Jordan Howlett

Howlett was raised in Oceanside, California, after his family moved there from Victorville when his parents received an opportunity to help start a mailbox installation company branch in San Diego. His father held jobs at a federal prison and Best Buy before later working in grocery-store loss prevention, while his mother worked in a landscaping company's office.

Howlett lives with his parents, his older brother Elijah, and their cats in a rented house in San Diego County. He has said that his family comes first and that he gave his former car to his father so he could get to work.

Howlett attended Oceanside High School and began playing baseball at 16, despite having no earlier experience in organized sports. He trained intensely, working out before school, attending multiple practices, and spending nights in the batting cages with his friend Saúl Sandoval Estrada. He hoped to play Division I baseball and eventually reach the major leagues.

After attending College of the Desert, Howlett transferred to the University of California, Riverside, where he tried out as a walk-on. During the difficult transition, he slept in his 1997 Chevrolet Suburban near the baseball field while attending classes and pursuing a place on the team. Coaches gave him a 10-day opportunity to prove himself, and his work ethic helped him make the team and earn an athletic scholarship.

The COVID-19 pandemic ended his baseball eligibility after a technicality involving community-college credits. Howlett graduated from UC Riverside in 2020 with degrees in African American studies and kinesiology. His documentary Dear Baseball later helped him tell the story of losing the sport, and LeBron James's team connected him with More Than an Athlete through Uninterrupted.

Howlett began posting videos in 2018, later gaining momentum after making frequent videos about his experiences in food-service jobs and everyday life. Within a year of following his older brother Elijah's example on TikTok, he had reached one million followers.

His best-known project is the Fast Food Secrets Club, a series built around fast-food preparation tips, ingredient explanations, menu commentary, simple recipes, and claims about recreating popular items. He researches recipes extensively, double-checking information and testing it himself before presenting it to viewers. His videos are usually unscripted and often use a direct-to-camera format filmed in a bathroom or kitchen.

A recurring opening phrase, "Come here," became one of Howlett's trademarks after appearing spontaneously in a video about frightening creatures. Viewers responded strongly to the gesture and asked him to continue using it. His glasses, leather-bound recipe book, slow delivery, and humorous storytelling have also become recognizable elements of his style.

Howlett has made videos with Kevin Hart, Method Man, Donald Glover, Childish Gambino, and Big Sean. He has described these collaborations as opportunities to learn from established entertainers and to connect audiences from different generations. Other celebrities he has collaborated with include Tom Holland, Will Smith, Channing Tatum, Michael B. Jordan, Shakira, Regé-Jean Page, and Halle Berry.

His social-media profile has led to national advertising campaigns for State Farm and Alaska Airlines, as well as appearances connected with Kevin Hart's Hart House. He also threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game in 2023 and attended the 2024 BET Awards.

Howlett's creator career has included recognition on the Forbes Top Creators list, the Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Media list, and TIME's TIME100 Creators list. He has also spoken about pursuing larger opportunities in movies and television while continuing to center his work on the audience that built his platform.