Dean Graziosi Mastermind review: what the Business System costs, how renewals work and what the FTC case was about
Mastermind.com is the online-business training company of Dean Graziosi, co-founded with Tony Robbins and run by Mind Mint, LLC in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its main products teach people to turn what they know into a coaching, course or community business: the Mastermind Business System, the Mastermind Business Academy, a $1-trial subscription and live bootcamps. We read the seller's sales pages and terms, the FTC court order that names Graziosi, Trustpilot, BBB, ten Reddit threads that rank on Google for his name, and YouTube videos and comments.
Our verdict (editorial opinion)
A real, operating company with written guarantees and many satisfied reviewers, but recurring buyer complaints about trials turning into subscriptions, renewals after cancelling and heavy upselling. Graziosi personally settled an FTC case in 2023 over a different, real-estate seminar business. Mastermind.com is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating and averages 4.5 from 823 Trustpilot reviews. It also has a steady stream of complaints about billing and cancellation, and the Reddit threads that rank for Graziosi's name are mostly negative. The 2023 FTC order concerned Response Marketing's real-estate seminars, not Mastermind.com; Graziosi neither admitted nor denied the allegations. We found no independent data on what Mastermind students earn.
Last verified: 10 November 2026 · Research-based review · Prices, ratings and counts are as shown on the cited pages on that date
The short version
- What it is: training and software for starting a “knowledge business”: coaching, courses, masterminds and online communities. The Mastermind Business System (MBS) is the core annual membership; the Mastermind Business Academy (MBA) is a six-month coached program; the Success System is a monthly subscription that starts with a $1 trial.
- Price: MBS $997 a year or three payments of $380 (sales page). MBA $5,997 paid in full against a $6,997 list price (MBA terms). Success System $1 for 30 days, then $47 a month (pricing page).
- Refunds: the MBS sales page promises 30 days, money back, “no questions asked”. MBA allows cancellation within 14 days, then case-by-case prorated refunds. The general terms say renewal payments are not refunded or prorated.
- Renewals: memberships renew automatically. The MBA includes a bonus year of MBS that renews at $997 unless you cancel at least 10 days before the anniversary.
- The FTC case: in 2023 Graziosi agreed to a $1.25 million judgment in the FTC and Utah case against Nudge, LLC and Response Marketing, a real-estate seminar business he had endorsed. He neither admitted nor denied the allegations. The order also restricts how he can market any product, including Mastermind's.
- Reputation: Trustpilot 4.5 from 823 reviews (12% one-star); BBB A+, accredited since July 2025, with 19 complaints in three years. Most Reddit threads ranking for his name are negative.
Is Dean Graziosi's Mastermind legit?
It is a real business that delivers what it sells. Mind Mint, LLC trades as Mastermind.com (BBB also lists the name BBG Enterprises LLC). It publishes its prices, guarantees and terms, has been BBB-accredited since 30 July 2025, and replies to every negative Trustpilot review. Many reviewers praise its support team and community.
The cautions are about how it sells. The same complaint shows up on BBB, Trustpilot and Reddit: a low-cost trial or event ticket leads to a monthly subscription or a $997 renewal the buyer says they did not expect or had cancelled. Buyers also describe one paid offer leading to the next. In several BBB cases the company refunded the charge once a complaint was filed.
Is Dean Graziosi a scam? We don't use that word. Below we set out what the FTC alleged, what Graziosi agreed to, and what he says, with links to the primary documents.
What Mastermind sells and what it costs
| Product | Listed price | Billing | Refund terms (seller's wording) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mastermind Business System (MBS) | $997/year or 3 × $380 | Annual, auto-renews | “Try it for 30 days” … money back, “no questions asked” (sales page) |
| Mastermind Success System | $1 for a 30-day trial, then $47/month | Monthly until cancelled | Cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends (pricing page and terms) |
| Mastermind Business Academy (MBA) | $5,997 in full (list $6,997); payment plans; “Plus” $11,997–$12,500 | Six months of weekly sessions; bonus MBS year renews at $997 | Cancel within 14 days; after that refunds are case-by-case and prorated (MBA terms) |
| Build It Bootcamp (2026 cohort) | $997 or 3 × $380 (also shown at $745 or 2 × $380 for event buyers) | One-off, 30 days of live workshops | Performance-based refund if you do the work and are not launched in 30 days (terms) |
- What MBS includes, per the sales page: an AI guide called “GG 2.0”, a business-plan builder, a “Business Hub” of tools, a marketplace, a Tony Robbins training collection, a social-media assistant and a VIP ticket to Mastermind's World Summit. The page says the company invested “over $6.7 million” in the Business Hub in one place and “over $7 million” in another; we can't verify either figure.
