D
onald Bren, the 93‑year‑old real‑estate mogul with a $19 billion net worth, has publicly severed ties with his 33‑year‑old son, David Bren, after a wave of lawsuits accused the younger Bren of defrauding investors of more than $2 million through a fabricated luxury club called “The Bunker.”

    David’s pitch promised “The Bunker” would be the “ultimate man cave” for the ultra‑rich, offering members exclusive access to a fleet of Ferraris, Bugattis and Porsches, curated dining, high‑end wines and cigars. Investor decks obtained by the Los Angeles Times described the club as “the Soho House for car lovers,” with a monthly fee of $14,500 for a roster that allegedly included Mark Cuban, August Getty, Larry Ellison and Kristaps Porzingis.

    Between 2020 and 2022, several backers alleged they lost six‑figure sums in what they now claim was a sham. One investor fled California in shame, while another—who had invested more than $100,000—was found dead in his garage, hanging from a noose, according to the LA Times. The lawsuits allege that David fabricated the entire venture to fund his extravagant lifestyle, storing a supercar fleet in Beverly Hills after the project’s owners completed a $90 million purchase of Mr. C’s Beverly Hills Hotel.

    Donald Bren’s spokesperson, Paul Hernandez, issued a terse statement: “We do not have a personal or business relationship with this individual.” The claim was echoed by the Irvine Company, which manages most of Bren’s real‑estate holdings.

    David has not responded to phone or email inquiries. He has been accused of misusing his father’s name to gain sympathy, with investors noting his strained relationship with Donald as a key factor in their decision to invest. “He played the victim,” said Mike Tran, a friend of one investor. “My dad didn’t give me anything; I could do this, but no one believes in me.”

    Nanxi Lu, a tech entrepreneur, invested $100,000 in 2021 after David assured her of a contract to buy the Beverly Hills hotel. She attended a West Hollywood event that David claimed was co‑sponsored by Louis Vuitton, but saw no branding for “The Bunker.” She later invested on the advice of Tony Chen, a Bay‑Area entrepreneur who became obsessed with the project and insisted it was “the SoHo House for car lovers.” Chen pressed her to invest half a million dollars, but when the venture faltered, he failed to return her money.

    Other investors, including Elham Alsulaiman and Zainal Alireza, offered David $1 million in seed money. David allegedly wrote a half‑million‑dollar check that bounced. When Lu tried to withdraw her funds, he returned only $10,000 and offered her a complimentary membership upon the club’s opening. By fall 2022, Chen had signed multiple checks for David and was still unable to recover his investment. He later separated from his wife and moved in with Tran.

    In September 2022, Tran reported finding Chen in his garage, hanging from a noose. Chen, 46, was survived by his ex‑wife and daughter. The Santa Clara County medical examiner ruled the death a suicide.

    Donald Bren’s past as an absent father surfaced during a 2003 trial when his ex‑girlfriend, Jennifer McKay Gold, and their two children—David included—sued him for retroactive child support. Bren had paid roughly $9 million, and a jury ultimately ruled in his favor. Despite this history, David’s investors claimed he could have called his father at any time, using the strained relationship to elicit sympathy.

    The lawsuits maintain that “The Bunker does not exist. There is no ultra‑high‑end automotive club. There are no members. The business is a mirage.” They allege that the entire venture was a charade designed to lure investors into funding David’s lavish lifestyle. The case remains ongoing, with multiple claims of fraud, misrepresentation and unpaid debts.