5 Shocking Details About Matt Rife’s Annabelle Doll Purchase And His Paranormal Plans

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The world of stand-up comedy and paranormal investigation collided recently, creating one of the most unexpected and buzz-worthy stories of the year. As of December 22, 2025, comedian Matt Rife has officially taken on a new, highly unusual role: the legal guardian of the notorious Annabelle doll. This isn't a joke from a new special; it's the real-life consequence of Rife and YouTuber Elton Castee purchasing the infamous Warren Occult Museum, the home of the world’s most haunted artifacts. This deep dive explores the shocking details of the acquisition, Rife's future plans for the demonic doll, and the full biography of the comedian who now holds the keys to paranormal history.

The news, which Rife announced via his social media channels, has sent shockwaves through both the comedy and horror communities. The Warren Occult Museum, located in Monroe, Connecticut, houses a collection of genuinely terrifying artifacts gathered by famed demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, whose work inspired the blockbuster The Conjuring film franchise. The centerpiece of this collection is the Raggedy Ann doll known as Annabelle, which is said to be demonically possessed and has been kept safely locked away in a glass case—until now. Rife and Castee’s acquisition opens a new, highly public chapter for this piece of dark history.

Comedian Matt Rife: A Full Biographical Profile

Before becoming the unexpected caretaker of a demonically possessed doll, Matt Rife was already a global phenomenon in the comedy world. His rapid ascent from touring comedian to social media superstar is a testament to his relentless work ethic and unique style of crowd work.

  • Full Name: Matthew Steven Rife
  • Date of Birth: September 10, 1995
  • Age (as of 2025): 30
  • Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
  • Occupation: Stand-up Comedian, Actor, Television Personality
  • Career Start: Began performing stand-up comedy at the age of 14.
  • Notable Appearances: MTV's Wild 'n Out (2015–2017), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and various self-produced comedy specials.
  • Comedy Specials: Only Fans (2021), Matthew Steven Rife (2023), Walking Red Flag (2024).
  • Tours: Known for his massive, often sold-out global tours, including the "ProbleMATTic World Tour."
  • Estimated Net Worth (2025): Between $25 million and $50 million, primarily from touring, specials, and social media monetization.

Rife's career trajectory, fueled by viral clips on TikTok and Instagram, has made him one of the highest-paid and most recognizable comedians working today. His controversial and edgy humor has garnered both massive praise and significant criticism, making him a figure constantly in the public eye. Now, his latest venture into the paranormal ensures that the spotlight on him will only get brighter.

The $1 Million Deal: How Rife Became Annabelle’s Legal Guardian

The purchase of the Warren Occult Museum and the accompanying Connecticut property marks a bizarre and significant pivot in Matt Rife’s career. This was not a solo venture but a partnership with fellow content creator and YouTuber Elton Castee, known for his paranormal exploration videos.

The Acquisition Details

The property, which includes the home and museum formerly owned by the late Ed and Lorraine Warren, was reportedly purchased for approximately $1 million. The deal includes the house and, crucially, the entire collection of occult artifacts, which Rife and Castee are leasing as part of the home purchase. This collection is considered by many to be the most prominent collection of paranormal history in the world.

The acquisition was announced by Rife on a Friday via a viral TikTok video, where he referred to it as an "insane announcement." He confirmed that he is now the official "legal guardian" of the Annabelle doll. The term "legal guardian" is used because the artifacts, particularly Annabelle, come with specific, binding legal stipulations regarding their containment and display, established by the Warren family to ensure public safety and respect for the alleged demonic entity within the doll.

The Annabelle Doll: A History of Haunting

The real Annabelle doll is a Raggedy Ann doll, which looks significantly different from the porcelain doll depicted in The Conjuring and its spin-off movies. According to Ed and Lorraine Warren, the doll was given to a nursing student in 1970 and soon began exhibiting strange, aggressive behaviors, including moving on its own and leaving unsettling messages. The Warrens concluded that the doll was not possessed by a girl named Annabelle Higgins, as the entity claimed, but was instead being manipulated by a demonic presence.

For decades, the doll has been housed in a locked, blessed glass case at the Warren Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut, with a warning sign urging visitors not to touch it. The museum has been closed to the public since 2019, making Rife and Castee’s purchase a moment of significant interest for paranormal enthusiasts worldwide.

Rife's Controversial Plans for the Haunted Museum and Overnight Stays

The most shocking element of Rife’s acquisition is not just the ownership of the doll, but his explicit plans for the future of the Warren Occult Museum. Moving away from the Warren family's highly restrictive approach, Rife and Castee intend to turn the property into a public-facing paranormal experience.

Reopening and Public Access

Rife has publicly stated that he and Castee "plan to open the house for overnight stays and museum tours," allowing the public to get up close and personal with the infamous artifacts. This move is highly controversial within the paranormal community.

  • Museum Tours: The duo plans to reopen the museum, which has been shuttered for years, allowing fans of paranormal history to view the Annabelle doll and other artifacts, such as the Shadow Doll and the Satanic Idol.
  • Overnight Stays: The most significant change is the plan to host overnight stays. This concept, often seen in popular paranormal investigations on YouTube, involves allowing small groups to spend the night in the allegedly haunted location. This is a direct challenge to the caution that Ed and Lorraine Warren maintained, who believed the entities in the house were too dangerous for casual interaction.

Paranormal experts and fans of the Warrens’ work have voiced concerns, issuing "ominous warnings" to Rife. The belief is that the Annabelle doll, and the other objects in the museum, are not merely props but conduits for genuine demonic activity. Exposing the public to these artifacts, especially through overnight stays, is seen by many as a reckless invitation for supernatural trouble.

The Elton Castee Factor: A Partnership in the Paranormal

Elton Castee’s involvement is key to understanding the future of the museum. Castee, a popular YouTube content creator, is known for his "TFIL" group and videos featuring extreme challenges and paranormal investigations, including past stays in the actual Warren home. His experience and background in creating viral, high-stakes paranormal content suggest that the museum will become a major hub for digital content creation, blending comedy, horror, and social media spectacle.

The comedian and the YouTuber represent a new generation of paranormal caretakers, one that prioritizes public engagement and content virality over the strict, cautionary methods of the original demonologists. Whether this new, highly accessible approach will lead to groundbreaking discoveries or simply unleash the very dangers the Warrens sought to contain remains to be seen. The "Annabelle" doll, now under the guardianship of a world-famous comedian, is set to become an even bigger global entity.

matt rife annabelle
matt rife annabelle

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