Barbie’s Dreamhouse in Danger: Judge Set To Rule on Forced Sale of Nicki Minaj’s $20M Estate

Nicki Minaj has until later this week to pay a $503,000 lawsuit judgment or risk losing her $20 million California mansion.

This Thursday, January 22, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge is expected to issue a final ruling on whether to force the sale of the rapper’s $19.5 million mansion. The decision stems from a motion filed by Thomas Weidenmuller. He is a former security guard who has been trying to collect a $503,318 judgment for an assault he suffered at the hands of Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, in 2019.

Despite Minaj’s immense wealth, estimated at over $150 million, the judgment has remained unpaid for over a year. Now Judge Cindy Pánuco has signaled she is ready to take the "extraordinary measure" of auctioning the home to ensure Weidenmuller finally gets paid.

"My tentative is to grant this," Judge Pánuco stated during a preliminary hearing in November. With the final paperwork now likely in hand, Thursday’s hearing could see the gavel come down on one of the most high-profile celebrity real estate seizures in recent history.

The only thing that saved the home from being seized in late 2025 was a single piece of paper. During the November 24 hearing, Judge Pánuco paused the forced sale solely to wait for a specific document from Bank of America. The court required an official statement detailing exactly the amount of equity Minaj holds in the property. They specifically need proof of her payments on the home’s $13.3 million mortgage.

That document was due ahead of this week’s January 22 hearing. If the bank records confirm what Weidenmuller’s legal team has argued, which is that Minaj has roughly $6 million in equity in the home, the judge has indicated she will sign the order.

"It is regrettable that the extraordinary measure of forcing the sale of Minaj's dwelling is required," Weidenmuller’s lawyers wrote in their filing. "But that result is entirely the product of her intransigence in not making payment."

How Did We Get Here?

The legal saga dates back to a September 2019 concert in Frankfurt, Germany. Weidenmuller was working security and alleged that Kenneth Petty sucker punched him backstage during a dispute over a female security guard.

The attack left Weidenmuller with a broken jaw that required multiple surgeries and the insertion of five metal plates. He sued the couple for battery and emotional distress.

Crucially, Minaj and Petty failed to respond to the lawsuit in time, resulting in a default judgment in Weidenmuller’s favor in 2024. The court awarded him $503,318 to cover his medical bills and suffering.

Rather than cutting a check, the debt has gone unsettled. This led Weidenmuller to pursue the "nuclear option" of seizing assets. His legal team argued that they tried levies and garnishments to no avail, which leaves the house as the only viable target.

For industry observers, the situation is baffling. The debt owed ($503,000) is roughly 2.5% of the home’s value ($20 million). If the judge orders the sale, the property would likely be auctioned off. The proceeds would first go to pay off the mortgage lender (Bank of America), and then the homestead exemption (roughly $600k protected under California law), and finally, Weidenmuller’s judgment. Minaj would keep the remaining profit, but she would lose her primary residence in the process.

"It makes zero financial sense to lose a customized 12,000 square foot estate over a half-million dollar debt," a luxury real estate attorney cited. "Usually, a check is cut the minute a lien is threatened. The fact that it has reached this stage suggests either a breakdown in communication or a stubborn refusal to pay on principle."

Inside the "Gag City" HQ

The stakes are personal. This is not just an investment property. It is Minaj’s family home, which she purchased in December 2022, shortly after the birth of her son, affectionately known as "Papa Bear."

The modern farmhouse sits on an acre of land in the exclusive Hidden Hills enclave and neighbors the likes of the Kardashians and Drake. It features eight bedrooms, a resort-style saltwater pool, and a detached guesthouse. Minaj has frequently showcased the home on Instagram and often refers to it as "Gag City HQ."

What Happens Next?

If Judge Pánuco rules in Weidenmuller’s favor, the process won't be instant. Minaj’s team would likely file an emergency appeal to halt the sale. However, the optics of a sheriff’s sale looming over a superstar’s home are damaging enough.

Neither Minaj nor Petty has publicly commented on the upcoming hearing. But with the clock ticking toward Thursday, fans and legal experts alike are waiting to see if the "Queen of Rap" will make a last-minute payment to save her castle.