YouTube Influencer, Boxer, Jake Paul Comes to Mahopac

MAHOPAC, N.Y. — Renowned YouTube creator and boxer Jake Paul is spending a little time in Mahopac.

Paul, who has more than 5.3 million followers on YouTube, arrived in town this week and will stay at the Frank Lloyd Wright house on Petra Island on Lake Mahopac.

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Donna Massaro, whose family owns the house, said the Massaros just signed on with a high-end hotel concierge service known as Wander.com , which offers unique homes that are very expensive as vacation destinations. Paul is a partner with Wander and is staying at the iconic home to film promotional content on behalf of the company.

Massaro said the videos will promote Wander.com, but she also hopes it will draw interest in tours of the house offered by her family’s company.

“They are showing the lake and the house, and we are also looking to stir up interest in people taking tours,” she said.

Tours are offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays and those interested can find out more and sign up at Wrightoverwater.com.

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“I am not involved in [Paul’s visit], but my hope is they go around supporting our local businesses,” she said.

Massaro said that Paul and his friends have already gotten haircuts at a local barbershop and have worked out at the Powerhouse gym.

Marraso said there was a rumor going around town that Paul had purchased the house, but it’s not true. He’s just staying for a few days.

“Unless he comes up with a whole bunch of money, which he has, and he is interested, we are not selling the house. Just booking tours,” she said.

Officers from the Carmel Police Department have been escorting Paul and his entourage around town and on the lake, but it is not at the expense of local taxpayers. In a press release issued Friday by the department, they note all costs are being paid for by the private entity contracting the CPD’s services under its “Special Duty Assignment” program.

“The program provides officers for security and traffic assistance under certain criteria where a private entity is responsible for payment to the town of Carmel for the officers, equipment, and any ancillary costs,” the statement reads. “These types of assignments are common among local police agencies in the area and are usually assigned to provide traffic control for construction work or utility projects or large privately held gatherings.

“Our budget-funded resources are not being utilized for these assignments,” the release concluded.

Massaro said she hopes Paul and his crew will spend more time and money in the community and perhaps attend the Italian American Club’s Evening in the Piazza at Chamber Park this weekend or stop by her Freight House Café for some coffee.

“He is a really nice guy, and all his friends are nice and are just having a great time here,” she said. “It was so fun to be there on the lake and watch the helicopter land (the house has a helipad) and just watch people enjoy the house. They will be out there wakeboarding and just enjoying the lake so I hope everyone will welcome them and treat them with respect and kindness. They are spending their money and doing great things for our community.”

Paul is a professional boxer, MMA fighter, and actor, and began his influencer career by posting videos on Vine in September 2013 and had amassed 5.3 million followers and 2 billion views before the app discontinued. He played Dirk Mann on the Disney Channel series “ Bizaardvark ” for two seasons. Paul then launched his YouTube channel in May 2014 and has ranked on the Forbes list as one of the highest-paid YouTube creators in 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2023. He is also ranked on the 2022 Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes.

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