The funny thing about this moment was when he looked at me and said, “I’m going to blow past Mark.” I couldn’t help but laugh and respond, “With your genetics, you’ve already surpassed 90% of the population—but to outpace Mark Wahlberg, I want to see you give it everything you’ve got. Dwayne is, without a doubt, one of the kindest and most fan-friendly living legends I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing.

The movie Pain & Gain caught me off guard in the best possible way. I’ll never forget when Michael Bay stood before the audience—a rare and powerful gesture for a director—and spoke from the heart. Later at the after-party, he told me how much he valued the work we did with Reading with Mark and personally invited us to join the roundtable for Transformers 4. Thank you, Mark—aka Psycho—for stepping up in Transformers 4 and 5. I had waited a long time to see that dream become reality. And thank you, my friend, for signing the screenplay—you rock… or should I say, you used to rap!

I have to share the significance of this photo of Mark and myself sparring in front of his Maybach. The love I have for Maybach’s led me to meet one of my closest friends, King—someone who has become an integral part of my life and a driving force behind all our upcoming ventures, including the Gold N’ Ladder interactive social platform and Battle For The Tour.

Major props to the powerhouse himself, Jeremy Piven, who owned every scene as Ari Gold on Entourage (inspired by the legendary Ari Emanuel).

Standing on the right in this photo is my best friend since we were five years old—the real Johnny Drama from Entourage. Kevin Dillon, Matt Dillon’s brother, brought his character to life on the show, but this man is the true legend. I have nothing but deep love and respect for him. Our history runs deep, and the future is even brighter with all the beauty, accomplishments, and energy he brings. It’s time for the Gold N’ Leap.

Kevin is one of the coolest guys out there—always genuine and down-to-earth. Thanks for always showing me that kind of kindness and respect.

Another incredible gift from Johnny Drama—a true talent I deeply admire, Raphael Saadiq. Always excited for your next show and project, Ray Ray.

Johnny Drama hooked me up with the Shooter premiere—still one of my favorite Mark Wahlberg films. And speaking of classics, does anyone recognize Garrett from the movie Four Brothers?

When Michael Bay asked me if he could borrow five dollars for a beer at the Pain & Gain after-party because he had no cash on him, I couldn’t help but laugh. The man’s not only a cinematic genius but also a natural comedian. Of course, I handed him a $20, which had him laughing just as hard. To all the Transformers fans out there—do yourself a favor and watch the behind-the-scenes footage. What he pulled off is nothing short of mind-blowing.

I absolutely loved what he brought to his roles in Pain & Gain, Monk, and Wings. Thanks, Tony!

My friend Olivia appeared on the show 12 Corazones, and that’s where I had the pleasure of getting to know Penelope. She embodies both inner and outer beauty—a true gem. I’d love to collaborate with her in the near future.

Alright, I couldn’t resist giving Major Margaret—aka Hot Lips—a kiss. She didn’t see it coming and had no idea how to react. My bad on that one!

Back in my Giorgio Armani modeling days.

All the way to the GUESS modeling days.

I had the privilege of co-directing and filming Afrojack’s Superhero video, shot in Las Vegas at Mally Mall’s house. During that time, I had the pleasure of befriending Jamie Newman and his incredibly talented kids, including basketball prodigy Jaden Newman—who, at just 10 years old, famously beat Stephen Curry in a three-point shootout.

I’ve always had, and will always have, deep admiration and respect for Billy Bush. Not only is he the nephew of the 41st president, George H. W. Bush, and the cousin of the 43rd president, George W. Bush, as well as former Florida governor Jeb Bush, but he’s also one of the top talents in television presenting. I’ve studied his style over the years, and I’m sure everyone recognizes his incredible work on Entertainment Tonight. Be sure to check out his new show, Hot Mics with Billy Bush. Looking forward to working with you soon, Billy!

Big thanks to Bruce McNall for letting me try on the Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup championship ring. Always a blast hanging out with you—miss you big time, my friend.

Matthew Stafford mentioned that if you open the ring, you can see the stadium inside. Honestly, I don’t think anyone’s willing to risk opening it and breaking it! Huge congratulations to Matthew and the LA Rams on their Super Bowl victory.

To all the real estate developers, custom home builders, and architects—when I asked Mark to pose with this shot of his new home like a mugshot, this is what I got. Thanks, Psycho!

I could talk endlessly about the love and respect I have for Will Smith. He’s not only one of the kindest, coolest, and most genuine people you could ever meet, but he’s also made an indelible impact on music and entertainment—his work runs through my veins like no one else’s. And don’t worry, Dwayne and Tom Cruise, I haven’t forgotten about you either!

