Jury Sides Partially with Handyman: Kanye West Must Pay Six Figures in Mansion War

 

A jury in Los Angeles Superior Court has ordered rapper Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) to pay $140,000 to a former contractor in a dispute tied to renovations at his former Malibu mansion.

The verdict, announced on March 11, 2026, stems from a civil lawsuit filed by handyman and project manager Tony Saxon. Saxon claimed he was hired in 2021 to oversee a major remodel of the $57 million oceanfront property, with an agreed weekly pay of $20,000. He alleged he received only one $20,000 payment plus $100,000 for construction costs before being terminated after about seven weeks. Saxon further accused Ye of creating unsafe working conditions (including hazards that led to back and neck injuries) and sought over $1.7 million in damages for unpaid wages, medical expenses, lost wages, and other claims.

In what sources describe as a mixed verdict, the jury found Ye liable for Saxon's on-the-job injuries and awarded $140,000 specifically for medical expenses and lost wages. The panel rejected most other claims, including those for wrongful termination, overtime, punitive damages, or broader labor code violations beyond the injury-related portion. No punitive damages were awarded.

Ye will also be responsible for Saxon's attorney fees and court costs, which could push the total amount owed significantly higher—potentially into seven figures according to some reports from the plaintiff's side—though exact figures for those additional costs were not immediately detailed in the verdict.

The Malibu mansion at the center of the dispute was sold by Ye in 2024 for $21 million, well below its original purchase price.

This outcome marks a partial win for the plaintiff but falls far short of the multimillion-dollar sum initially demanded.