, 2010|archive-date=September 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915034957/http://www.sfgate.com/style/article/Advice-from-young-millionaire-Gurbaksh-Chahal-3264414.php|url-status=live}}</ref> His family were devout followers of [[Sikhism]] and Chahal and his brother used to wear a [[turban]], a type of headwear based on cloth winding.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=People {{!}} Gurbaksh Chahal - Entrepreneur Extraordinaire|url=https://darpanmagazine.com/people/businessleaders/gurbaksh-chahal-entrepreneur-extraordinaire/|access-date=February 9, 2020|website=darpanmagazine.com|language=en|archive-date=January 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129195240/https://www.darpanmagazine.com/people/businessleaders/gurbaksh-chahal-entrepreneur-extraordinaire/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> He has said that he was the subject of intense racial bullying from the age of 5 in the local elementary school. At the age of 10, he was forced to remove his [[Dastar|turban]], at knife-point.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Rachael |date=April 20, 2010 |title=GWallet's Chahal Balances Flashy Lifestyle, Family Commitment |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-04-20/gwallets-chahal-balances-flashy-lifestyle-family-commitmentbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131153511/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-04-20/gwallets-chahal-balances-flashy-lifestyle-family-commitmentbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |access-date=February 3, 2020 |website=[[Bloomberg News]]}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Gurbaksh Chahal: Dreaming in Gold|url=http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/2502|access-date=February 10, 2020|website=Varsity Online|language=en|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173301/https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/2502|url-status=live}}</ref>
Chahal was an average student during schooling, earning B and C grades in his studies. To support his family, he bought second hand printers from the local market for $50 and resold printers on [[eBay]] for $200 at the age of 15.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chun|first=Janean|date=2012-03-29|title='Being Different Is Cool'|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gurbaksh-chahal-radiumone_n_1376013|access-date=2021-07-26|website=HuffPost|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727115922/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gurbaksh-chahal-radiumone_n_1376013|url-status=live}}</ref> Chahal bought the [[Dell|Dell.net]] and [[Hewlett-Packard|HP.net]] domain names in 1997 and sent a letter to the companies offering to sell the names back to them for ten thousand dollars. He started receiving [[Cease and desist|cease-and-desist]] letters and had to give the domains back. All of his family members had to work double shifts after his father incurred losses in stock market trading.<ref name=":4" />
== Education ==
Although his parents hoped he would become a doctor, 16-year-old Chahal dropped out of [[Independence High School (San Jose, California)|Independence High School]] in 1998 to pursue a career in internet advertising. While still in high school, he had taken college-level computer courses on the campus of what is now [[Evergreen Valley College]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-09-06|title=First, $99. Then, Millions.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/jobs/07boss.html|access-date=2021-08-30|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830123920/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/jobs/07boss.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After leaving high school, Chahal launched a digital advertising company called ClickAgents, which as recently as 2008 he asserted was the riskiest decision he has ever made.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2008 |title=Cassidy: Meet G, Silicon Valley's celebrity entrepreneur |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/11/04/cassidy-meet-g-silicon-valleys-celebrity-entrepreneur/
== Career ==
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In 2004, Chahal founded BlueLithium, a company that specialized in [[Targeted advertising|behavioral targeting]], a technique whereby web users' online habits are tracked in order to show customized ads.<ref name="Times online" /><ref name=":2" /> The ad-tech industry praised it with ''[[Business 2.0]]'' listing it among the 11 most disruptive innovations of 2006,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Business 2.0...Big Innovations: BlueLithium |date= September 20, 2006|url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/09/15/technology/disruptors_bluelithium.biz2/index.htm|access-date=January 31, 2020|website=money.cnn.com|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805035838/https://money.cnn.com/2006/09/15/technology/disruptors_bluelithium.biz2/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and by the same year, it had expanded operations to other countries, having purchased AdRevolver.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Carson|first1=Mel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|title=Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media|last2=Springer|first2=Paul|date=October 3, 2012|publisher=Kogan Page Publishers|isbn=978-0-7494-6605-3|pages=42|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173302/https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=November 22, 2004|title=BlueLithium to buy AdRevolver|work=[[American City Business Journals#Newspapers|Silicon Valley Business Journal]]|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2004/11/22/daily5.html|access-date=February 9, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803181656/http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2004/11/22/daily5.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The same year, the company again received the title of Top Innovator of the Year for 2006.<ref name=":23" />
