America’s richest real estate tycoon, Donald Bren, has reportedly cut ties with his son amid serious accusations of defrauding investors of over $2 million. David Bren, the 33-year-old son of the billionaire, finds himself surrounded by a slew of lawsuits over an “ultimate man cave” scam that allegedly duped investors through a fake business pitch for a luxury club he called “The Bunker.”
Donald Bren disowns his son over fraud allegations
The billionaire chairman of Irvine Company and one of America’s richest men with an estimated $19 billion net worth, has disowned his son, the New York Post reported. In a brief statement, his spokesperson, Paul Hernandez, told the media: “We do not have a personal or business relationship with this individual.”
Court filings reviewed by the Los Angeles Times describe “The Bunker” as a project designed to lure investors and fund David’s lavish personal life. According to one lawsuit, “The Bunker does not exist. There is no ultra-high-end automotive club. There are no members. The business is a mirage.”
David’s relationship with his billionaire father has long been complicated. Back in 2003, his mother, Jennifer McKay Gold, sued Donald for millions in unpaid child support. At the time, David was 11 years old. Though Donald Bren had already paid about $9 million, the case dragged on for years. The matter went public, and the family kept dominating headlines for days.
In 2010, a jury ruled in Donald’s favour, but those who know the family say the emotional crack remained. The real estate billionaire is known for his obsession with order and control. Even the city’s former mayor once said she never met him in person.
What is the ‘Man Cave’ scam?
Davis pitched the project as a “SoHo House for car lovers,” and claimed it would give wealthy members exclusive access to high-end vehicles like Ferraris, Bugattis, and Porsches. Apart from that, the pitch also included provisioning the members’ fine dining, expensive wines, and cigars. The lawsuit mentions an investor presentation that promised a lifestyle reserved for the ultra-rich, but the complaint now says none of it was real. Between 2020 and 2022, several investors invested six-figure sums.
According to investors, the club was believed to be built at the upscale Mr C’s Beverly Hills Hotel, a $90 million site David Bren claimed he was close to acquiring. He even boasted about an exclusive list of founding members, supposedly including Mark Cuban, Larry Ellison, August Getty, and NBA star Kristaps Porziņģis.
Membership was said to cost $14,500 per month, offering the members access to private events co-hosted by luxury brands like Louis Vuitton.
Tech entrepreneur Nanxi Liu said she invested $100,000 in 2021 after being introduced to Bren’s pitch through her mentor, Tony Chen, a Bay Area businessman. Liu recalled being hesitant but eventually being persuaded by Chen. “He said it’s going to be like the SoHo House for car lovers,” she told reporters.
But Chen later sensed something was wrong and fell into deep distress. He had written multiple checks to Bren and lost a huge amount of money. In September 2022, Chen was found dead in his garage. The Santa Clara County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. “He built this dream for David like he was rooting for an underdog,” said Chen’s friend Mike Tran. “He thought David could turn it around. But it broke him.”
So far, Bren has not faced any criminal charges, and no formal investigation has been publicly announced. Court documents reveal at least four lawsuits accusing David of fraud, unpaid debts, and breach of contract.