Disney Dining Serving up the latest Disney Eats, Treats, News, and More!
Few stories of financial crime capture the imagination quite like the bizarre and mysterious story of Christopher Burns, the so-called “Disney Dad.”
Credit: Burns Family
A financial advisor by trade, Burns vanished in 2020, leaving a trail of financial devastation and a mystified public in his wake. His wife and children have been just as baffled by his disappearance and the allegations against him as anyone else.
Nicknamed “the Disney Dad” because of the numerous Disney World vacations he took with his family, Burns was also a youth worker at a local church and had a weekly show on a local station in Georgia that focused on various topics related to personal finance.
Related: Former Pastor’s Disney Trips Landed Him Among the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitives
Credit: Burns Family/BelievingMyself Blog
Now among the FBI’s Most Wanted fugitives for white-collar crime, Christopher Burns’ disappearance is intertwined with a sprawling Ponzi scheme, an age-old financial ruse that continues to ensnare victims despite numerous high-profile cases. Burns’ saga is a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities within financial systems, the often devastating consequences of misplaced trust, the pain of betrayal, and the destruction of the family unit.
The Rise & Fall of a Former Financial Advisor & Pastor
Christopher Burns wasn’t always a fugitive. For years, he built a reputation as a savvy financial advisor, operating primarily out of Atlanta, Georgia.
Through his firm, Dynamic Money, based in Sandy Springs, Georgia, as well as two associated financial groups, Burns cultivated a client base that trusted him implicitly with their financial futures. But behind the façade of respectability, Burns was busy orchestrating a massive Ponzi scheme—a type of investment fraud that pays existing investors with funds collected from new investors rather than from profits earned.
Related: FBI Gets Involved in Disney’s Alleged Plans to Build a New Theme Park Resort in Texas
Credit: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Investigators say that Burns used money he earned by defrauding clients to fund his extravagant lifestyle, part of which included numerous lavish trips to the Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida.
By 2020, Burns’ scheme had begun to unravel. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused him of defrauding dozens of investors out of more than $10 million. The Commission’s complaint detailed things Burns allegedly did, including promising high returns with minimal risk–something that often serves as a red flag in investment opportunities.
When the returns failed to materialize and investor demands for withdrawals grew, the scheme collapsed.
Burns on the Run
On September 24, 2020, the day before Christopher Burns was scheduled to hand over financial documents to the SEC, he vanished, seemingly without a trace.
Credit: Burns family
His abandoned car was found near a bridge in Dunwoody, Georgia, with no signs of struggle or foul play. Inside the vehicle were copies of three cashier’s checks totaling more than $78,000, according to the FBI. The disappearance marked the beginning of a nationwide manhunt Burns as the days turned into months, and those months turned into years.
It’s four years since anyone has seen Christopher Burns, making the question of his whereabouts one of the most perplexing and confusing mysteries in recent years. During his absence, FBI agents assigned to the case have admitted they believe Burns is still alive, though there have been no credible sightings of the fugitive since he disappeared.
Credit: Becky Burkett/FBI/Burns Family/Canva
Where Is Christopher Burns?
Authorities familiar with the case believe it’s likely that Burns is living under an assumed identity–and possibly abroad. The search has spanned international borders, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Interpol joining the effort.
Related: Disney Actress Found Dead Following “Cryptic” Texts About an Imposter & the FBI
Credit: Facebook/Dynamic Money
Despite the extensive resources deployed, Burns has managed to elude capture, prompting speculation about his preparedness and possible accomplices.
Burns’ ability to remain at large for years could suggest a high degree of planning and resourcefulness. It also points to possible flaws in international cooperation on financial crimes. As financial systems become more globalized, so too must the efforts to combat fraud and bring perpetrators to justice.
The Ghosts of a Social Media Presence
Despite the fact that Christopher Burns hasn’t been seen or heard from since September 2024, potential clients wouldn’t necessarily know it upon first glance at his social media accounts, all of which are still live online.
The Facebook page for Burns’ company, Dynamic Money, is still live, though the date of the last post corresponds to the date he vanished: September 24, 2020.
Credit: Screenshot/Facebook
The Impact on Burns’ Victims & His Family
Burns’ disappearance has left a wake of financial ruin.
Many of his clients were retirees who had entrusted him with their life savings. The fallout from his scheme has been devastating, with some victims losing all of their savings, as well as their homes. The emotional toll has been equally profound, as clients have been left to deal with not only the financial fallout–but the fallout from shattered trust as well.
Christopher Burns also left his family in a shambles when he disappeared. Neither his now-ex-wife nor his three children had any idea about his questionable and allegedly criminal business dealings. They, too, wonder where he is today, and his ex-wife, Meredith, has issued a public plea for him to turn himself in, but so far, it’s been to no avail.
The FBI Implores the Public to Share Any Tips They Might Have
Now, almost exactly four years after a federal arrest warrant was issued for Burns on October 23, 2020, Christopher Burns still remains on the FBI Most Wanted list.
If you have any information about Burns, if you think you have seen him, or if you may have been a victim of his alleged Ponzi scheme, the Federal Bureau of Investigation urges you to contact the Atlanta Field Office by calling (770) 216-3000. You can also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
