Editing Equinox (MLM)

{{Short description|Shutdown pyramid scheme}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Equinox
| logo = 
| type = 
| industry = [[Multi-level marketing]]
| fate = 
| predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = -->
| successor = <!-- or: | successors = -->
| founded = {{Start date and age|1991}}
| founder = Bill Gouldd
| defunct = {{End date and age|2001}}
| hq_location_city = [[Las Vegas]]
| hq_location_country = United States
| area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = -->
| key_people = 
| products = 
| owner = <!-- or: | owners = -->
| num_employees = 
| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->
| parent = 
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
'''Equinox International''' was a [[multi-level marketing]] company founded in 1991 and headed by Bill Gouldd.<ref name=inc1>
{{cite web 
| url        = http://www.inc.com/magazine/20001015/20767.html 
| title      = Fast-Sinking Star 
| author     = Donna Fenn 
| date = 15 October 2000 
| publisher  = Inc. magazine 
| access-date = 2009-07-06
}}</ref> In 1996, Equinox was listed #1 on [[Inc Magazine]]'s list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the United States.

The company and its founder came under scrutiny for its business practices; starting in 1997, investors, the [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]], and several states brought suit<ref>http://www.mlm-beobachter.com/pdf/equinoxorder.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> charging Equinox was an illegal [[pyramid scheme]] rather than a legitimate business.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2000/apr/04/equinox-fraud-trial-starts/ | title=Equinox fraud trial starts - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper | date=4 April 2000 }}</ref>

On 25 April 2000, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] issued a notice that Equinox International settled a court case with a penalty of $40 million in restitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2000/04/equinox-international-settles-case-ftc-eight-states-nearly-40 |title=Equinox International Settles Case with FTC, Eight States Nearly $40 Million in Restitution for Alleged Pyramid Victims &#124; Federal Trade Commission |publisher=Ftc.gov |date= 25 April 2000|accessdate=2022-05-18}}</ref> Gouldd was required to surrender substantial holdings, but retained (among other things) over a million dollars worth of real estate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2000-04-28-0004280174-story.html |title=All That Glitters Is Definitely Not Gouldd In Boca  |publisher=Sun Sentinel |date=2022-05-14 |accessdate=2022-05-18}}</ref>

Equinox International was ordered dissolved in April 2000.<ref name="hawaii1">https://files.hawaii.gov/dcca/sec/news-releases/breg_pressrelease_equinox.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> As part of the settlement, Gouldd was also "permanently restrained and enjoined from engaging, participating or assisting in any multi-level marketing program."<ref name="hawaii1"/>

==References==
<references/>

{{Multi-level marketing}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Equinox (Mlm)}}
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Nevada]]
[[Category:Defunct multi-level marketing companies]]
[[Category:Pyramid and Ponzi schemes]]