A Los Angeles judge has indicated she is nearing a decision to mandate the sale of Nicki Minaj’s opulent $20 million Hidden Hills home. This move comes as a result of the rapper and her spouse, Kenneth Petty, failing to settle a $503,318 judgment owed to a former security guard for over a year. The situation has intensified from its roots in a 2019 concert backstage incident in Germany, evolving into a lawsuit that Minaj and Petty ignored, now potentially leading to a forced sale of the property.

In a recent court session, the extent of the case’s advancement was unveiled. Judge Cindy Pánuco of the Los Angeles Superior Court expressed her intention to authorize the home sale, noting the application was satisfactory except for one missing piece: a Bank of America statement outlining Minaj’s mortgage payments and the daily interest on the $13.3 million loan for the property. Once this document is provided, the judge stated she would conclude her decision. A follow-up session is set for January 22, which could soon see Minaj’s eight-bedroom mansion listed for sale.

The case has reached this point due to Minaj and Petty’s refusal to settle the $503K judgment awarded to Thomas Weidenmüller, who claims Petty assaulted him, resulting in a broken jaw after Minaj criticized the security team at her 2019 concert. Efforts to garnish funds from seven potential sources failed, and with no response to payment demands, Weidenmüller sought the court’s intervention to secure the judgment through the sale of Minaj’s home. The judge’s current stance suggests that this outcome is becoming increasingly probable.

How the 2019 Incident Sparked the Lawsuit

The conflict dates back to March 2019, during a performance by Nicki Minaj in Frankfurt, Germany. A fan allegedly breached security to approach the stage, prompting an irate Minaj to confront the female security guard, recording the incident. Thomas Weidenmüller, overseeing security, stepped in to defend his colleague and defuse the tension.

The lawsuit claims that Minaj then directed her anger at Weidenmüller, shouting and throwing a shoe, which missed him. Subsequently, Weidenmüller was summoned to Minaj’s dressing room, where Petty accused him of disrespect and allegedly punched him without warning, causing a fractured jaw and leaving him “stunned and disoriented.”

Weidenmüller’s injuries led to an extensive medical journey. He endured multiple surgeries, a 10-day hospital stay, and had five metal plates inserted into his jaw. In his sworn statement, he noted that doctors used donor bone to maintain space for potential future reconstruction. Initially, he pursued over $700,000 for his suffering, medical expenses, and other damages.

(Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Minaj and Petty Never Responded to the Lawsuit

Weidenmüller sued Minaj and Petty in January 2022. His legal team attempted to serve the couple at their gated community in Calabasas and by mail, but never made contact. After numerous failed attempts, the summons was published in a newspaper.

Because Minaj and Petty did not respond at all, the court entered a default judgment in March 2024, awarding Weidenmüller $503,318 — an amount reduced from his original request but still substantial. According to filings, Minaj and Petty have not paid any portion of the judgment in the 20 months since.

Seven different “potential garnishees” — entities suspected of owing money to Minaj — told the court they had no accounts payable to her or failed to respond at all. With no payments arriving, Weidenmüller moved to the final enforcement tool available: requesting the forced sale of Minaj’s primary residence.

(via Google Maps)

The Motion to Sell the Hidden Hills Mansion

Minaj purchased the 11,820-square-foot Hidden Hills home in December 2022 for $19.5 million. Court filings state the property carries a $13,258,000 mortgage lien and a $722,151 homestead exemption, leaving roughly $6 million in equity. The house was recently appraised at $20 million.

Weidenmüller’s legal team argues that California law allows a creditor to request a home sale without first exhausting other collection methods, and that the home’s equity is more than sufficient to satisfy the judgment. “There is no doubt that the sale of the dwelling would satisfy the entire judgment, with millions to spare,” the application states, blaming the need for such an extreme measure on Minaj’s “intransigence in not making payment.”

Judge Pánuco said she is prepared to approve the sale, but wants the mortgage-payment documentation first. She raised one hypothetical: what if the home goes to auction and doesn’t fetch the appraised value? The bank statement, she said, will help her determine the financial thresholds required before issuing the sale order.

( Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Why the Judge Is Close to Approving the Sale

As Rolling Stone first reported, at the November 24 hearing, Judge Pánuco made clear that the application to force the sale was legally sound. “My tentative is to grant this. I just want to make sure we’re getting it right.” With only a single document outstanding, her remarks strongly signaled that approval is imminent.

If granted, the mansion could be sold through a court-ordered auction. Proceeds would first pay off the mortgage lender, then Minaj’s homestead exemption, and then the $503,318 judgment, with any remaining funds returned to Minaj.

It is extremely rare for a celebrity home of this value to be targeted over a relatively modest judgment, but Weidenmüller’s lawyers say Minaj’s refusal to pay left no alternative. The application describes Minaj as a “global music superstar” with a net worth of at least $150 million, arguing she is “highly capable” of paying but has chosen not to.

The Hidden Hills Estate at Risk

Minaj’s mansion sits in one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive gated enclaves, home to Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Drake, and other high-profile residents. The estate includes a large pool, guesthouse, gym, theater, and extensive outdoor entertaining space. Court documents confirm the property is solely owned by Minaj and is the family’s primary residence.

For now, the future of the mansion rests on one final document and the judge’s follow-up ruling in January. But with the judge openly stating she intends to grant the motion, Minaj is now closer than ever to seeing one of her most valuable assets sold off to satisfy a debt she has repeatedly declined to pay — a remarkable turning point in a case that began with a single punch backstage six years ago.