Hedge Fund Tycoon Claims Only Guinea Pigs Remain After $13M Mansion Loan Default

Hedge fund tycoon Jason Ader, 59, has filed for personal bankruptcy in Miami, claiming his assets are now limited to $239,000, furniture, a pistol, and two guinea pigs. This follows a lawsuit filed by his mother, Pamela Ader, in August 2024, alleging he defaulted on a $13 million mortgage for a Manhattan townhouse, a property belonging to his late father.

Court documents reveal Ader owes approximately $2 million in debts to various creditors, including banks, lawyers, the IRS, and investors from a failed $2.5 billion takeover of Okada Manila in the Philippines. His mother's lawsuit asserts he failed to meet mortgage payments, making his late father's estate liable for the loan, interest, and taxes.

In his bankruptcy filing on December 22, Ader listed his assets as $50,000 in furniture, a Glock G26 pistol, and two guinea pigs valued at $25 each. He also pleaded to keep his $70,000 Tesla Cybertruck and approximately $10,000 worth of clothing, despite admitting to owning a $6 million condo in Miami, which is held by one of his companies.

Ader attributes his financial distress to divorce proceedings, a long-standing family dispute over the townhouse, and an unexpected IRS liability of about $1.6 million. He stated he is working to reorganize his debts and pay off obligations to his estranged wife, Julie, and their five children, having already provided $1 million in housing support and $3 million for them.

His company, 26 Capital Acquisition Corp, previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September. Following this, American Express filed a lawsuit against Ader for alleged unpaid credit card balances totaling $370,000, used for lavish spending during trips to Monaco and other locations.

Ader's legal team has argued that the lawsuit with his mother should be paused pending the bankruptcy proceedings. His mother's case against him remains ongoing as of February 4, 2026.