MingleNow, a social network was simultaneously launched, which was accorded a partnership deal by [[Anheuser-Busch]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bogatin|first=Donna|title=Beer fuels social networking: MingleNow 'Clinks' Anheuser-Busch|url=https://www.zdnet.com/
=== GWallet to RadiumOne ===
In 2009, Chahal launched gWallet, a venture that partnered with brand and game developers to bring users virtual currency offers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-02-25|title=gWallet launches "brand bar" platform to monetize social games|url=https://venturebeat.com/2010/02/25/gwallet-launches-brand-bar-platform-to-monetize-social-games/|access-date=2021-07-27|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727143818/https://venturebeat.com/2010/02/25/gwallet-launches-brand-bar-platform-to-monetize-social-games/|url-status=live}}</ref> The startup worked directly with brands instead of using any kind of affiliate model. It used branded video campaigns to engage with consumers. [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], [[Best Buy]], [[Kmart (United States)|K-Mart]], [[Nestlé|Nestle]], and [[History (American TV network)|The History Channel]] used their video campaigns on the social network.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|title=TRUSTe Places Privacy Seal Of Approval On Virtual Currency Platform gWallet|url=https://
In 2010, Chahal founded RadiumOne, another online ad company<ref>{{Cite news|last=McMahan|first=Ty|date=October 18, 2010|title=New Ad Network RadiumOne Aims To Tap Social 'Mega Trend'|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2010/10/18/new-ad-network-radiumone-aims-to-tap-social-mega-trend/|access-date=October 21, 2010|archive-date=August 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822070954/http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2010/10/18/new-ad-network-radiumone-aims-to-tap-social-mega-trend/|url-status=live}}</ref> of a slightly different genre,<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Carson|first1=Mel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|title=Pioneers of Digital: Success Stories from Leaders in Advertising, Marketing, Search and Social Media|last2=Springer|first2=Paul|date=October 3, 2012|publisher=Kogan Page Publishers|isbn=978-0-7494-6605-3|pages=44|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173311/https://books.google.com/books?id=j2EMaVV1pE8C|url-status=live}}</ref> which started as a loyalty and rewards program<ref name="sfgate4" /> but later migrated to the targeted-advertising domain, having acquired multiple social-media-centered startups.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RadiumOne Buys Mobile Photo Sharing App Developer Focal Labs|url=
Chahal was nominated and awarded the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award for RadiumOne in 2013.<ref name=":18" />
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Chahal has been the Chairman of the Chahal Foundation since August 2012. The Foundation supports the families of [[Hate crime|hate crime victims]], educational scholarship, combat [[child trafficking in India]], and helps in disaster relief efforts in India.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Giving back to society|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/lifestyle/giving-back-to-society-73193|access-date=2021-07-22|website=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]]|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718060014/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/lifestyle/giving-back-to-society-73193|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Vashist|first=Neha|date=30 May 2021|title=#BigInterview: Gurbaksh and my social media presence amplified our reach, says Rubina Bajwa talking about her charitable foundation|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/thebiginterview-gurbaksh-and-my-social-media-presence-amplified-our-reach-says-rubina-bajwa-talking-about-her-charitable-foundation/articleshow/83087870.cms|access-date=2021-07-22|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727121151/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/thebiginterview-gurbaksh-and-my-social-media-presence-amplified-our-reach-says-rubina-bajwa-talking-about-her-charitable-foundation/articleshow/83087870.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":20" />
=== BNN Breaking and Trimfeed ===
In 2022, Chahal founded the now-defunct news website and aggregator [[BNN Breaking]] in Hong Kong.<ref name="busins">{{cite web |last=Hays |first=Kali |date=June 28, 2022 |title=Twitter permanently suspends scores of 'news' accounts under the company BNN founded by Gurbaksh Chahal, former tech CEO convicted of battery |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-bans-bnn-accounts-founded-by-former-tech-ceo-gurbaksh-chahal-2022-6?r=US&IR=T |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=businessinsider.com |publisher=[[Business Insider]] |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629031532/https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-bans-bnn-accounts-founded-by-former-tech-ceo-gurbaksh-chahal-2022-6?r=US&IR=T |url-status=live }}</ref> The website was subject to several controversies regarding the accuracy of its reporting,<ref name="sfgate">{{cite web |last=Regimbal |first=Alec |date=October 18, 2023 |title='Fake news' site publishes more false stories about San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/bnn-posts-more-false-stories-about-dean-preston-18429261.php |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=sfgate.com |publisher=[[SFGate]] |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213204636/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/bnn-posts-more-false-stories-about-dean-preston-18429261.