Hunter Biden is no Van Gogh. In addition to having both ears, Hunter’s work has generally been panned beyond an enabling media following. However, he claims he is also a starving artist. The problem appears to be that, as predicted years ago, his sales dried up with the influence-peddling market once his father left office. Now, his lawyers want him to cough up $17 million that he owes them. Hunter says that not only is he broke, but so is his family.
In a deposition in ongoing litigation with the law firm Winston Taylor, Hunter claimed an inability to pay the $17 million he owes his lawyers for representing him in criminal prosecutions, congressional investigations, and civil lawsuits.
Hunter claimed under oath that “I don’t own anything of any value other than — and I don’t know the value of it — my paintings which I painted myself. So that’s it. And I don’t even have any other assets at all, stocks, bonds, anything like that, savings accounts.” He also added, “My family doesn’t have any money, and it’s not their debt anyway.”
The statement about his family is curious, since Joe and Jill Biden recently received numerous book contracts and were thought to be worth millions. However, the Wall Street Journal recently reported that Joe Biden is struggling with $800,000 in debt and, ironically, increased property taxes in his blue state of Delaware on his $2.7 million home. (Moving to Florida like many fleeing blue state taxes is not a viable option for the Bidens).
Worse yet, no one wants Biden to do speeches and appearances, cutting off a lucrative post-presidency income. Not only is Biden obviously diminished in his ability to give a speech, but many Democrats blame him for the reelection of Trump by clinging to power despite his obvious deteriorating mental and physical condition.
Of course, the former president still rakes in more than $400,000 a year in government pensions.
Yet, in the end, Hunter is correct. It is not their debt unless they signed as guarantors on any debt.
Hunter continues to be the darling of the media with podcasts and interviews, including some who have called for him to run for president. He has lived in mansions and luxurious hotels for much of his life. However, that lifestyle was subsidized by wealthy Democratic donors and friends.
What is impressive is how Hunter could burn through millions accrued from alleged influence peddling and shady deals.
Notably, Fox News reports that the law firm, which is known for representing Democratic figures, has tried to connect Biden with donors to help him cover his legal bills, without success. With his father out of power, no one is willing to bankroll his lifestyle or buy his art.
Gone are the former swaggering threats that Hunter could make to shake down foreign figures. There was a time when he only needed to pick up a phone and send a text message like the one to a Chinese businessman, openly threatening Joe Biden’s displeasure if money is not sent to them immediately. In the WhatsApp message, Hunter stated:
“I am sitting here with my father, and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled. Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand, and now means tonight. And, Z, if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang, or the Chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction. I am sitting here waiting for the call with my father.”
No one is answering now.
Hunter insisted that he is now virtually destitute: “I don’t have any assets. I don’t own a car. I don’t own a phone.”
Even his recent dubious award of $1.7 million in a defamation case was immediately claimed by the law firm, though that award can and should be appealed.
Hunter has written extensively on his struggle with drugs and alcohol. It is a great achievement to have overcome those addictions. Yet, the accounts would be more compelling if he did not unleash a scorched-earth campaign against critics when he was sober. He sued or threatened to sue a wide array of people to try to muscle them into silence. I was one of those threatened with a defamation lawsuit by his friend and sponsor Kevin Morris for writing about their curious relationship.
Hunter gamed the system on his crimes and was ultimately rescued from prison only by his father breaking his repeated public promise not to pardon his son.
Yet, Hunter is likely to live well as a ward of the privileged class. He remains the toast of the town for the left, a type of foul-mouthed prophet who claims to have been liberated by his own excesses. For those of us who have long been critics of his antics, it remains a bit too familiar.
Hunter makes even being broke look like a grift.
Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the New York Times best-selling author of “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”
Good news… he only has to sell 34 paintings
Unfortunately, the influence peddling genre of art has gone out of style for some reason.
Can’t say I’m broken up about lawyers getting stiffed for representing the likes of Hunter Biden.
Wondering if he has caught up with all the Child Support owed for Lunden Roberts.
Apparently not: 01/16/2026 Hunter Biden accused of ghosting daughter with Lunden Roberts and violating child support agreement. Daughter was supposed to get some of his high worth Art.
Seems like prostitution would be right up his alley
Hunter is a good democrat and knows how to play the victim. When he says he’s ‘broke’ it means he only has one very nice house to live in, and only two high end cars. He can’t afford prostitutes and cocaine anymore because daddy’s influence peddling dried up….so to him, that means he’s broke. He has been a parasite his entire adult life.
What happened to Hunter’s multiple businesses? He could sell off the assets, and his expertise as a successful businessman should still be in high demand by our foreign enemies who paid him big bucks. Or, was it all a sham? (I suppose if he had to, he could dig into whatever offshore accounts he has money stashed in, unless it all went up his nose and into hookers.
I recall recently reading a story about where he lives and vacations. They lease thousands od dollar hotel rooms and oceanfront condos. Must be rough being that broke.
Still driving around in that new Porsche, isn’t he? And they must have at least another expensive car. And they fly around in private jets and stay in luxury hotels and rentals, as you point out. Sounds like there’s plenty of money around.
I just wonder about all those paintings he claims he still has. After all, they’re “worth” hundreds of thousands each – why doesn’t he just sell them?
This is why the scumbag openly slams Trump… he’s hoping for donations from the lefty idiots. Although, I though he moved to South Africa ???
I find it interesting that Mush for brains says he is struggling because property taxes have gone up in Maryland real estate. I’m looking at homes near the beach in Rohobath and a 2.5 million $ home is half the tax as in NJ. What was the Warren zevon song? Poor poor pitiful me
Plugs has at least two multi-million-dollar mansions in DE. We just paid for a $500k fence for the latest one.
Maybe cackles will give him some moula? She and doug the thug just bought a $8M house in Malibu.
Maybe one of his prostitutes can give him a loan.
As the Biden have always said, “there’s always a sucker out there.”
NOT ANY MORE!
The whole family can “Go suck an egg!”