- “Value” stacks: the pricing and MBA pages list large “values” for each bonus (for example $5,000+ for the content library). These are marketing figures, not prices.
- Inconsistent figures: the MBA sales page shows both “6 payments of $1,166” and “6 payments of $1,417”, and still had 2023 bootcamp dates on it when we read it. Confirm the price and schedule at checkout.
- Name changes: a Reddit commenter in 2024 lists the program's earlier names as Knowledge Business Blueprint, Knowledge Broker Blueprint, Project Next, Launchpad and then Mastermind Business System. That is one user's account, but it matches how YouTube critic Spencer Cornelia describes the earlier KBB and Project Next offers.
- AI Advantage is a separate company: the AI Advantage Summit and Bootcamp are run by AI Advantage, which Graziosi co-founded with Tony Robbins and Igor Pogany. BBB lists it as a related business. Several of the billing complaints below are about AI Advantage rather than Mastermind.com.
The fine print: cancellations, renewals and disputes
- Trials: Mastermind's terms of service say that to stop a trial converting you must cancel at least 24 hours before it ends, by emailing support@mastermind.com; otherwise the card is charged the full monthly rate “each month until you cancel”.
- Renewals: monthly and annual subscriptions need at least 24 hours' notice before the next payment. The terms add: “You will not be entitled to prorate your last month's or year's use, nor will you be entitled to any refund”, and that Mastermind “may charge a cancellation fee equal to the amount the subscription was discounted”.
- Guarantee versus terms: the general terms say “All sales are deemed final” except refunds for physical goods, while the MBS sales page offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read together, the sales-page promise is the specific offer, but keep a screenshot of it and request any refund in writing within 30 days.
- MBA contract: per the MBA terms, after 14 days a refund is at the company's discretion and reduced by one-sixth for each month of the program; if a payment-plan buyer defaults, access can be removed. The bonus MBS year auto-renews at $997 unless cancelled at least 10 days before the anniversary.
- Disputes: the terms require individual binding arbitration and waive class actions, and cap Mastermind's liability.
- Earnings: section 11 of the terms says “individual results will vary”, and the company “does not guarantee your success”.
The FTC case: what it was and what Graziosi agreed to
This case concerned Response Marketing Group and Nudge, LLC, a Utah company that ran real-estate investing seminars. It did not concern Mastermind.com.
- The allegations (FTC, August 2020): the FTC and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection asked to add Graziosi and TV personality Scott Yancey as defendants. They alleged that the scheme cost consumers more than $400 million, that the two were paid a percentage of sales, and that they discussed placing positive online reviews. The FTC's release noted: “The case will be decided by the court.” (FTC, 31 Aug 2020) The FTC's 2023 release describes the sales path as free events leading to roughly $1,000 three-day workshops and then coaching packages costing up to $30,000.
- What the court found: according to the FTC, a June 2022 court opinion found that many of Response Marketing's claims were false. That ruling concerned the company's claims, not a finding against Graziosi personally.
- The settlement (2023): Graziosi signed a stipulated order, entered on 24 April 2023 in the U.S. District Court for Utah (case 2:19-cv-00867). He “neither admits nor denies” the allegations. The order imposes a $1,250,000 judgment (court order, PDF). Yancey agreed to pay $450,000; the company's owners agreed to $15 million and a ban on selling money-making opportunities (FTC, 22 May 2023). Graziosi was not included in that ban.
- What the order requires of Graziosi: he is permanently barred from misrepresenting likely earnings, implying an offer is only for a select group, misrepresenting connections to endorsers or whether reviews are genuine, misrepresenting the total cost, and helping anyone else do these things. These restrictions apply to marketing “any good or service”, and the order sets compliance-reporting duties for 10 years.
- Refunds: the FTC sent more than $10 million to 4,670 Response Marketing customers in March 2024 (FTC, 21 Mar 2024), and its refund page reports a second round of 3,955 payments worth more than $8.3 million.
Graziosi's side: in a statement to the Deseret News (May 2023), his attorney said Graziosi “voluntarily reached a mutual settlement”, “did not admit to any wrongdoing”, and that it “was simply a business decision he made in good faith to resolve the commission's concerns”. The attorney added that Graziosi was not subject to the business ban because he was not an owner or executive of Response Marketing.
What customers and commenters say
About the allegations on this page. Statements from Reddit, Trustpilot or YouTube users are their own opinions or accounts. We quote or summarise them with a link and date; we have not verified them, and we do not present them as fact.
