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Empower Network Review 2026

⚠️ BANKRUPT 2017 — Pioneer internet marketing MLM, co-founded by David Sharpe (Legendary Marketer)
Residual Income Rating
1.0 / 5
Last updated:
January 15, 2026

What is Empower Network?

⚠️ BANKRUPT 2017. Blogging and internet marketing MLM founded by David Wood and David Sharpe in 2011. At its peak had 100,000+ affiliates promoting viral blog posts and digital training products. Filed for bankruptcy in August 2017 following David Wood's highly publicized personal struggles. David Sharpe later founded Legendary Marketer (also now closed).

Pros
  • Was genuinely innovative — pioneered viral blog-based affiliate marketing in 2011
  • Provided income for some early affiliates before collapse
  • David Sharpe's teaching was considered valuable by some members
Cons
  • ⚠️ Filed for bankruptcy August 2017 — all affiliates lost income overnight
  • Co-founder David Wood experienced public personal breakdown before bankruptcy
  • David Sharpe left in 2015 amid personal and professional conflicts
  • Illustrates the catastrophic risk of building income on someone else's platform
  • Many affiliates lost significant income when the company collapsed
  • Successor Legendary Marketer (David Sharpe) also closed in February 2026

Rating Breakdown

Residual Income
1.0 / 5
Simplicity
1.0 / 5
Transparency
1.0 / 5
Community & Support
1.0 / 5
Value for Money
1.0 / 5
Overall Rating
1.0 / 5

Frequently Asked Questions About Empower Network

Why did Empower Network fail?
Empower Network filed for bankruptcy in August 2017. Co-founder David Wood cited an accounting error and his own personal struggles (which became very public) as contributing factors. The company had been declining for years before the final collapse.
What happened to David Sharpe after Empower Network?
David Sharpe left Empower Network in 2015 and went on to found Legendary Marketer in 2016. Legendary Marketer grew significantly before David Sharpe announced its closure in February 2026 — ending another 9-year run. Two major internet marketing platforms, both gone.
What happened to Empower Network affiliates?
When Empower Network filed for bankruptcy in 2017, all affiliate agreements and income streams ended immediately. Affiliates who had built significant income from the platform lost everything. This is one of the most cited examples of the risk of MLM income dependency.

Quick Facts

Overall Rating
1.0 / 5

Founded2011

FoundersDavid Wood & David Sharpe

Peak Affiliates100,000+

Bankruptcy FiledAugust 2017

David Sharpe's Next VentureLegendary Marketer (also closed February 2026)

WebsiteN/A — bankrupt

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