Note: This post is based entirely on publicly available information, including statements from Lucas Botkin and T.REX ARMS, as well as commentary from third-party media and online forums.
My father-in-law taught me the first rule of survival in business: no partners.
His reasoning was simple—once you bring in partners, you never know what surprises the future holds.
If I had known Lucas Botkin in 2016, and he had asked for advice, I would’ve told him the same—no partners. Build a team. Pay them well. Give them golden parachutes if you must. But don’t give away control.
On May 28, 2025, Lucas Botkin walked away from the very company he founded. He started T.REX ARMS from scratch, working out of his parents’ garage without even a heater. It was a classic story of entrepreneurial grit—talent, vision, and sweat equity combining to build something real.
But the same drive that built T.REX eventually cost him control. Lucas’s story is a cautionary tale: what begins with good intentions can end in a power shift—especially when family is involved.
According to Lucas’s own public video and reporting from Evangelical Dark Web (June 10, 2025), in 2016 he granted equity to his brother David and David’s brother-in-law. No cash consideration was involved. Then in 2017 or 2018, David reportedly encouraged the inclusion of their older brother Isaac. To make room, Lucas gave up more of his own equity than David. By the end of 2018, Lucas had become a minority shareholder in the company he started.
According to Lucas and various community discussions:
- His wife was treated as an outsider despite contributing unpaid work.
- Strategic disagreements over values and direction emerged.
- Lucas was asked to sign a prenuptial agreement, while his brothers declined to sign mirror postnups.
- In early 2025, a manager’s son—also employed at the company—allegedly sent explicit content to Lucas’s wife. The company’s response was viewed by Lucas and others as inadequate. Isaac later confirmed the incident in T.REX ARMS’ official June 2 video.
That appears to have been the final straw. Lucas attempted to regain control but was unsuccessful. He resigned from the company as an employee, director, and minority shareholder. Under prior agreements, the remaining shareholders are now required to buy out his stake.
It’s a sobering moment. T.REX wasn’t just a gear company—it stood for something. Whether or not you agreed with its philosophy, it was known for clear values and strong execution. At least, publicly.
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Lessons worth remembering
1. Titles mean nothing.
You can maintain CEO optics but have no actual control. Operational authority means nothing without voting power.
2. Family ≠ alignment.
People often cite nepotism in family businesses, but few acknowledge the risk of internal misalignment—where familial closeness obscures competing agendas.
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Looking forward
In my view, two things are likely.
First, T.REX Arms may struggle. When a founder exits under conditions like this, it becomes difficult to preserve the same culture and execution standards that shaped the original growth.
Second, I expect Lucas to build again. Real entrepreneurs—those who’ve built from zero—tend to do it more than once. I’ve worked alongside one for over a decade. The characteristics are distinct: self-drive, appetite for risk, vision without dependence.
Based on what’s been publicly shared, it seems clear that the initiative to start something belonged to Lucas. That’s why he’s the one walking away with nothing but his name—and still capable of starting over.
Sure, this time the garage might have heating and the capital might be real, but the same pattern is playing out: a founder starting from scratch, on his own terms. And many of us in this space will be watching closely to see what comes next.
I wish Lucas and Kara nothing but the best.