KEY POINTS

  • Ken Block entered his first rally race season in 2005 and earned great recognition
  • An accomplished driver, he also co-founded Hoonigan Industries and DC Shoes
  • Block's YouTube channel has nearly 2 million subscribers

Rally icon Ken Block has passed away, leaving his fans with a legacy of being a successful entrepreneur, extreme sports star and YouTube sensation.

Block died Monday at the age of 55 in a snowmobile accident near his Utah home.

"It's with our deepest regrets that we can confirm that Ken Block passed away in a snowmobile accident today," said a statement from Hoonigan Industries, a company that Block co-founded. "Ken was a visionary, a pioneer and an icon. And most importantly, a father and husband. He will be incredibly missed."

Block was more than just an accomplished driver and athlete. He is seen as a trailblazer in action sports marketing and motorsports filmmaking. He was the co-founder of DC Shoes and Hoonigan Industries and had a net worth of $100 million when he passed away, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Block grew up in California and worked as a draughtsman when he was younger. He eventually quit his job to become a self-proclaimed "snowboard bum," according to HotCars.

Block co-founded the sportswear company DC Shoes in 1994 and made a fortune out of it. DC Shoes raked in nearly $7 million worth of sales in about a year. Quicksilver acquired DC Shoes in 2004.

Block worked as the company's Chief Brand Officer before eventually selling his ownership of DC Shoes.

Block's passion for adventure sports led him to take up rallying at the age of 37. He entered his first rally race season in 2005 and was named Rookie of the Year that season in the Rally America Championship. He has since earned great recognition as a rally driver with multiple wins.

Block also co-founded Hoonigan Industries, an apparel brand for auto enthusiasts. He announced in 2015 that he was going to focus most of his attention on Hoonigan.

The rally driver also became an internet sensation for posting videos on his YouTube channel, which has nearly 2 million subscribers.

Videos of him drifting and doing stunts behind the wheel have gained thousands of views online. The YouTube channel for Hoonigan also reportedly became one of the most popular channels in the field of motorsports.

"Ken was a legend in his ability to take a vision and make it a reality. He created an industry," Steve Arpin, Block's teammate in the Nitro RallyCross series, told ESPN. "But if you were lucky enough to know him, that's where the best parts of Ken surfaced."

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