The richest real estate baron in the US has issued a savage 12-word statement to his son after allegations that he scammed investors out of millions.
David Bren, son of billionaire Donald Bren, is accused of orchestrating an elaborate scam built around “The Bunker” - a supposed ultra-exclusive “Soho House for car lovers” pitched to the ultra-wealthy as a luxury club with access to Ferraris, Bugattis, private cigar lounges, and $14,500-a-month memberships, the Los Angeles Times reported.
But according to investors and multiple lawsuits, the business never existed.
Donald's cold dismissal
The 93-year-old chairman of the Irvine Company, who is estimated to be worth $19 billion, has refused to support his son, publicly disowning him in a statement delivered through a spokesperson.
“We do not have a personal or business relationship with this individual,” said Paul Hernandez, spokesperson for Donald and the Irvine Company.
A source told The New York Post that Donald and David haven’t seen each other since a court case in 2010 and that they have never had a relationship.
The cold, 12-word declaration surprised observers, especially given the weight the Bren name appeared to carry in David’s pitch to investors.
According to court filings, David presented himself as someone who could call his billionaire father “right away,” leaning heavily on the family name to draw credibility.
A $90 million car club for elites - allegedly backed by nothing
David's proposal promised a sprawling clubhouse filled with supercars, fine dining, and curated wine collections. Investor decks reportedly name-dropped A-list backers like Mark Cuban, Larry Ellison, Kristaps Porziņģis, and fashion heir August Getty.
The man claimed the club would operate out of the prestigious Mr. C’s Hotel in Beverly Hills - supposedly under contract for a $90 million purchase. In reality, lawsuits allege “The Bunker does not exist. There is no ultra-high-end automotive club. There are no members. The business is a mirage.”
The emotional and financial damage left in the scam’s wake has been shocking. One investor, Nanxi Liu, a tech entrepreneur, gave $100,000 toward The Bunker in 2021 after David claimed to have secured the Beverly Hills location and invited her to a supposed co-sponsored Louis Vuitton event. She found no sign of the Bunker’s involvement but invested anyway, encouraged by her mentor Tony Chen.
Chen, a Bay Area entrepreneur, reportedly sank hundreds of thousands into the venture and pushed Liu to do the same, calling it “the Soho House for car lovers.” When the business unraveled, Chen spiraled into crisis, moved in with a friend, and ultimately took his own life.
In September 2022, he was found dead by suicide in a garage. He was 46. “He built out this thing for this guy like, ‘Oh man, he’s this underdog. He’s this David. And if he gets this right, he’s going to become Goliath,’” claimed Mike Tran, who housed Chen in his final weeks.
Checks that bounced and refunds that never came
Two Middle Eastern investors, Elham Alsulaiman and Zainal Alireza, reportedly gave David $1 million in seed funding. When they asked for their money back, he reportedly wrote them a $500,000 check, but it allegedly bounced.
Liu allegedly received only $10,000 of her investment back. David offered her a complimentary Bunker membership instead.
Another investor said he initially received a 25% return on a $100,000 seed investment, but after being enticed to put in another $150,000, he never saw the money again.
Joshua Ritter, a private attorney representing several victims, said lawsuits against David now total more than $2.6 million. “There’s nothing happening. The Bunker isn’t becoming anything,” Ritter said. “It’s all just talk.”
Despite at least four civil lawsuits, David has yet to face any criminal charges. He hasn’t shown up to court, hasn’t retained legal representation, and - for now - remains untouched by law enforcement.
He was last believed to be living in a Bel-Air mansion. Recent posts suggest he may have relocated to Miami.
“Here in the US, we have what I feel is one of the strongest legal systems, and yet, this person is still able to do everything that he’s doing,” Liu said after her lawsuit resulted in a default judgment.
David’s connection to Donald has long been strained. In 2003, when David was just 11, his mother, Jennifer McKay Gold, sued Donald for retroactive child support. Though Donald ultimately won the case in 2010, the trial exposed details about the billionaire’s intensely private life.
Despite paying nearly $9 million in support and education for his son and his sister, Christie, Donald has remained emotionally distant.
Per the Daily Mail, Bloomberg once described the elder Bren as “scrupulous, though not much of a people person.” He reportedly rides alone around Irvine in a dark SUV, taking notes on landscaping, and even has elevators cleared before entering his office tower.