Kanye West Ordered to Pay $321,000 in Malibu Demolition Legal

The payment comes from a Los Angeles judge who ruled in favor of the contractor West hired to dismantle the Sachs House in Malibu. This ruling is part of a broader legal saga that has seen West face multiple financial and legal setbacks.

A Vision Turned to Ruin

Pritzker Prize–winning Japanese architect Tadao Ando designed the Sachs House in 2013 as a modernist residence for financier Richard Sachs. The four-bedroom home sits on massive caissons and features a concrete shell with ocean-facing terraces. In September 2021, West paid $57.3 million for the property, nearly 24 percent below the asking price. He intended to “reimagine” the estate, but the project quickly spiraled out of control.

West hired contractor Tony Saxon to gut the interiors, reportedly paying $20,000 per week for the work. Saxon and his team spent a month and a half shattering glass, marble walls, and concrete chimneys. West reportedly told Saxon he wanted “no kitchen, bathrooms, A.C., windows, light fixtures, or heating.” The chaotic demolition left the home exposed to the elements, and Saxon eventually quit the project in November 2021 over disagreements about money and safety.

Following the demolition, West attempted to add architectural features like ramps that were not ADA accessible. The legal battle between West and Saxon reached a new level in September 2023 when Saxon filed a $1.7 million lawsuit alleging hazardous working conditions and unpaid wages. West counter-sued, claiming Saxon placed an unlawful mechanic’s lien on the property.

A House of Legal Troubles

A trial in March 2026 concluded with a jury ordering West to pay Saxon $140,000 for lost wages and medical bills. In October 2026, Judge Brock Hammond ordered West to pay an additional $181,000 to cover trial-related costs. This figure includes $147,000 in attorneys’ fees and $34,433.93 for Saxon’s legal team at West Coast Trial Lawyers.

While West’s legal troubles continue, the house itself has passed through several hands. The property has changed ownership multiple times since West’s purchase, with the most recent owner, Belwood Investments, listing it for $39 million before it sold for $22.1 million in July 2026. The saga highlights the financial and legal risks that can arise from high-profile renovation projects.

Belwood Investments, led by Steven “Bo” Belmont, acquired the damaged property for $21 million in September 2024. The group planned to spend $8.5 million restoring the estate and flipping it for a profit. Radziner, the architect involved in the original design, also joined the project. The business model relied on fractional investors contributing as little as $1,000 each.

The New Chapter

Belmont listed the damaged property for $39 million in March 2025. A deal with Montana developer Andrew Mazzella seemed likely that summer for about $30 million. The sale eventually fell through. Investors then grew concerned about their funding safety. An employee named David Contreras sued Belwood Investments. He claimed the firm operated as a Ponzi scheme. The group missed payments on its acquisition loan. The entity now faces foreclosure.

Belmont secured an $18.5 million loan for the purchase. The money came from a group linked to Mike Nijjar. Nijjar is a California landlord. He later faced accusations from the state attorney general. The allegations concerned the exploitation of tenants. The business model relied on fractional investors. They contributed as little as $1,000 each. Belmont collected about $7.5 million from nearly 400 people. He promised returns on their money once the house sold.

Radziner stopped work on the project in March 2025. This halt happened due to non-payment issues. Belmont told the Wall Street Journal he was working to find a solution. He faces a March 19 auction in Pomona, California. This auction is scheduled if he fails to secure financing. As of the time of the sale, the home is listed on Zillow as “pre-foreclosure.”