Trustpilot
The Mastermind.com profile (listed under deangraziosi.com, claimed in 2017) showed 4.5 from 823 reviews on 10 November 2026: 81% five-star and 12% one-star, with 133 reviews in the past 12 months. Trustpilot's panel says the company has not invited customers recently, “so reviews may not be representative”, and that it replied to 100% of negative reviews.
- Positive: recent five-star reviews (for example in September 2026) praise individual support staff, quick help with accounts and the community.
- Renewal charge: a reviewer in Australia (updated 10 June 2026) says they cancelled in the app but were still charged about AUD 1,400 on renewal. They say it was refunded minus currency fees, and that you must email to cancel.
- $1 offer: a UK reviewer (31 May 2026) says a “$1 offer” led to an $85 pending charge.
- Refund refused: a reviewer (10 June 2026, describing July 2025) says a refund request of about $1,000 was refused.
- Selling style: a long one-star review (5 July 2026) argues that the $1 trial leads into a subscription and a chain of upsells; another reviewer (30 April 2026) objects to frequent “URGENT” marketing emails.
BBB
The BBB profile shows an A+ rating, accreditation since 30 July 2025, and 19 complaints in the last three years (16 in the last 12 months). Of those, 13 were answered and 6 resolved. By type: 13 product, 3 service, 2 billing and 1 sales or advertising. Five customer reviews average 1 out of 5. Examples:
- August 2026: a customer says a $997 MBS renewal was charged after they had cancelled. In its reply, the company says it refunded the $997.
- August 2026: a buyer says a $997 offer pitched at a Wealth Mastery event was presented as lifetime access. The complaint is marked resolved after a refund.
- March and July 2026: customers say registering for the AI Advantage Summit added a $37-a-month subscription they did not knowingly agree to; another describes a $1.08 charge followed by $47 charges.
- December 2025: a buyer says the $995 AI Advantage Bootcamp had contradictory refund terms.
- A July 2025 BBB review alleges $10,714 in charges from 2022 to 2024 after cancelling. We cannot verify that figure.
Reddit threads that rank on Google
We ran six natural Google searches (US, 10 November 2026), including “dean graziosi scam”, “dean graziosi review”, “is mastermind.com legit” and “mastermind business system review”, then read the comments in each Reddit thread that ranked. Sentiment is our judgement of each thread as a whole.
| Thread | Google position (query) | Overall sentiment | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| r/TonyRobbins “Tony a fraud?” (2022) | #1 (dean graziosi scam) | Mixed on Robbins, negative on Graziosi | Comments about Graziosi are critical; one calls the “heavy, heavy, heavy sales pitch” for him offensive |
| r/Scams “Stay away from the AI Advantage Summit” (Apr 2026) | #1 (dean graziosi reddit) | Negative | The poster says $1 led to about $170 in upsells and a pitch for about $1,500 more; replies advise cancelling the monthly plan |
| r/TonyRobbins “Why Dean Graziosi?” (2023) | #2 (dean graziosi reddit) | Negative | Commenters cite the FTC case; one warns against judging without the full story; a 2025 comment describes repeated subscription reactivation |
| r/Coffeezilla_gg “opinion on Dean Graziosi's AI Advantage Summit” (Nov 2025) | #3 (dean graziosi reddit) | Negative | Several users say a $1 trial became $37/month charges that were hard to cancel; a few found parts useful or had no trouble cancelling |
| r/TonyRobbins “MM Business Academy?” (Jun 2025) | #2 (dean graziosi review; mastermind business academy review) | Negative, low information | No one reports a return on the program; one reply notes the FTC case involved a different business |
| r/Entrepreneur “Tony Robbins Mastermind Business System” (Jun 2024) | #2 (mastermind business system review) | Mixed to negative | Former members describe a “database” at the KBB stage and losing access they thought was lifetime; a few say it is good value |
| r/Entrepreneur “Is Dean Graziosi a scammer?” (Sep 2024) | Not on page one | Mixed to negative | Small thread; one defender, others sceptical |
| r/realestateinvesting “Dean Graziosi Real Estate Program” (2018) | #9 (dean graziosi reddit) | Negative | Advice to skip the paid real-estate program and use free resources |
Note: the second Google result for “is mastermind.com legit” was a r/LifeCoachSnark thread about $30,000 coaching masterminds in general. It is not about Mastermind.com.
YouTube
- Spencer Cornelia, “Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi FAKE GURU Course” (about 540,000 views): the critic argues the earlier Knowledge Business Blueprint (about $2,000) and Project Next (about $1,000) were repackaged offers. He says similar material is available far more cheaply, and that many positive reviews online come from affiliates. Those are his opinions. Top comments are overwhelmingly sceptical.
