Ye going to trial in $1M Malibu mansion case: What to know
Ye going to trial in $1M Malibu mansion case: What to know
Edward Segarra, USA TODAY Mon, February 23, 2026 at 8:32 PM UTC
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Nearly three years after selling his Malibu mansion, Ye is heading to court over the renovation process for the multimillion-dollar property.
The Grammy-winning rapper and controversial figure, formerly known as Kanye West, is going to trial this week after a former employee, Tony Saxon, sued the rapper in September 2023 for various labor abuses while working on his Southern California home.
Three months later, Ye put the beachfront residence up for sale, two years after he paid $57 million for it. The property, designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, includes 4,000 square feet of interior space and about 1,500 square feet of outdoor living areas, and nearly every room has views of the Pacific Ocean.
Around 200 tons of concrete, 200 tons of steel reinforcement and 12 massive pylons were used to construct the home, according to the property's description.
Ye attends the 67th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 2, 2025.
"Selling Sunset" star Jason Oppenheim listed the mansion for $53 million, which made for a $4 million loss for Ye. The real-estate broker said the new price reflected the property's value after the rapper removed the home's interiors.
According to Realtor.com, the property returned to the market last August after real-estate developer Steven "Bo" Belmont purchased the home for $21 million and later relisted the home for $39 million, reportedly cutting a short-lived deal with luxury home developer Andrew Mazzella at one point.
"Tony has been waiting two-and-a-half years for his day in court, and he's looking forward to telling his story," Saxon's attorney, Neama Rahmani, said in a statement to USA TODAY. "The public will be able to draw their own conclusions as to who is telling the truth."
USA TODAY has reached out to Ye's representatives for comment.
Here's everything you about the case.
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Why is Ye being sued for Malibu mansion?
In his lawsuit against Ye, Saxon accused the rapper, as well as 10 anonymous "Doe" defendants, of disability discrimination, violations of multiple labor codes, unpaid wages and reimbursements, and wrongful retaliatory termination.
Saxon said he began working on Ye's Malibu home around September 2021 after being hired as a "project manager" for the property's renovations, a position that required him to be a "full-time security" and "live-in caretaker." His duties, totaling 16-hour workdays, included cleaning construction and demolition work, coordinating workers and hiring contractors.
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The former employee also detailed the "dangerous working conditions" he and his coworkers navigated, including sleeping arrangements located near open insulation and a lack of safety equipment for demolition work. Saxon provided several photos and videos allegedly showing these conditions, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY.
Saxon alleged he shared his complaints about the unsafe working environment with Ye on "numerous occasions," but the rapper allegedly took no action.
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Former Ye employee says he was fired over renovation dispute
Around November 2021, Saxon allegedly injured his back "severely" while working on the project. Although he reported the injury to Ye and requested time off to rest, Saxon said the Yeezy founder ignored his request.
That same month, Saxon was terminated from his project manager role after he said he refused to comply with Ye's "dangerous" demand to remove "all of the electricity and windows from the house."
"'If you don't do what I say, you're not going to work for me,'" Ye reportedly told Saxon, according to the lawsuit. "'I'm not going to be your friend anymore, and you'll just see me on TV.'"
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How much money is Ye accuser demanding?
Saxon is requesting more than $1 million in unpaid wages and loss of earnings as a result of his employment with Ye.
When does Ye trial start?
Jury selection in the case is scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 23, at the Los Angeles County Superior Court's Stanley Mosk Courthouse.
Will Ye testify in Malibu mansion trial?
According to a statement from Saxon's attorney, Neama Rahmani, Ye is expected to take the stand during the trial.
How long will Ye trial last?
The rapper's trial, overseen by Judge Brock T. Hammond, is expected to last one week.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ye Malibu mansion trial – What to know about rapper's lawsuit
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