Ye Faces $1.7 Million Demand in Malibu Mansion Renovation Lawsuit

Los Angeles, CA – A jury is set to deliver a verdict Wednesday in the civil trial concerning disputed compensation for renovations on a Malibu home owned by musician Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. The plaintiff, Tony Saxon, alleges he was not fully compensated for his work and was wrongfully terminated after raising safety concerns.

Lawsuit Details

Tony Saxon, a project manager and handyman, claims in his Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit that Ye agreed to pay him $20,000 per week under a 2021 deal, but only provided one $20,000 payment and an additional $100,000 for construction costs [NBC Los Angeles]. Saxon’s legal team argues that Ye owes tens of thousands in unpaid wages and overtime and that Saxon was unjustly fired after sustaining a neck injury on the job.

Ye’s Testimony and Defense

Ye testified on Friday, offering brief answers when questioned by Saxon’s attorney. He stated he was unsure if he was the CEO of Yeezy Construction [NBC Los Angeles]. Ye’s legal team presented bank records indicating $240,000 was paid to Saxon for his work. They also showed videos of Saxon appearing to move without significant pain, disputing the severity of his alleged injury [NBC Los Angeles].

Allegations of Unsafe Working Conditions

Saxon alleges he was forced to sleep on the floor of the partially demolished mansion while providing 24-hour security and overseeing construction [LA Magazine]. He claims to have repeatedly warned Ye about dangerous conditions, including unsafe demolition practices without proper safety equipment. The suit states that upon firing Saxon, Ye said, “If you don’t do what I say, you’re not going to work for me, I’m not gonna be your friend anymore and you’ll just notice me on TV,” and when Saxon replied he doesn’t watch television, Ye told him to “Abandon” [LA Magazine].

Damages Sought

Saxon’s attorneys are seeking $1.7 million in damages, arguing that Ye acted with malice. If the jury finds malice, punitive damages could be added to the award [Rolling Stone]. Saxon produced thousands of pages of records to support his claims, while Ye’s legal team submitted only 19 pages [Rolling Stone].

Previous Rulings

In October, a judge ruled that Ye should pay Saxon $3,320 in sanctions due to delays in providing responses to Saxon’s interrogatories [NBC Los Angeles].

Sale of the Malibu Property

Ye sold the Malibu mansion, designed by Tadao Ando, for $21 million in September 2024, a significant loss from the $57 million he paid for it in 2021 [Rolling Stone].