Born 1981 in Viborg, Denmark, Mads Kristensen knows that being a bit wild in your youth is a part of growing up. Mads currently owns and operates multiple businesses, including the largest tattoo parlor chain in the world; is a heavyweight professional boxer; and also operates businesses spanning from construction, bars, discos, and hosting fight events. From these endeavors, he shows us that if you work hard and dedicate yourself, you can live your dreams, no matter how much of a troublemaker you were when you were young.
A self-proclaimed troubled teen, Mads grew up with angst, and after being thrown out of 11 schools, by age 23, Mads found himself a full-time member of the Hell’s Angels, a notorious biker gang known worldwide. He sought after the free life of these bikers and found this to be his first real-life adventure. “Angels in Aarhus, Denmark, always loved the ‘free life’ and riding a motorcycle is a part of this life,” says Mads. Seeing this side of the world, and wanting to forge down a path for himself, Mads left the Angels in 2011 to start his own business.
Mads saw an opportunity to launch his own business as bikers and tattoos go hand in hand and because he already had an extensive network of clients to service immediately. Finding himself able to serve a market he knew best, Mads showed that his prior lifestyle would prove to be an advantage because he already had extensive knowledge of this industry. Furthermore, he channeled his emotions towards improving himself, and this led to his debut in the professional fighting world, which eventually inspired him to host fighting events himself.
“I have changed in many aspects. I think much more of my actions, and what consequences they will have. I have also learned to be more patient, which is very hard sometimes,” says Mads. Growing more patient through the years of hard work, Mads Kristensen shows us that we can all find healthy and beneficial ways to channel our emotions.
“My success comes from working my ass off every day and never giving up, and also of course I´m not afraid of jumping into deep water and swimming with the sharks. In life you have to take chances…” says Mads.
As he currently donates to charities focusing on the homeless, animal centers, and troubled teens much like himself, Mads has found a way to give back with his successes and is a role model for troubled youth around the world.
