Hunter Biden has recently claimed in a legal filing that he is experiencing significant financial difficulties, attributing these struggles to a sharp decline in his art sales and the impact of wildfires in Los Angeles. According to reports, Biden stated that his income has dropped considerably since late 2023, a period that coincides with his father, Joe Biden, leaving the White House. In the two to three years prior to December 2023, he sold 27 pieces of art at an average price of approximately $54,481 each, totaling nearly $1.5 million. However, since then, he has managed to sell only one piece for $36,000. He also noted a decline in sales of his memoir, “Beautiful Things,” with copies sold dropping from 3,161 in the six months ending September 2023 to about 1,100 in the following six months.
Biden further explained that the Pacific Palisades wildfires in January 2025 exacerbated his financial woes by rendering his rented Malibu home “unlivable,” making it difficult for him to find a new permanent residence. This situation, combined with millions of dollars in reported debt, has led him to request the dismissal of a lawsuit he filed against Garrett Ziegler, a former Trump aide, in 2023 over alleged laptop hacking. Biden cited his inability to afford continued litigation as the reason for seeking to drop the case, despite believing in its merits.
Additionally, it was reported earlier in January 2025 that nearly 200 of Biden’s artworks, valued at “millions of dollars,” were destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires while in storage near the home of his attorney, Kevin Morris. This loss may have further strained his finances, though it’s unclear if the art was insured or if any potential insurance payout could offset his current challenges. Biden expressed surprise in the filing that, despite positive feedback on his art and book, he has not secured paid speaking engagements or appearances as anticipated, adding to his financial strain.
