The Kink Machine: The Hidden Business Of Adult Entertainment

by Patricia Nilsson, Alex Barker

Millions watch it. Few know who’s behind it. This is the story of the companies who rule the online adult entertainment business.

Streamed by millions every day, porn is everywhere. It shapes our culture, our relationships, and even technology. Yet, nobody seems to know who really controls the business. The power brokers tend to lurk in the shadows, while their performers remain quite literally exposed.

In The Kink The Hidden Business of Adult Entertainment, two Financial Times journalists, Patricia Nilsson and Alex Barker, start digging into the porn industry and following where the money flows. Their reporting uncovers a shadowy power structure that includes billionaires, tech geniuses, and the most powerful finance companies in the world.

A gripping exposé of how power operates behind the most taboo corner of the internet, Nilsson and Barker unravel a story about control, influence, and an industry with staggering cultural reach that no one really wants to talk about—until now.

Please This collection includes content that has been released in the Hot Money podcast series.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction

Audible Audio

Published February 10, 2026

Reviews

[Julia Deziel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook format that was produced like a podcast - super cool. Great reporting about the industry and its complex financial ties

[Keith Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, a somewhat unfair criticism. This feels like it could’ve been an article, not a book — but that’s because it was first a podcast of episodes, so it was likely stretched a bit. Second, a fair criticism. The ultimate reveal is withheld and surprising, but could’ve been a paragraph — the whole book really could’ve been two paragraphs. It was fascinating though, gives interesting perspective to the industry.

[Alex Gruenenfelder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on diligent reporting from the very serious Financial Times, this is an interesting and fast-paced dive into the financial ringmasters behind the world of online pornography. Because it's exclusively an audiobook, it behaves similarly to an interesting podcast, having the voices of those interviewed directly recorded and their perspectives feeling all the more real as a result. Although it's hard to say that much of an argument for anything is made here, it opens up conversations with a great many facts, and those interested in so-called "sin industries" will likely find it quite fascinating.

[Gabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really solid piece of follow-the-money investigative journalism. Also functioned as a kind of behind the curtain, unofficial history of the internet.

My only complaint was that I thought the book felt the need to apologise for itself or try to be something that it wasn’t. It’s the FT - I don’t need cheesy GarageBand true crime sound track to keep my attention and repeated cliffhanger character unveils. It sort of fell between book and podcast in the end. I’d have liked it to go full narrative non-fiction or completely conversational instead of mixing the two.

[Jamie-Ashton Fabian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good listen! Definitely not as much of an expose as it claims to be, but still very interesting and full of good research and pertinent material. I enjoyed learning about this subject through this audiobook, even if it really was more of a podcast. Still worth a listen if this is a topic that intrigues you!

[David Erik Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a very long podcast than a book, but pretty interesting if you’re curious about the economics and finance undergirding pre-OnlyFans porn industry.

Raises one extremely important question: why are Visa and Mastercard OK with step-family incest, but deadset against period sex?

[Antoine Bertrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting listen. I'm a fan of the FT podcasts in general, but the research and the journey through the chapters is great.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

More like a podcast, a great history of the internet too.

[Grace Donahue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look into the financial backing of the porn industry but got so repetitive at the end I almost didn’t finish it

[Buns Buns]

god i hate finance 🫪

[Hemel · Rating 3 out of 5]

wow, I can't believe Visa and Mastercard don't fw twinks