Kanye West, also known as Ye, is embroiled in another legal battle over his infamous Malibu mansion, as former project manager Tony Saxon is seeking to enforce a $1.8 million lien tied to the property’s extensive renovation, according to AllHipHop and The Los Angeles Times.[2][1] The dispute centers on a mechanics lien Saxon reportedly filed in January 2024 in Los Angeles County, claiming he is owed millions for work and services on the oceanfront home that Ye purchased in 2021 and later sold at a steep loss.[1][6]
According to AllHipHop, Saxon’s lien and related claims stem from his role overseeing demolition and construction on the concrete Malibu residence after Kanye bought the Tadao Ando–designed property for roughly $57.3 million in 2021.[2][1] Court documents state that Saxon placed a mechanics lien for $1.8 million as security for alleged unpaid project management and construction-related services on the house, which Ye had gutted as part of a controversial redesign.[1][6] Saxon previously sued West in 2023 over alleged unpaid wages, labor violations, and unsafe working conditions tied to the same project, claims that West has denied.[3][4]
The mansion itself has become a financial and legal nightmare. Kanye reportedly stripped the home of windows, doors, plumbing, and electricity before eventually selling the unfinished property in 2024 for about $21 million to developer Steven Belmont’s Belwood Investments, a massive loss from the original purchase price.[1][2] According to The Los Angeles Times, the property has since faced foreclosure threats while ongoing litigation over the lien continues to complicate any potential sales or refinancing efforts.[1][2] A mechanics lien can, if upheld and unpaid, lead to foreclosure proceedings to satisfy the alleged debt, further heightening tensions between the parties.[1][5]
In a separate but related move, Kanye West has countersued Saxon and his legal team, arguing that the lien is “wrongful” and “invalid” and accusing them of launching an aggressive publicity campaign to pressure him and scare off potential buyers, according to The Los Angeles Times and other outlets.[1][5] West’s complaint cites public comments from Saxon’s attorney suggesting that anyone seeking to buy the mansion would “have to deal with” Saxon first, remarks Ye’s team says were intended to interfere with the property’s sale and financing.[1][5]
The clash over the $1.8 million lien adds another chapter to Kanye West’s ongoing legal and financial troubles, coming as he works to reassert himself musically while navigating multiple lawsuits and public controversies.[2][3] The Malibu mansion saga — from a $57 million purchase and radical remodel to a heavily discounted sale and now dueling lawsuits and foreclosure concerns — has reportedly become a symbol of the volatile intersection between Ye’s creative ambitions, business decisions, and mounting legal stakes.[1][2]
