I Organized a Tony Robbins Event in Patagonia — He Didn’t Even Bother to Show Up

So much for inspiring leadership

The mountain refugee Tony didn’t bother to visit. And his shadow in the back. (created by author)

When Tony Robbins leaps onstage in arenas around the world, the world’s most famous self-help guru whips crowds into a frenzy of euphoria few pop stars could dream of. His fans clap with him, jump with him, and when he puffs his chest and roars like a lion, they roar with him, too. People from all walks of life grappling with diverse struggles invest thousands to witness his promise of life transformation and neural rewiring.

As part of the local organizing team and after six months of meticulous planning, I expected to see a glimpse of that cult-like vibe during the 2024 Tony Robbins Platinum Lions event in Patagonia. The lead-up was fraught with capricious demands, last-minute changes, and thinly veiled payment extortion tactics. In the grand scheme, even their disrespectful tone and words seemed trivial.

I was behind the scenes, not as a direct contact. My responsibility? One of the most complex operations: a private skiing day at a boutique resort, complete with an Aspen-style Cloud 9 party in a mountain hut, with a DJ, bartenders, snow sculptures, and gourmet gastronomy. Oh, and don’t forget the 30-minute helicopter transfer over the Andean Mountain Range back to the hotel.