A cause of death has been confirmed for Georgia-based influencer and entrepreneur Joe Felz, who died at the age of 40 after building a large following by documenting his van-life journey, business ventures and spiritual life.
Felz’s death was announced by his girlfriend, Alxzondra, on Aug. 3. Four days later, the Paulding County Coroner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE that an autopsy determined Felz died by suicide by hanging. TMZ was the first outlet to report the medical examiner’s finding
The confirmation came after several days of speculation surrounding Felz’s sudden death. When Alxzondra first announced the loss, she did not disclose a cause of death and instead asked followers to give her, Felz’s family and those closest to him time to grieve.
“Joe Felz has left this earth and has finally found his free,” Alxzondra wrote in her initial announcement, according to PEOPLE. She also asked supporters to remember Felz for the life he lived and thanked them for their prayers and support.
The announcement quickly generated widespread reaction among Felz’s followers. He had accumulated more than 1.4 million combined followers across Facebook and Instagram, where he shared aspects of his unconventional lifestyle, including living out of a van, entrepreneurship, real estate, spirituality and personal experiences.
As questions about Felz’s death spread across social media, Alxzondra returned with a second statement on Aug. 4.
She thanked followers who were sharing memories, stories and kind words about Felz but strongly criticized what she described as “false narratives, assumptions, and speculation” surrounding his death.
Alxzondra said there was a family grieving an “unimaginable loss” and urged people not to allow social-media rumors to add to the family’s pain. She said the truth would come when the time was appropriate and asked people to respect the family and those closest to Felz.
Her comments came as Felz’s death attracted attention beyond his immediate online community. Before the official cause of death was released, several reports noted that the circumstances remained unclear and that his loved ones had specifically asked the public not to speculate.
Felz was based in Georgia and was known not only as an influencer but also as an entrepreneur and real-estate investor. Reports say he founded Felz Investment Group in 2011 and later expanded his interests into areas including solar energy and van conversions. He also developed a substantial audience through renovation and DIY-related content.
His story had also been shaped by a difficult past. According to reports about his own accounts of his life, Felz had served time in prison before rebuilding his life and establishing businesses. In a 2024 podcast appearance, he discussed his entrepreneurial activities, including a wholesaling and acquisitions company, a real-estate investment fund and a personal portfolio of rental and investment properties.
Felz appeared to remain active online shortly before his death. His last apparent social-media update came July 9 in a joint post with Alxzondra in which she spoke about healing. On June 26, he marked his 40th birthday with a photograph of himself holding two balloons, describing the celebration as simple and surrounded by people close to him,
The confirmation of Felz’s death has now provided an official answer to a question that had surrounded his passing since the Aug. 3 announcement. For his family, girlfriend and millions of followers, however, the focus remains on mourning the man behind the online personality and remembering the life he shared publicly.
If you or someone you know is struggling or experiencing thoughts of suicide, seek immediate help from a qualified mental-health professional or emergency service in your area.