I remember when Steven Tyler looked at me and asked what I was doing. I told him, “I’m in school.” He looked confused, so I clarified—“I’m in school learning how to be a lot cooler,” because his people skills and charisma embody some of the coolest character traits anyone could have. To a living legend with one of the greatest voices in rock ’n’ roll—please, write my music.

I’ve known Tia Carrere since her Franklin Avenue days, and she’s always been one of the kindest, most genuine people I know. Her iconic roles in Wayne’s World, True Lies, The Relic Hunter, and President Trump’s Show, The Apprentice prove just how legendary her talent is.

I’ll never forget the day Dr. Dre said to me, “Andre, you know what I like most about you?” I asked, “What’s that?” and he replied, “You take me deep, deep, deep into conversation.” That day, I told him, “You gambled your entire career by taking a white man—Eminem—and bringing him into a black man’s world, then turning him into the number one rapper in that world. That was never supposed to happen.” He looked at me and said, “You know, I’m not a gambling man. But when I heard his music, I knew I had a sure bet—and he was the one.” The way he shared that with his raw, dynamic energy is something I’ll never forget. Big love to Dr. Dre—always—and here’s to every future endeavor.

One of the most surprising things about Jack is how low-key and soft-spoken he is in real life. But the moment the camera rolls, he transforms and delivers those explosive, legendary performances we all know and love. Thanks for always being so cool with me—I truly love this guy.

When Jake and I talked about the 2007 X Games Big Air competition—where he landed the first 720 on a MegaRamp before taking a brutal 47-foot fall—I told him, “I honestly thought you might have died from that insanely high fall.” He simply replied, “I miraculously survived with only minor injuries.” A legendary extreme skateboarder forever. Jake, you’re always welcome on our new social betterment platform anytime.

I first met Jay back when he was performing at The Improv on Melrose Avenue. He’d always say, “Andre, Andre, are you coming to see the show?”—and of course I was, because he never failed to make me laugh. I’ll never forget when Johnny Carson passed him the torch in 1992. As a true aficionado of automobiles, you already know where this is going—Jay Leno’s Garage, baby. See you soon, Jay.

I became an avid fan of the show Under the Dome. This photo of Dwight Yoakam and Jason Lee -The Art God, was taken at my friend Charlton’s restaurant, Café Primo.

Who remembers how stunning Catwoman was in the original Batman series? This is the iconic Julie Newmar. Oooops—just couldn’t resist!

Jeff Kavin was the long-time owner of Greenblatt's Deli, a legendary Jewish delicatessen and wine shop on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. I used to frequent that place almost daily when I lived at my condo, Devoltaire, on Crescent Heights Boulevard. Sadly, due to the challenges of the pandemic, its doors have permanently closed. Truly heartbreaking.

During one of Kathy Eldon’s iconic Creative Vision televised premieres, she stopped mid-speech, pointed at me, and said, “That man over there, Andre Allenberg, gave me one of the most profound reasons for what I do.” For a split second, I thought she was going to say, “Get him out of here!”—just joking. I truly love Kathy for being such a dynamic mother, visionary, and for all of her boundless generosity.

Shoutout to Mel’s Diner on the Sunset Strip—I’ve had countless unforgettable moments there. Diane Warren, a true songwriting legend, has earned an Academy Honorary Award, a Grammy, an Emmy, two Golden Globes, and three consecutive Billboard Music Awards for Songwriter of the Year from 1997 to 1999. She first rose to fame with DeBarge's 1985 hit “Rhythm of the Night.” Diane was hilarious that day, making sure we got the perfect shot. We’ll be seeing you soon, Diane, for the theme song to our new interactive show, Gold N’ Ladder.

A huge shoutout to the incredible EOS crew at the Scottsdale Mayo location—thank you for your friendship and for championing the retention of youth and the longevity of life!

Fabio has been a longtime friend. He once told me, “Andre, never drink alcohol.” With all the access I have to the finest Cabernet Sauvignon, I told him, “That might be a promise I can’t keep.”

There’s a timeless grace and effortless eloquence in Vanessa Williams that leaves a lasting impression.

Mark was kind and generous enough to personally hand me Manny Pacquiao’s autographed shoe. Thank you, Manny P!

This is one of my all-time favorite photos with Mark, Kate Mara, and myself. It was taken at the premiere after-party for Shooter at Merv Griffin’s iconic Beverly Hilton Hotel.

This was taken at Mark’s incredible two-story gym at his house on Old Pass Canyon, where he was putting everyone through the wringer during training for The Fighter. It took two weeks for my rib to heal—two weeks of sleepless nights. I’ll never forget how even laughing, coughing, or sneezing would drop me straight to my knees. That’s the broken rib syndrome for you.