Navigating marriage can be challenging for anyone, but when you and your partner work in the adult entertainment field, it takes an entirely different level of communication, trust, and balance.
That’s precisely what Chris Potoski and his wife, Brandi Love, have mastered over the years. Despite the outside scrutiny, they’ve managed to maintain a thriving marriage and build a successful business partnership.
Their story shows that it’s possible to create a life and career that works for you—no matter the industry. Let’s take a look at how they’ve done it.
Who Is Chris Potoski?
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Chris Potoski (Christopher Michael Potoski) is best known as the husband of adult film actress Brandi Love (Tracey Lynn Livermore). But there’s a lot more to him than that!
He’s a savvy entrepreneur who has co-founded several businesses. He’s the founder and COO of TrafficSoup LLC and TJC Asset Management, roles he’s held since 2006.
Chris also ventured into luxury vacation property development with Tracey Jordan Properties, specializing in the boutique vacation experience in upscale properties along Michigan’s Inland Waterway.
Early Life and Education
Chris Potoski spent much of his early life in juvenile detention at Eagle Village in Michigan. After he left, he found himself in a unique spot.
The state of Michigan put him in an independent living program, which meant he was considered an adult. He was given a small allowance, but aside from that, he was expected to make his way.
He worked through high school and got his GED. From there, he was at a crossroads: college or the military.
College
Ferris State University was one of the few schools in Michigan that accepted students with a GED, so he applied. It wasn’t easy, though—he got turned down multiple times.
Most people would have given up, but not Chris. He moved to Big Rapids, rented a room, and visited the admissions office daily. Eventually, one kind-hearted lady decided to give him a shot and let him in on a probationary basis for the summer semester.
And that’s how he got his foot in the door. After Ferris, he transferred to Central Michigan University, where he double-majored in Physiology and Psychology. He pulled off an impressive 3.8 GPA and started his master’s coursework.
Because of his unique living situation, Chris got grants and loans to help pay for college, and he worked almost full-time during school and summers. By the time he graduated, he had about $15,000 saved up, which was pretty impressive for a recent college grad.
Marriage and Life After College
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After graduation, Chris married Brandi Love, his college sweetheart. On his graduation, still dressed in his cap and gown, he and his new wife packed a Ryder truck and moved to Florida.
Instead of jumping straight into their careers, the couple blew their savings on a four-month backpacking trip through Mexico. Chris still says it’s the best experience of his life.
The couple returned from the trip with incredible memories, new perspectives, and not a penny left in their bank accounts.
Early Career
With no jobs and no money after their adventure, Chris Potoski got to work. Thanks to some “Knock ‘Em Dead” books about job hunting, he wasn’t unemployed for long.
Luck, timing, and Chris’s work ethic played a massive part in kickstarting his career. He’s always been driven and incredibly self-competitive.
Despite feeling that most people in technology were “smarter” than him, he was determined to outread, outlearn, and outwork anyone. Eventually, he found his niche somewhere between biotechnology and disease management, which was new and evolving.
No one had more than a few years of experience in the field, so it was the perfect level playing field for someone hungry to prove themselves.
Between 1995 and 2003, Chris quickly climbed the ranks. He started in a phone-based sales job at Weatherby Healthcare and, by the age of 30, became the vice president of development at National Healing Corporation, now Healogics.
While he thrived in his role—presenting to executives and boards didn’t phase him—the immense stress took a toll. In 2004, Chris suffered a heart attack.
Career in the Adult Film Industry
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That health scare made Chris re-evaluate his fast-paced career. His doctor recommended a change, so Chris left NHC, cashed out his investments, and began a new chapter.
With some savings but no clear direction, Chris and his wife, Brandi, started Grapevine Greetings, making custom wine labels for special events like weddings. While they found some success, they struggled to scale the business and couldn’t expand their online presence.
Through networking, they connected with people in Raleigh who helped them rebuild their site. The turning point came when those same connections introduced Chris to a new opportunity—one in the adult entertainment industry.
Chris and Brandi decided to invest in this new venture, which proved extraordinarily lucrative. From 2004 to 2008, Chris learned everything about website development and SEO. He became an expert in ranking websites and optimizing search engines.
They owned over 1,000 domains at the peak, which they sold off. However, Chris saw the industry changing. The market was becoming more challenging, and the financial crisis was looming.
At the same time, social media platforms like Facebook and MySpace were starting to take off. He became obsessed with the potential of these apps, which led him to his next entrepreneurial project, InVixis Media Systems.
Chris Potoski’s Child
The couple has a beautiful daughter, born in 2000. Given their involvement in the adult film industry, they decided to keep her identity private, only introducing her to the public on their 23rd wedding anniversary.
After her birth, Brandi’s parents pursued custody, arguing that her career created an unsafe environment for the child. However, a thorough investigation by authorities found no issues in the child’s surroundings that would cause concern, allowing the couple to retain custody and raise their daughter.
Final Thoughts
Chris Potoski has never been ashamed of his past in adult entertainment and how it has significantly shaped his business sense. Everything he learned about digital marketing before it was mainstream was all thanks to the adult industry.
What I find fascinating is how he used those lessons throughout his career. Instead of downplaying that chapter, he sees it as a valuable experience that gave him an edge in understanding where digital business was headed.
His entire journey shows that success comes down to a willingness to take risks and adapt: right place, right time—plus the guts to go for it.
