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alvin Harris, the producer‑DJ, has sued his former financial adviser, Thomas St. John, alleging that the adviser siphoned at least $22.5 million from him. Harris says St. John was behind a real‑estate venture called CMNTY Culture Campus, originally planned as a 460,000‑sq‑ft complex in Hollywood for musicians, engineers, entertainers and creatives. The campus was to feature recording studios, office space and artist lounges.

    Court filings reveal that St. John launched the project in 2020 but ran short of funds. In 2023 he asked Harris for an emergency cash injection. Harris’s lawyers claim St. John concealed his true motives and withheld project details, leading Harris to provide a $10 million loan and a $12.5 million equity stake. The loan was due with interest on January 31, 2025, but the money has not been repaid, according to Harris’s complaint. His attorneys describe the venture as a “boondoggle” and, at worst, a fraud, noting that the investors still do not know where their money went.

    St. John’s attorney, Sasha Frid, counters that Harris actively pursued the development and was one of several investors. Frid describes the project as a unique high‑rise residential development on Sunset and Hollywood, featuring two towers with roughly 750 apartments, plus outdoor, retail and creative spaces. She argues that market conditions, such as rising interest rates, have delayed construction, but the development remains viable and could reach a $900 million valuation upon completion. St. John denies any wrongdoing.

    The lawsuit also accuses St. John of exploiting his advisory role to secure the loan and equity, and claims that the project was never intended to return the full value to investors. Harris’s legal team maintains that the adviser’s actions constitute a serious breach of fiduciary duty, and they seek full restitution of the $22.5 million allegedly misappropriated.