Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, is facing significant financial challenges as his art sales and book revenues have sharply declined since late 2023. In a recent court filing, Biden disclosed that his income has decreased substantially, leading him to request the dismissal of a lawsuit he filed in 2023 against former Trump White House aide Garrett Ziegler.
Between 2021 and December 2023, Biden sold 27 pieces of art at an average price of approximately $54,481 each, totaling nearly $1.5 million in income. However, since December 2023, he has managed to sell only one piece for $36,000. Similarly, sales of his memoir, Beautiful Things, have plummeted, with monthly sales dropping from 500 copies to less than 200. Biden had anticipated additional income from paid speaking engagements and appearances, but these opportunities have not materialized.
Compounding his financial woes, Biden’s rental home in Los Angeles was rendered unlivable due to the Pacific Palisades fire in January 2025, leaving him struggling to find a new permanent residence. He also faces significant debt, reportedly in the millions of dollars, and has been unable to secure new loans.
These financial difficulties have led Biden to seek the dismissal of his lawsuit against Ziegler, citing an inability to continue funding the litigation. In his filing, he expressed the need to focus his limited resources on relocation, addressing damages incurred from the fires, and supporting his family’s living expenses.
Critics have previously questioned the legitimacy of Biden’s art sales, suggesting that buyers were more interested in gaining access to the Biden family than in the artistic value of the works. The recent decline in sales has intensified these suspicions, as interest in his artwork appears to have waned following his father’s departure from the presidency.
Biden’s current predicament underscores the challenges he faces in maintaining financial stability amid dwindling income sources and mounting legal and personal expenses.