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Matthew Gilbert — better known to millions online as The Irish Viking — has turned a social media following into a lucrative creator career. That success, however, has been matched by a string of legal and tax problems that have placed him in the public spotlight beyond his content.
From Kilcoole barber to online creator
The 35-year-old, originally from Kilcoole in County Wicklow, moved into adult subscription content after his barbershop closed during the Covid pandemic. He built a large audience — roughly 2.4 million followers on TikTok and about 400,000 across other platforms — and has said most of his paying customers are women.
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In 2021 Gilbert told media he was earning more than €54,000 a month from approximately 3,000 paid subscribers on OnlyFans. Those claimed earnings later drew the attention of the tax authorities.
Tax audits and settlements with Revenue
The Irish Revenue placed Gilbert on its tax defaulters list, identifying him as an online content creator with a Wicklow address. An audit found he had under-declared income by €61,734, leaving a total liability of €88,681 once penalties were applied.
His company, Matty Irish Viking Limited, which is registered on Dame Street in Dublin, also appeared on the same list. Revenue said the company had under-declared amounts across corporation tax, PAYE, PRSI, USC and VAT totalling €191,464; interest and penalties increased that figure to €266,693. Revenue has confirmed both liabilities were settled in full.
Criminal record and driving ban
Gilbert’s legal issues are not limited to taxation. Public records show he has 42 previous convictions, including drug offences and multiple motoring offences such as driving without an NCT, without insurance and without a valid licence.
At Bray District Court he was disqualified from driving for six years after being detected at 134km/h on the N11 while already disqualified and uninsured. The court heard the disqualification was “purely cosmetic” because Gilbert now lives abroad — a journey of some 3,683 miles to his reported residence in Dubai.
Still active online
Despite those setbacks, Gilbert remains active on social platforms. He continues to post for his followers and is reported to drive a Range Rover in Dubai.
Whether for his social-media output, his business earnings or his legal history, Gilbert continues to attract attention as one of Ireland’s more prominent online personalities.
