Lieutenant Dan, whose real name is Joseph Malinowski, shot to viral fame on TikTok after revealing he had no plans to evacuate for Hurricane Milton, choosing instead to ride out the storm on his sailboat.

Lieutenant Dan became an overnight sensation riding out Hurricane Milton. Then his long criminal past came to light - Joseph Malinkowski became a ‘cult hero’ overnight for his defiant stand in the face of Hurricane Milton.

Malinowski, now known on TikTok as “Lieutenant Dan,” recently moved to Florida and lives on his 20-foot sailboat at the Tampa Bay Harbor. He said he has been homeless for the past 10 years — living on the streets, on his scooter and now on his sailboat.