Calvin Harris, the Scottish music producer and DJ, has accused his financial adviser of stealing $22.5 million to fund a “boondoggle” real estate project in Hollywood.
Harris alleges that his adviser, Thomas St. John, induced him to invest in CMNTY Culture Campus, a 460,000 square foot development that was to include recording studios, office space and artists’ lounges.
According to an arbitration demand, St. John, who served as Harris’ financial adviser for 13 years, began developing the project around 2020. Harris’ lawyers allege that the project ran low on cash in 2023, and that St. John turned to Harris to for an emergency cash infusion.
Harris’ attorneys allege that St. John gave him no information about the project, but just handed over documents for him to sign. According to the demand, Harris — whose legal name is Adam Wiles — made a $10 million loan to the project and a $12.5 million equity investment.
“To this day, Claimants do not know where Claimants’ investment has gone or what it has been used for,” Harris’ attorneys alleged. “In any event, Respondents had no intention of Mr. Wiles actually receiving back the full value of his investment, through distributions or otherwise.”
Shortly after the investment was made, Harris alleges that St. John caused the company to distribute $11.7 million to an entity that St. John controls. (St. John, through his attorneys, has denied this allegation.)
Harris’ attorneys allege that the real estate investment “has been, at best, a complete boondoggle, and, at worst, a complete fraud.”
In 2024, the developers announced that due to “shifting market dynamics,” they had opted to pursue a residential project on the site, which is at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue.
St. John’s attorney, Sasha Frid, said in a statement to Variety that Harris is one of several investors in the project, which will include 750 apartments in two towers of 34 and 38 stories. Frid said the project will include 90 low-income units as well as outdoor, creative and retail spaces.
Harris “actively pursued this development opportunity,” Frid said. “Unhappy with the pace of the project, he chose to pursue private arbitration to assert his discontent. It’s no secret that due to interest rates and other market factors real estate projects are taking longer to build. But the development is very much viable and expected to have a $900+ million valuation when completed. Mr. St. John denies any wrongdoing.”
Harris’ attorneys allege that the $10 million loan was supposed to be paid back by Jan. 31, 2025, but that the principal and interest are still unpaid. According to the claim, St. John ceased being Harris’ adviser in April.
Harris has since demanded information about the investment, but alleges that the responses have been limited and unsatisfactory.
Harris’ attorneys also allege that shortly after filing the arbitration demand, they learned that the financial condition of the project is “deteriorating.” Through the arbitration process, they obtained a stipulated agreement that the company will not to dissipate its funds while the process is pending. Harris’ lawyers filed a petition on Friday in L.A. Superior Court to confirm that agreement.
