Netflix’s new three-episode series Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal explores the infamous 2015 Ashley Madison data leak. During the hack, Noel Biderman — then CEO of the controversial dating service — was exposed as a user of the site and stepped down. But what happened to Noel Biderman, and what is he doing now?
Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal recounts the rise, fall, and revival of Ashley Madison, a Canadian online dating service designed for married people seeking affairs. The documentary includes interviews with former employees and clients and dives into what happens when “millions of secrets are exposed at once, told through the eyes of a group of people who experienced it firsthand,” according to Netflix’s Tudum.
In 2015, the dating site boasted an impressive 37 million users in more than 40 countries. That same year, a hacker group called The Impact Team threatened to expose its users. The hackers told Ashley Madison to take down its site or its user base would be leaked to the public. In response, executives hired a cyber security team to track down who was behind the attack — but it was too late.
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On August 18 and August 20, The Impact Team released Ashley Madison’s client files. News outlets searched to find celebrities, politicians, and other high-profile figures with accounts. Among the couples affected were Sam and Nia Rader, a pair who rose to fame through their YouTube vlogs and shared their story in the Netflix doc.
Amid the height of the scandal, employees reported that site traffic had never been higher. The Ashley Madison website remains operational today and has even experienced a resurgence in popularity. So, what happened to Noel Biderman?
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Who Is Noel Biderman?
Noel Biderman graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and began his career as a lawyer and a sports agent. According to his website, he represented “47 professional athletes around the globe,” including the “NBA, NFL, as well as members of Canada’s Olympic team.”
The father of two worked for companies like Interperformances Inc., Homestores Inc. (now Move, Inc.), and Jump TV before being appointed the CEO of Avid Life Media, the parent company of Ashley Madison, in 2007.
Once Noel Biderman took over as CEO, he brought on his childhood friend Evan Back to serve as vice president of sales. Together, they implemented an aggressive marketing strategy that included Biderman frequently appearing on news programs and daytime TV to promote the site — often with his wife Amanda.
Biderman argued that the website didn’t create cheaters but met an existing demand. Their bold approach helped Ashley Madison quickly gain notoriety and grow its user base, making it one of the most popular dating services of its time.
However, everything came crashing down in 2015 when The Impact Team released Ashley Madison’s client list, exposing the identities of millions of users. On August 20, an even larger data breach revealed email evidence of Biderman’s own infidelity.
Just eight days later, on August 28, Biderman stepped down as CEO of the company. A statement released by the firm at the time stated that Biderman's exit was “in the best interest of the company,” according to BBC News.
Where Is Noel Biderman Now?
Noel Biderman is currently the CEO of Avenue Insights, a Toronto-based software company that helps small to mid-size organizations improve data collection, according to his LinkedIn page. Since leaving Ashley Madison, he also advised for The Flowr Corporation, Bitbuy, Kings Entertainment Group, and WonderFi’s iGaming.
On his personal website, he is described as “an international CEO, public company Board member, founder, author, speaker, lecturer and father.” The description continues, “Noel has overseen companies in a number of different verticals, most recently in the legal tech and online dating spaces, but in addition, in the IPTV, online real estate, and sports management arena.”
Is Noel Biderman Still Married?
Yes, it appears that Noel Biderman is still married to his wife Amanda, who “stood by him throughout” the entire controversy. At the end of Hulu’s 2023 documentary The Ashley Madison Affair, Biderman’s lawyer wrote, “Mr. Biderman is—and was—a committed husband and father.”
“Mr. Biderman was also the victim of a crime, like the customers of Ashley Madison whose public information was hacked and publicized,” the statement continued. “While Mr. Biderman understands the differences between himself and those customers, he — like many of them — have, in the intervening years, attempted to move on and repair the damage to his life and relationships. He feels fortunate that his wife, Amanda, has stood by him throughout.
The ex-Ashley Madison CEO is also “committed to continuing to move forward and grow,” Biderman’s lawyer said last year.
Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal is streaming on Netflix. Watch the official trailer below.