- Coffeezilla, “Dean Graziosi Secretly Responds to Coffeezilla” (about 118,000 views, around 2020): Coffeezilla says Graziosi tagged an unrelated video with keywords such as “scam” and “FTC” rather than addressing the case. That is Coffeezilla's interpretation.
- An AI Advantage Summit review video describes the event as motivational content leading to a high-ticket pitch; the video itself promotes a competing offer, so weigh it accordingly.
- A video titled “Mastermind=Scam” ranks for “is mastermind.com legit” but is about paid masterminds in general, not this company.
Mastermind's side
- Mastermind says more than 250,000 people have used its methods and that it has 100,000+ members; we can't verify these figures.
- It publishes customer stories, for example on its “Behind-the-Scenes Truth” page, where students describe first sales within hours or weeks. The same page carries the disclaimer that the company “does not guarantee your success” and “Your results may vary.” These are seller-selected testimonials.
- The MBS sales page offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, and the Build It Bootcamp carries a refund promise if you do the work and are not launched in 30 days.
- On BBB the company responds to complaints, and several billing cases ended with a refund. It holds an A+ rating and accreditation.
- On the FTC case, Graziosi's attorney says the settlement was a good-faith business decision with no admission of wrongdoing (see above).
How we counted the evidence
| Source | Positive | Negative / complaint | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot (823 reviews) | 81% five-star | 12% one-star; recent ones mainly billing and cancellation | Not recently invited; company replies to all negatives |
| BBB (19 complaints, 5 reviews) | A+ rating; complaints answered, several refunded | 19 complaints in three years; reviews average 1/5 | Mostly product and billing |
| Reddit (8 relevant ranking threads) | A few defenders | 5 negative, 3 mixed or mixed to negative | Anonymous and unverified |
| YouTube (4 videos, 99 comments) | Few | Mostly sceptical | Critics' opinions; one video sells an alternative |
| Regulators | — | 2023 FTC order against Graziosi (Response Marketing case) | Different business; no admission |
Our verdict
Caution. Mastermind.com is an established, BBB-accredited business with written guarantees, a responsive support team and many happy reviewers. The risks are commercial. Low-priced trials and event offers lead to subscriptions, renewals of $997 a year run automatically, the general terms rule out refunds on renewals, and a recurring stream of buyers say they were charged after cancelling or upsold more than they expected. Graziosi's 2023 FTC settlement concerned a different business, but it is relevant background: the order bars him from misleading earnings, review and cost claims for good.
Not enough third-party information on results
We found no independent data on how many Mastermind Business System or Academy students build a paying business, or what they earn. The success stories are chosen by the seller, and Reddit users who ask for real results rarely get a first-hand answer. If you need evidence that the program pays for itself, it is not publicly available.
It may suit you if: you want a structured, motivational program with AI tools and a large community, and you will set a reminder to use the 30-day guarantee or cancel before renewal. Skip it, or wait, if: you are buying on the strength of earnings stories, you can't afford a $997 renewal or a $5,997 academy, or you are signing up for a $1 trial without reading the renewal terms.
Before you pay: screenshot the guarantee, note the trial end and renewal dates, cancel by email to support@mastermind.com and keep the reply, and check your card statement after the renewal date.
What we like
- Real operating company; BBB A+ and accredited
- Written 30-day money-back guarantee on MBS
- Trustpilot 4.5 from 823 reviews; company replies to negative reviews
- Several billing complaints ended in refunds
What to watch out for
- $1 trials and event offers lead into subscriptions and upsells
- Annual $997 auto-renewal; no refunds on renewals under the terms
- Recurring complaints about charges after cancelling
- No independent outcome data
- Founder settled an FTC case (different business) for $1.25 million
- Mandatory arbitration and class-action waiver
Corrections and right of reply. If you are Dean Graziosi or Mind Mint, LLC (Mastermind.com) or represent the seller, or you think anything here is wrong or out of date, email hello@active-learning-site.com with the page and a source. We will check it, correct the page if needed and publish a factual response from the seller.
Alternatives
- For Tony Robbins' own seminar business and its refund rules, see our Tony Robbins UPW review.
- For a personal-growth subscription with a written refund window, see our Mindvalley review.
- Another online-business program with an FTC settlement: our Publishing.com review.
- For cheaper structured courses on marketing and building a course business, see our Udemy review.
- Other programs we checked: creator course reviews.
Dean Graziosi Mastermind FAQ
Is Dean Graziosi legit?
