Sam Pottorff

Background

Samuel John Pottorff was born in Laguna Beach, California. He grew up in the city of San Clemente. His father’s name is also Sam, while his mother is Leslie Pottorff. He also has three siblings: two sisters named Cloe and Mia, and a brother named Levi. Unfortunately, his parents soon decided to part ways and got divorced. His mother got custody of the kids. However, his mother eventually moved to Germany, leaving behind the children in the U.S. As a result of such familial issues, Pottorff experienced a rough childhood and slipped into depression.

Growing up, he did not do well academically and was mostly homeschooled. He also enrolled in the public charter high school named “Opportunities for Learning” in Dana Point, California. However, he became a target for school bullies, became frustrated, and decided to drop out. In 2012, when he was 13 years old, Pottorff began making short videos on the popular website YouTube. In addition, he collaborated with Kian Lawley, his best friend. Within six months, the two gained a whopping 1,000 subscribers. They garnered another 9,000 subscribers within the subsequent six months.

In August 2012, he and Lawley formed a group called “Our 2nd Life” with five other members. The group included Trevor Moran, J.C. Caylen, Ricky Dillon, Connor Franta, and Ricardo Oridires. The team gained massive popularity and even attended tours together before breaking up in 2014. Thereafter, Pottorff began a self-titled channel on YouTube.