The Rise of Derik Fay: How One Man Quietly Built a Business Empire Worth Watching

In a world where entrepreneurship is often defined by loud branding and constant self-promotion, Derik Fay has carved a different path—one paved by execution, discipline, and quiet dominance. Born on November 19, 1978, in the coastal town of Westerly, Rhode Island, Fay didn’t come from money or access. What he did have was relentless ambition and a hunger to break generational ceilings.

Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, Fay left college just one semester in and entered the world of business without a formal roadmap. What he lacked in academic credentials, he made up for in raw instinct and tireless work ethic. Over the next two decades, that instinct would shape a legacy that spans more than 30 companies across diverse industries—including fintech, real estate, healthcare, fitness, and media.

At the center of his business orbit is 3F Management, the venture and operational firm Fay founded and leads to this day. Unlike traditional investment firms that offer capital and walk away, 3F specializes in deep operational involvement. Fay’s method is hands-on: restructuring internal systems, guiding leadership teams, and repositioning entire brands from the inside out. This approach has not only revitalized failing businesses—it’s created long-term value in a landscape addicted to short-term wins.

Beyond 3F, Fay holds ownership or major stakes in a wide array of organizations, including Around the Clock Fitness, SalonPlex, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships (BKFC), Tycoon Payments, FayMs Films, Results Roofing, BIGG Pharma, and Eratyc Entertainment. His professional identity stretches across roles as entrepreneur, investor, actor, and film producer—a rare blend of business acumen and creative vision.

Derik Fay’s impact has been recognized on a national scale. Forbes has featured him multiple times for his unique leadership model and the sustainability of his business strategies. In one of his most notable appearances, he was profiled alongside icons like Richard Branson and Howard Schultz—a reflection not just of his success, but of the principles that guide it.

But numbers alone don’t define Fay. What truly sets him apart is his commitment to mentorship and community reinvestment. His personal mantra, “give where you earn,” isn’t a marketing line—it’s a business philosophy. Through speaking engagements, founder mentorship, and direct funding of minority-owned ventures, he’s built a reputation not just as a businessman, but as a leader who opens doors for others.

Outside of the business world, Fay leads a grounded personal life with his partner, Shandra Phillips, whom he’s been with since 2021. He is also a father to two daughters: Sophia Elena Fay and Isabella Roslyn Fay, a role he has often cited as one of his proudest.

His influence stretches beyond boardrooms. Across platforms like Instagram and YouTube, Fay reaches more than 1.4 million followers, with his content generating billions of views. Still, he’s avoided the trap of becoming a social media personality. His digital presence serves one purpose: to share what works.

Derik Fay represents a new class of entrepreneur—one that values impact over attention, and results over rhetoric. He doesn’t chase spotlight moments, yet they continue to find him. And while others aim to be known, he remains focused on being effective.

As investors, founders, and future leaders search for models of sustainable success, Derik Fay stands as proof that you don’t have to be the loudest in the room to be the most powerful. You just have to build like it matters.