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="thejournal">{{cite web |last=O Faolain |first=Aodhan |date=January 15, 2024 |title=Dave Fanning files defamation case over publication of news story wrongly linking him to criminal trial |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/dave-fanning-defamation-case-6272630-Jan2024/ |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |archive-date=February 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216081027/https://www.thejournal.ie/dave-fanning-defamation-case-6272630-Jan2024/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="sfstandard">{{cite web |last=Sjostedt |first=David |date=October 18, 2023 |title=Only Elected Democratic Socialist in San Francisco Target of Fake News Site |url=https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/18/supervisor-targeted-fake-news-bnn-gubrakash-chahal/ |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=sfstandard.com |publisher=[[The San Francisco Standard]] |archive-date=January 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123183349/https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/18/supervisor-targeted-fake-news-bnn-gubrakash-chahal/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and all of its accounts were suspended from Twitter in June 2022 for violations of the site's policy on [[spamming|spam]] and [[platform manipulation]].<ref name="busins"/> As of March 2024, Google appeared to no longer show search results for the website.<ref name="GroundUp 12 March 2024">{{cite news |last1=Geffen |first1=Nathan |title=Google moves against notorious spam news website |url=https://groundup.org.za/article/google-appears-to-stop-showing-notorious-fake-news-website/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=[[GroundUp (news agency)|GroundUp News]] |date=12 March 2024 |language=en |archive-date=26 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326112124/https://groundup.org.za/article/google-appears-to-stop-showing-notorious-fake-news-website/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The BNN website was deleted and moved to the website TrimFeed. Trimfeed was temporarily closed after ''[[The New York Times]]'' informed Chahal they were doing a report on BNN.<ref name="The New York Times 6 June 2024">{{Cite news |last=Hill |first=Kashmir |last2=Hsu |first2=Tiffany |date=2024-06-06 |title=It Looked Like a Reliable News Site. It Was an A.I. Chop Shop. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/06/technology/bnn-breaking-ai-generated-news.html |access-date=2024-06-30 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2024-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629025028/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/06/technology/bnn-breaking-ai-generated-news.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Honors and philanthropy ==
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In 2012, after the [[Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting]], he committed US$1 million to found BeProud (since renamed to Chahal Foundation), a [[Foundation (nonprofit)|charitable foundation]] that supports the families of [[hate crime]] victims and combats [[child trafficking in India]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Teri|date=August 21, 2012|title=Serial Entrepreneur Gurbaksh Chahal Commits $1 Million to Stop Hate Crimes|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/224248|access-date=January 31, 2020|website=Entrepreneur|archive-date=November 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126082958/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/224248|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 2, 2012|first=Atul|last=Sethi|title=Sikh entrepreneur to launch 'Be Proud' movement to fight hate|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sikh-entrepreneur-to-launch-Be-Proud-movement-to-fight-hate/articleshow/16164261.cms|access-date=February 10, 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=September 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902101505/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sikh-entrepreneur-to-launch-Be-Proud-movement-to-fight-hate/articleshow/16164261.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":13" /> It had liaised with [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] to provide employment scopes for rural women in Maharashtra, India.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 9, 2018|title=LDS Charities and Feminine Hygiene|url=http://news-in.churchofjesuschrist.org/many-organizations-including-lds-charities-joined-forces-to-create-feminine-hygiene-kits|access-date=March 7, 2020|website=news-in.churchofjesuschrist.org|language=en|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918211536/https://news-in.churchofjesuschrist.org/many-organizations-including-lds-charities-joined-forces-to-create-feminine-hygiene-kits|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2020, Chahal donated face masks, test kits, [[personal protective equipment]] and ventilators to hospitals across several countries (including Hong Kong and India) during the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|Coronavirus pandemic]], and extended procurement networks to help governments in mitigating the supply-chain chaos.<ref>{{Cite web|title=港台電視 31 早辰。