For more than three decades, Darren Prince has been the man behind the legends. Magic Johnson. Hulk Hogan. Charlie Sheen. David Goggins. The list goes on. As a sports and entertainment agent, his career has been a dream on paper: power, wealth, influence, and access to the world’s biggest stars.
But what people didn’t see was the other life he was living. Behind the red carpets and business deals, Prince was spiraling into opioid addiction. On “A Healthy Point of View” podcast, hosted by Sam Tejada, CEO and Founder of Liquivida®, he pulled back the curtain on his journey, one that took him from the edge of death to 17 years of sobriety, and to a life built on service, wellness, and inner peace.
The Secret Struggle
Prince’s battle with drugs began when he was only 14. By the time he became an agent at 24, he understood that his career came with morality clauses, so he stayed away from illegal drugs. But prescription opioids? Those were easy to come by. Doctors, dazzled by his connections, never questioned his requests.
“At first it worked,” he admitted. “It gave me confidence, energy, whatever I needed. But eventually, what started as living to use became using to live.”
On the outside, he was representing icons and bringing in millions. On the inside, he was overdosing, lying to loved ones, and waking up each day without wanting to be alive.
A Moment of Clarity
Everything changed in the summer of 2008. While visiting his mother in New Jersey, his uncle and his uncle’s girlfriend, Andrea, decided to stop by Darren’s condo. Andrea had never met him before, but as she looked at the photos on his walls, images of him with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and Magic Johnson, she delivered a line that pierced his soul:
“This doesn’t mean anything, because you don’t mean anything to yourself.”
That night, while detoxing in his apartment, he found two stray Vicodin pills. He almost gave in. Instead, he collapsed to the floor and prayed: “Take the money, take the business, take the notoriety, just give me one day of freedom, and I’ll spend my life helping others.”
The next evening, he walked into a church basement for a 12-step meeting. When the leader asked if anyone new was there, his hand went up. “It wasn’t me raising it,” he says now. “It was God.” That decision began his sobriety.
From Taking to Giving
Prince stayed close to the fellowship during that first year. But when his one-year sobriety anniversary came around, his sponsor gave him new marching orders: “You’ve been a taker. Now it’s time to give back.”
So he did. Prince began speaking openly about his addiction, even though it meant being vulnerable in front of the world. He launched the Aiming High Foundation, which provides scholarships for people who can’t afford treatment. And he wrote his memoir, Aiming High, which became a bestseller in 2018.
“Vulnerability turned into my superpower,” he told Sam. “People connect with authenticity. It makes them feel less alone.”
Success, Redefined
For years, Prince thought happiness came from money, fame, and recognition. But sobriety taught him otherwise.
“I lost myself,” he admitted. “The external stuff didn’t matter anymore. Real wealth is inner wealth, peace, self-love, and serving others. That’s what lasts.”
Even his relationships with clients changed. These days, most of his calls with Magic Johnson, Charlie Sheen, or David Goggins have little to do with contracts. They’re about life, family, and staying healthy.
Avoiding Tomorrow’s Trap
Sam asked about the cycle many people fall into when they’re chasing success, the constant promise to “change tomorrow.” Prince knows that trap all too well.
“It comes down to people, places, and things,” he explained. “The friends you choose, the places you go, the things you do. Sometimes you need to love certain people from a distance. If you’re not around like-minded people who are growing, they’ll pull you down faster than you’ll pull them up.”
Becoming the Light
Today, Prince often finds himself in situations where he can help others. Whether it’s a conversation at a restaurant or a chance encounter with a stranger, he doesn’t hide his story. Through his foundation, he’s even been able to personally fund treatment for people who couldn’t afford it.
“My authenticity became my strength,” he said. “I can go into places filled with temptation and not only be okay, but I can be the light for others.”
Living Healthier at 55
Sobriety didn’t just give him clarity; it gave him a new obsession with health and wellness. At 55, Prince says he feels stronger than he did in his 40s. His mornings begin with meditation and frequency therapy, followed by grounding, workouts, and cold showers. He uses red light therapy, drinks hydrogen water, and even works with practitioners in neuro-linguistic programming to reset old thought patterns.
While some of his routines involve advanced biohacking, he stresses that anyone can start with simple, affordable habits: walking barefoot on the grass, getting sunlight first thing in the morning, and drinking clean water.
He’s also chosen to avoid plant-based medicines like ayahuasca or microdosing. “It’s just not for me,” he said. “At 17 years sober, I’m in a good place without it.”
A Healthier America
Prince has also lent his voice to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, which emphasizes nutrition and preventive care. He pointed out that what children eat today has a direct impact on their mental health, hormones, and overall well-being as adults.
“We’re an obese nation,” he said. “Parents don’t realize how much of what kids eat is damaging. If you’re not putting the right things into your body as a child, by your late teens and twenties, problems start showing up.”
He cited a statistic that nearly 70% of draft-age men in the U.S. are unfit for military service due to poor health. “That makes us weak as a country,” he said bluntly.
The Real Miracle
Looking back, Prince doesn’t see July 2, 2008, the day he embraced sobriety, as the end of something. He sees it as the beginning.
His message for anyone struggling with addiction is clear: “Stop living in shame. Stop living a double life. Ask for help. The moment you take accountability, the miracle begins.”
And for everyone else, he offers a challenge: “We all know someone dealing with addiction. Be the person who reaches out. Sometimes that hand can save a life.”
Darren Prince’s story is proof that success without self-worth is hollow. True wealth isn’t about status or money, it’s about finding peace, serving others, and living with purpose. His pain became his purpose, and in sharing it, he’s giving countless others the chance to start again.