Judge Cindy Pánuco is poised to make celebrity legal history: forcing Nicki Minaj to sell her $20 million Hidden Hills mansion to satisfy a $503,318 judgment.
The unprecedented decision stems from a 2019 backstage assault that left a security guard with a shattered jaw—and six years later, Minaj and her husband still haven’t paid. On November 24, 2025, the judge signaled she’s ready to authorize the forced auction, pending one final financial review.
The Violent Incident That Started Everything
On March 22, 2019, security guard Thomas Weidenmuller worked backstage at Nicki Minaj’s concert in Frankfurt, Germany. Following a fan breach during the performance, tensions escalated between Minaj and her security team. Weidenmuller entered Minaj’s dressing room to console the upset rapper after the security breach.
The situation allegedly turned violent when Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, allegedly punched Weidenmuller in the jaw without warning.
Six Years of Failed Payment Attempts
In a default judgment issued years after the 2019 incident, Weidenmuller was awarded $503,318 in damages for medical expenses, suffering, and emotional distress. However, despite multiple attempts to collect payment through legal channels, Minaj and Petty never satisfied the judgment.
Weidenmuller’s legal team pursued garnishments against seven potential creditors without receiving any funds.
The Judge’s November 24 Statement
During a court hearing on November 24, 2025, Judge Cindy Pánuco indicated she was leaning toward authorizing a forced sale of Minaj’s Hidden Hills mansion. The judge stated, “My tentative is to grant this. I just want to make sure we’re getting it right.”
However, she has not issued a final ruling and requires crucial financial documentation before proceeding. The judge emphasized her intention to ensure that a forced sale would actually satisfy Weidenmuller’s judgment, even if the property sells below market value.
The Missing Bank Statement Holding Up the Decision
Judge Pánuco requested a Bank of America statement detailing Minaj’s mortgage payments since October 2022, as well as the accumulated daily interest on her $13.3 million loan. She explained that reviewing this document was essential to determine whether a forced sale would generate sufficient proceeds to cover Weidenmuller’s judgment and all associated costs.
The judge declared that without this documentation, she could not proceed with her decision. She stated: “Let’s say there’s no bidder who offers the full $20 million, and it goes up for auction, and they don’t get fair market value, and it doesn’t cover everything.”
The Hidden Hills Estate — A Premier Property
Nicki Minaj purchased the Hidden Hills mansion in December 2022 for $19.5 million. The sprawling 11,820-square-foot estate features multiple bedrooms, numerous bathrooms, a resort-style swimming pool, a cabana, a terrace with panoramic valley views, and a separate guesthouse.
The property is situated in one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive neighborhoods, where celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Drake maintain residences.
The Financial Equation — Why a Forced Sale Makes Sense Legally
Court documents reveal that the $20 million mansion is encumbered by a $13.3 million mortgage lien and a $722,151 homestead exemption. This leaves approximately $6 million in equity remaining beyond these encumbrances.
Weidenmuller’s legal team argued this substantial equity far exceeds the $503,318 judgment amount, making a forced sale economically viable. Court filings stated: “The property’s current fair market value is appraised at $20 million, yielding approximately six million dollars in equity beyond the lien and exemption.”
How Weidenmuller’s Legal Team Built Their Case
On October 6, 2025, Thomas Weidenmuller’s legal team filed court documents requesting a forced sale of Minaj’s Hidden Hills property. The security guard’s lawyers argued they had exhausted all traditional collection methods over approximately six years without receiving a single payment.
They characterized the forced sale as an “extraordinary measure” necessary because Minaj allegedly refused multiple written payment requests and continued to evade her legal obligations despite substantial wealth and income.
The Wealth Argument — Why Her Net Worth Matters
Weidenmuller’s legal team emphasized that Minaj is a global music superstar with an estimated net worth between $150 million and $190 million. Court documents stated that Minaj “is reportedly the highest paid female rap artist in the world” and is “undoubtedly highly capable of paying the judgment in full.”
The legal team’s argument hinged on the theory that her substantial wealth demonstrated a choice not to pay rather than a financial inability to satisfy the debt owed to Weidenmuller.
Understanding the Default Judgment
The default judgment against Minaj and Petty occurred because neither defendant responded to Weidenmuller’s initial lawsuit. This procedural failure resulted in the court ruling automatically in the plaintiff’s favor.
The judgment included compensation for Weidenmuller’s surgical procedures, ongoing medical care, lost wages, and emotional trauma from the alleged assault. Despite the court’s formal ruling, Minaj’s team never appealed or challenged the judgment’s validity through legal channels over the subsequent years.
