Recession indicator: The internet’s new boyfriend is Brad Love, a hot guy in Palm Springs, California, who panhandles full-time

Brad Love, a self-described “professional panhandler” from Palm Springs, California, went viral recently for his model-level cheekbones. But instead of an MCU starring role, Love’s famous for begging on the corner. Yes, you read that right. While most viral stars chase a dream or a side hustle, Love’s living his best life, asking for money with a cardboard sign.

Love’s rise to viral status started like most Gen Z fairytales: Someone stuck a camera in his face. A TikTok creator filmed him panhandling on a sunny Palm Springs corner, and the internet did what it does best—lost its mind over a good-looking man holding a sign. Cue the thirst comments and unsolicited modeling suggestions.

“I am a professional panhandler”

And what was Brad’s response to all this unexpected career advice?

“I am a professional panhandler,” he said with a smirk, “I am not interested in modeling or acting.” In another video, he clarified further: “If I wanted a job, I’d go get a job. I was a nurse. I don’t want to do that. I don’t like work.”

Ah yes, the American Dream—rejecting capitalism one Cash App donation at a time.

Love says he sometimes makes as much as $260 a day

Let’s clarify: Love isn’t unhoused, and he doesn’t have mental health challenges. He’s not even trying to clean up his act. In his own words, panhandling is just… easier. Simpler. More lucrative than punching a clock. On a good day, he claims he can rake in $260 just standing around with a Sharpie-scribbled sign and some charm.

He even has a TikTok account where he banters with fans and reminds everyone to send money through Cash App. It’s all very 2025.

But there’s a catch: his fame might be hurting business. According to Love, Palm Springs authorities recently asked him to stop panhandling, probably because the city’s trying to crack down on visible homelessness and possibly because a guy getting Venmo tips for doing nothing is… not the civic vibe they’re going for.

Some say he’s just hacking the system. Others aren’t so generous. Critics argue he’s glamorizing laziness and making a mockery of people who actually have no other choice.

Meanwhile, the rest of us are just left wondering: how did this guy go from nursing scrubs to a cardboard sign and still manage to get more likes than your friend’s engagement post?

Depending on your perspective, Love symbolizes either radical freedom or everything wrong with our hustle culture. He’s not trying to better himself. He’s not chasing likes (though they keep coming). And he doesn’t want your unsolicited career advice.

In an age where everyone’s optimizing and grinding, Brad is doing less—and somehow winning. Maybe that’s why we can’t look away.