(IMAGN) Hunter Biden leaves the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, after jury selection in his federal gun trial in Wilmington, Delaware.
MALIBU, CALIFORNIA – Former President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, has revealed that he is currently facing financial hardships and homelessness following the destruction of his $4 million Malibu rental property in the California wildfires earlier this year.
According to court documents filed by Hunter, the luxury residence, which he shared with his wife Melissa and their 4-year-old son Beau, was rendered “unlivable” by the Palisades fire that started in Los Angeles on January 7. Google Maps images of the area show that several homes in the neighborhood were destroyed by the blaze, with Hunter’s property appearing to be reduced to rubble.
Hunter’s lawyer stated in the documents that the artist and author is struggling financially, with “a significant downturn in his income and significant debt in the millions of dollars range.” The documents highlight how Hunter has been unable to afford a new place to live after the fire, citing financial difficulties exacerbated by the loss of his primary income sources—sales of his memoir Beautiful Things and his artwork.
In the filing, Hunter also noted that his income from art sales has drastically declined. In December 2023, he sold 27 pieces for an average price of $54,481, but in the following 15 months, he only sold one piece for $36,000. Additionally, book sales have dropped significantly, from over 3,000 copies in the first half of 2023 to just 1,100 in the last six months. Hunter also anticipated income from paid speaking engagements, which has not materialized.
As a result of the fire’s impact on his living situation, Hunter’s legal team is asking a judge to end his ongoing lawsuit against Garrett Ziegler, a former aide to President Donald Trump, over the publication of data from a laptop linked to Hunter. His attorneys argue that he must now focus on finding a new home and covering living expenses rather than continuing litigation.
The lawsuit, initially filed in 2023, accused Ziegler of manipulating the contents of the laptop, but Hunter’s financial struggles and the wildfires have complicated his ability to pursue the case.
Hunter Biden’s housing history includes at least three properties in California since 2021, with one home leased for between $15,000 and $20,000 per month. Two of the properties were located on the same street, one of which had been leased for his Secret Service detail during his father’s presidency. However, with President Biden’s term ending in January 2025, Hunter’s government-provided protection also ended.
While Hunter has not disclosed his current residence, the damages caused by the California wildfires have put a significant strain on his financial and personal life. His father, President Biden, acknowledged the situation in January, stating that Hunter’s home might have been destroyed, but later reports suggested it may still be standing.