Seven Garnishments Yielded Zero Dollars
Before pursuing forced home sale measures, Weidenmuller’s attorneys attempted to collect the judgment through traditional legal mechanisms. They issued garnishments targeting seven of Minaj’s suspected creditors and financial accounts.
Each attempt yielded zero results, according to court filings. This consistent failure to locate collectible assets or execute on existing accounts frustrated collection efforts, prompting the extraordinary step of requesting a forced property sale to recover the debt.
Minaj’s Response — Blaming Her Former Business Manager
Responding to the forced sale request on social media platform X, Minaj claimed she was unaware that the judgment remained unpaid. She blamed her former business manager for failing to inform her about the outstanding debt. Minaj wrote: “I have evidence that this was given to a business manager who never told me.
My lawyers AND business managers (old and new) are AWARE.”
Kenneth Petty’s Criminal History Adds Context
Kenneth Petty, Minaj’s husband since 2019, has a documented criminal history relevant to this case. In 1994, Petty was convicted of attempted rape involving a teenage girl. He served seven years in prison following a first-degree manslaughter conviction in 2006.
After marrying Minaj in 2019, Petty faced charges for failing to register as a sex offender in California, subsequently being placed on house arrest for probation violations.
Why This Case Is Extraordinarily Rare
Forced sales of celebrity properties over unpaid judgments constitute extraordinarily rare legal events in California. Weidenmuller’s legal team acknowledged this rarity, noting that forcing a home sale represents an extreme measure typically reserved for exceptional circumstances.
The team stated: “Although it is regrettable that this extraordinary measure is required, that result is entirely the product of her intransigence in refusing payment.”
Minaj’s Real Estate History Before Hidden Hills
Before purchasing the Hidden Hills mansion, Minaj maintained an extensive real estate portfolio. She previously rented a $28,000 monthly home in Calabasas in 2020 and a $35,000 monthly property in Beverly Hills.
Minaj also owned a $10 million, 7,000-square-foot residence with six bedrooms that served as her primary home before she purchased it in Hidden Hills. These properties demonstrate her consistent investment in premium real estate and upscale residential living throughout her career.
The January 22, 2026, Final Hearing Date
Judge Pánuco scheduled a follow-up court hearing for January 22, 2026, at which point she will finalize her decision regarding the forced sale.
At that hearing, the judge will review the pending Bank of America mortgage statement and make her official ruling. The judge stated that all other documentation appeared satisfactory, with the only exception being the missing bank statement, which prevented an immediate decision.
What Happens If the Judge Authorizes the Sale
If the judge authorizes the forced sale, the Hidden Hills property would likely be sold through a court-ordered auction process. Proceeds would first cover the $13.3 million mortgage, the $722,151 homestead exemption, then Weidenmuller’s $503,318 judgment plus accrued interest and enforcement costs.
Minaj would retain any remaining funds after these obligations are satisfied. The forced sale process could take several months to complete once formally authorized by the court.
The Broader Legal Precedent at Stake
This case may establish significant precedent regarding judgment collection and the forced liquidation of assets for high-net-worth individuals. If the judge proceeds with authorizing the forced sale, it could signal that no celebrity—regardless of wealth or fame—remains immune from conventional debt enforcement mechanisms.
The case highlights how persistent non-payment of court judgments can trigger extraordinary legal remedies, transforming unpaid debts into property seizures and public humiliation.
Settlement Still Possible Before January Hearing
Despite the threat of forced sale, Minaj technically retains the ability to resolve this matter independently at any time. She could satisfy the $503,318 judgment plus accrued interest and enforcement costs before January 22, 2026.
This voluntary payment option would eliminate the forced sale entirely and resolve the legal dispute permanently.
Other Legal Problems Compound the Pressure
Minaj faced additional legal complications during 2025. Her former tour manager, Brandon Garrett, filed a lawsuit alleging that Minaj physically assaulted him multiple times during their professional relationship.
Minaj denied these allegations through her legal representatives. These concurrent legal matters add complexity to Minaj’s legal portfolio and may have strained the resources and attention required to address the Weidenmuller judgment.
Sources:
Realtor.com — “Judge Says She Is Close To Forcing Sale of Nicki Minaj’s $20 Million Los Angeles Mansion To Settle Debt Owed to Rapper’s Former Security Guard” (November 25, 2025)
The Independent — “Nicki Minaj will have to sell $20 million mansion if she does not pay security guard settlement” (November 24, 2025)
Rolling Stone — “Nicki Minaj’s $20 Million Mansion Likely Up for Sale to Pay Security Guard Judgment” (November 24, 2025)
Los Angeles Superior Court filings — October 6, 2025 petition for forced property sale
Judge Cindy Pánuco court hearing transcript — November 24, 2025