早晨 - 手語直播節目︰廁紙搶劫案;《早辰一件事》:疫境有情;《早辰保抗力》:維他命C|url=https://www.rthk.hk/tv/dtt31/programme/thismorning/episode/617329|access-date=March 14, 2020|website=www.rthk.hk|language=zh-hant|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103173317/https://www.rthk.hk/tv/dtt31/programme/thismorning|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Rubina Bajwa and beau Gurbaksh Chahal team up to help Hong Kong charity prevent spread of Coronavirus - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/rubina-bajwa-and-beau-gurbaksh-chahal-team-up-to-help-hong-kong-charity-prevent-spread-of-coronavirus/articleshow/74084543.cms|access-date=March 14, 2020|website=The Times of India|date=11 February 2020 |language=en|archive-date=January 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104043823/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/rubina-bajwa-and-beau-gurbaksh-chahal-team-up-to-help-hong-kong-charity-prevent-spread-of-coronavirus/articleshow/74084543.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=「政府做咗啲咩?」——民間收集口罩助基層 {{!}} 讀者來論|url=https://www.hkcnews.com/article/27053/口罩短缺-27053/「政府做咗啲咩?」——民間收集口罩助基層-|access-date=March 14, 2020|website=眾新聞|language=zh|archive-date=June 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630220620/https://www.hkcnews.com/article/27053/%E5%8F%A3%E7%BD%A9%E7%9F%AD%E7%BC%BA-27053/%E3%80%8C%E6%94%BF%E5%BA%9C%E5%81%9A%E5%92%97%E5%95%B2%E5%92%A9%EF%BC%9F%E3%80%8D%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E6%B0%91%E9%96%93%E6%94%B6%E9%9B%86%E5%8F%A3%E7%BD%A9%E5%8A%A9%E5%9F%BA%E5%B1%A4-|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title="We are working on delivering test kits, ventilators, and respirators"; Rubina Bajwa and Gurbaksh Chahal's initiative for Covid-19 patients - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/we-are-working-on-delivering-test-kits-ventilators-and-respirators-rubina-bajwa-and-gurbaksh-chahals-initiative-for-covid-19-patients/articleshow/74844533.cms|access-date=March 29, 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=April 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405030600/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/we-are-working-on-delivering-test-kits-ventilators-and-respirators-rubina-bajwa-and-gurbaksh-chahals-initiative-for-covid-19-patients/articleshow/74844533.cms|url-status=live|last1=Vashist |first1=Neha }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title="The world needs as much help it can get at this time", says Rubina Bajwa as beau Gurbaksh Chahal extends help for Covid-19 relief - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/the-world-needs-as-much-help-it-can-get-at-this-time-says-rubina-bajwa-as-beau-gurbaksh-chahal-extends-help-for-covid-19-relief/articleshow/75025243.cms|access-date=April 8, 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=April 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412061217/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/punjabi/movies/news/the-world-needs-as-much-help-it-can-get-at-this-time-says-rubina-bajwa-as-beau-gurbaksh-chahal-extends-help-for-covid-19-relief/articleshow/75025243.cms|url-status=live|last1=Vashist |first1=Neha }}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=July 2024}}
== Personal life ==
Chahal
Chahal has attracted attention for his physique and extravagant lifestyle, including a fleet of luxurious cars and a penthouse apartment.<ref name=":0" /> He was featured in ''[[The Secret Millionaire]]'', where he went undercover in [[San Francisco]] and gave away $110,000 of his wealth.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 17, 2008|title=BlueLithium founder Gurbaksh Chahal keeps his millions "Secret" for once|url=https://venturebeat.com/2008/12/16/bluelithium-founder-gurbaksh-chahal-keeps-his-millions-secret-for-once/|access-date=February 9, 2020|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922150725/https://venturebeat.com/2008/12/16/bluelithium-founder-gurbaksh-chahal-keeps-his-millions-secret-for-once/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, ''[[Men's Health]]'' awarded him the seventh spot in the list of the world's fittest and richest men.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sine|first=Richard|date=April 11, 2011|title=The World's Richest and Fittest Guys|url=https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a19540258/worlds-fittest-richest-guys/|access-date=February 12, 2020|website=Men's Health|language=en-US|archive-date=January 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129195051/https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a19540258/worlds-fittest-richest-guys/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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=== Domestic violence and battery conviction ===
Chahal was arrested in 2013 and charged with 45 felonies following an attack on his then-girlfriend.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Makarechi |first1=Kia |date=April 28, 2014 |title=RadiumOne C.E.O. Finally Fired After Domestic-Violence Case |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/business/2014/04/radiumone-ceo-gurbaksh-chahal-fired |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803140739/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/business/2014/04/radiumone-ceo-gurbaksh-chahal-fired |archive-date=August 3, 2021 |access-date=September 24, 2022 |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]}}</ref> Video footage of the assault, taken by a camera in Chahal's bedroom ceiling, showed Chahal smothering the woman with a pillow and hitting and kicking her 117 times over a half hour period.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hoge |first1=Patrick |date=April 17, 2014 |title=Ad mogul Gurbaksh "G" Chahal pleads guilty to two misdemeanors, all others dismissed in domestic violence case |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2014/04/ad-mogul-gurbaksh-g-chahal-pleads-guilty-to-two.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708064802/https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2014/04/ad-mogul-gurbaksh-g-chahal-pleads-guilty-to-two.html |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |access-date=July 31, 2022 |work=[[San Francisco Business Times]]}}</ref><ref name="The Cut">{{cite news |last1=Landsbaum |first1=Claire |date=August 8, 2016 |title=Gurbaksh Chahal, a Silicon Valley Mogul Videotaped Kicking His Girlfriend 117 Times, Could Finally Go to Jail |url=https://www.thecut.com/2016/08/domestic-abuser-gurbaksh-chahal-could-go-to-jail.html |