Mastermind.com is a real, BBB-accredited company with published prices and guarantees. Separately, Graziosi settled an FTC case in 2023 over a real-estate seminar business he endorsed, paying a $1.25 million judgment without admitting or denying the allegations.
Is Dean Graziosi a scam?
We don't use that word. The FTC's allegations, the court order and Graziosi's response are summarised above with links. Buyer complaints focus on billing, renewals and upselling.
How much does the Mastermind Business System cost?
The sales page lists $997 a year or three payments of $380, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It renews automatically each year.
How much is the Mastermind Business Academy?
The MBA terms list $6,997, or $5,997 paid in full, with payment plans and a higher “Plus” tier. It runs for six months and includes a bonus year of MBS that renews at $997.
Can I get a refund from Mastermind.com?
MBS offers 30 days on its sales page. The MBA allows cancellation within 14 days, then case-by-case prorated refunds. The general terms say renewal payments are not refunded. Request refunds in writing at support@mastermind.com.
How do I cancel Mastermind?
Through your account dashboard or by emailing support@mastermind.com, at least 24 hours before a trial ends or the next payment (10 days before the anniversary for the MBA's bonus MBS year). Keep the confirmation.
What was the Dean Graziosi FTC case?
FTC and Utah v. Nudge, LLC et al. (D. Utah), about Response Marketing's real-estate seminars. The FTC alleged Graziosi helped promote the seminars; in 2023 he agreed to a $1.25 million judgment and permanent marketing restrictions, without admitting or denying the allegations.
Is Mastermind.com connected to Tony Robbins?
Yes. Mastermind says Graziosi and Robbins created the platform together in 2020, and the two also co-founded AI Advantage with Igor Pogany.
Sources and last verified
Last verified: 10 November 2026. Official pages and community sources were read on that date; allegations are the posters' own and unverified.
- Mastermind Business System sales page (seller) — read 10 Nov 2026; $997, 30-day guarantee
- Mastermind pricing page (seller) — read 10 Nov 2026; $1 trial, $47/month
- Mastermind Business Academy sales page (seller) — read 10 Nov 2026
- Mastermind Business Academy terms (seller) — read 10 Nov 2026; refunds, renewal, arbitration
- Mastermind terms of service (seller) — read 10 Nov 2026; sections 7, 8, 11, 18
- Mastermind homepage (seller) — read 10 Nov 2026; member claims
- Build It Bootcamp page (seller) — read 10 Nov 2026; 2026 cohort price and guarantee
- Mastermind: Behind-the-Scenes Truth About Mastermind.com (seller) — read 10 Nov 2026; testimonials and disclaimer
- Stipulated order as to Dean Graziosi, D. Utah 2:19-cv-00867 (FTC, PDF) — read 10 Nov 2026
- FTC press release, 22 May 2023: $16.7 million judgment — read via browser 10 Nov 2026
- FTC press release, 31 Aug 2020: FTC seeks to add Graziosi and Yancey — read via browser 10 Nov 2026
- FTC press release, 21 Mar 2024: more than $10 million in refunds — read via browser 10 Nov 2026
- FTC: Response Marketing refunds — read via browser 10 Nov 2026
- FTC case page: Nudge, LLC — read via browser 10 Nov 2026
- Deseret News, 22 May 2023: settlement and Graziosi statement — read 10 Nov 2026
- Trustpilot: Mastermind.com (deangraziosi.com) — read via browser 10 Nov 2026; 823 reviews
- BBB: Mastermind.com, Scottsdale AZ — read 10 Nov 2026; rating, complaints, reviews
- Reddit r/Scams 1suqpam — post and comments read 10 Nov 2026
- Reddit r/Coffeezilla_gg 1ouy9l0 — post and comments read 10 Nov 2026
- Reddit r/TonyRobbins 15knroq — post and comments read 10 Nov 2026
- Reddit r/TonyRobbins w8s4cw — post and comments read 10 Nov 2026
- Reddit r/TonyRobbins 1lb56xw — post and comments read 10 Nov 2026
- Reddit r/Entrepreneur 1dfzx4x — comments read 10 Nov 2026; post deleted
- Reddit r/Entrepreneur 1fgrv10 — post and comments read 10 Nov 2026
- Reddit r/realestateinvesting 8k5ok9 — post and comments read 10 Nov 2026
- YouTube: Spencer Cornelia on Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi — transcript and top comments read 10 Nov 2026
- YouTube: Coffeezilla, Dean Graziosi Secretly Responds — transcript and top comments read 10 Nov 2026
- YouTube: AI Advantage Summit review — transcript read 10 Nov 2026
- YouTube: Mastermind=Scam (general masterminds) — comments read 10 Nov 2026
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