In August 2013, the [[San Francisco District Attorney's Office]] (SFDA) charged Chahal with committing acts of domestic violence against his girlfriend.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lee|first=Newton|title=Facebook Nation |chapter=Personal Total Information Awareness |date=2014|editor-last=Lee|editor-first=Newton|language=en|publisher=Springer|pages=305–345|doi=10.1007/978-1-4939-1740-2_15|isbn=978-1-4939-1740-2}}</ref> The video of the incident was ruled inadmissible in the case as there had been no warrant for its seizure.<ref name="The Cut"/> Chahal proclaimed his innocence<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Kurtis |last2=Ho |first2=Vivian |date=August 8, 2013 |title=Internet mogul pleads not guilty to assault |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Internet-mogul-pleads-not-guilty-to-assault-4719376.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318143501/https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Internet-mogul-pleads-not-guilty-to-assault-4719376.php |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |access-date=January 23, 2020 |website=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |language=en-US}}</ref> but nevertheless entered into a [[Nolo contendere|no contest]] plea to one charge of domestic violence battery and one charge of [[Battery (crime)|battery]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2014 |title=Internet mogul accused of domestic violence pleads guilty to two misdemeanors |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/internet-mogul-accused-of-domestic-violence-pleads-guilty-to-two-misdemeanors/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131100802/https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/internet-mogul-accused-of-domestic-violence-pleads-guilty-to-two-misdemeanors/ |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |access-date=January 31, 2020 |website=[[The San Francisco Examiner]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He was sentenced to three years' [[probation]], ordered to pay a fine, and compelled to undergo a 52-week domestic violence training course along with 25 hours of [[community service]].<ref name=":1" /> Subsequently, he was fired from his position as CEO of RadiumOne<ref name="Fortune2014">{{Cite web|last=Primack|first=Dan|date=April 25, 2014|title=It's time for RadiumOne's abusive CEO to go|url=http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/25/its-time-for-radiumone-to-fire-its-abusive-ceo/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601064812/http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/25/its-time-for-radiumone-to-fire-its-abusive-ceo/|archive-date=June 1, 2014|access-date=March 1, 2015|website=Fortune|publisher=CNN Money}}</ref><ref name="Nagle">{{Cite news |last=Elder |first=Jeff |date=September 10, 2015 |title=Tech Firm Tried to Save IPO Amid CEO Scandal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/radiumone-worked-to-save-ipo-amid-scandal-1441837667 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|1710603396}} |access-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324125359/https://www.wsj.com/articles/radiumone-worked-to-save-ipo-amid-scandal-1441837667 |url-status=live }}</ref> (Chahal alleged that his guilty plea was coerced by the board of RadiumOne).<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2014 |title=Gurbaksh Chahal, former CEO fired after domestic violence plea, settles dispute with RadiumOne |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/gurbaksh-chahal-former-ceo-fired-after-domestic-violence-plea-settles-dispute-with-radiumone/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318143458/https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/gurbaksh-chahal-former-ceo-fired-after-domestic-violence-plea-settles-dispute-with-radiumone/ |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |access-date=January 23, 2020 |website=[[The San Francisco Examiner]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weisenthal |first=Joe |title=RADIUMONE CEO: My Board Betrayed Me, Even Though I Made Them A Fortune |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/gurbaksh-chahal-blasts-media-board-2014-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127155934/https://www.businessinsider.com/gurbaksh-chahal-blasts-media-board-2014-4 |archive-date=January 27, 2020 |access-date=January 31, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref>
In 2016, after he committed acts of domestic violence against a second woman, the [[San Francisco County Superior Court]] found Chahal guilty of violating the terms of his September 2014 probation.<ref name="sentencing">{{Cite news |last=Rainey |first=Libby |date=August 12, 2016 |title=Tech mogul Gurbaksh Chahal gets 1 year in domestic violence case |url=http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/SF-judge-to-decide-fate-of-Gurbaksh-Chahal-in-9139376.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103220434/http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/SF-judge-to-decide-fate-of-Gurbaksh-Chahal-in-9139376.php |archive-date=November 3, 2016 |access-date=November 1, 2016 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]}}</ref> The court sentenced him to one year in jail; he resigned from his position as CEO of Gravity4.<ref name="sentencing" /> The [[California
== Publications ==
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