In 2019, Brandon Miller, a prominent New York real estate entrepreneur, celebrated his tenth wedding anniversary with a lavish Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed party at his 5,500-square-foot Hamptons vacation home. He was married to Candice Miller, an influencer and the operator of the popular lifestyle blog Mama and Tata. The event was a public showcase of their seemingly perfect life and marriage. However, last month, Miller died by suicide, leaving behind debts exceeding $34 million (Rs 284.93 crore) and just $8,000 (Rs 6 lakh) in his savings account.
According to The Real Deal, $11.5 million (over Rs 96 crore) of Miller’s debt was tied to mortgages on his Hamptons mansion, based on a bond petition Candice filed in surrogate’s court. The Water Mill estate was recently listed for $15.5 million (almost Rs 130 crores).
Miller had four mortgages on the property. Titan Capital, which provided him with an $800,000 (more than Rs 6 crore) bridge loan, sued Candice for nonpayment of the mortgage last month, according to legal documents obtained by The Real Deal. In addition to the $2 million (over Rs 16 crore) Miller owed Titan on the property, he also had loans from UBS and Stevens Financial Group.
The largest unsecured debt Miller owed was a $11.3 million (almost Rs 95 crore) loan from Chicago-based BMO Bank.
Miller also left behind $6.1 million (over 51 crore) in unsecured debt to Donald Jaffe, a financier who had supported Miller and his father, Michael Miller, in various projects. Jaffe has taken legal action to recover the remaining balance on a business loan provided to Miller.
Other outstanding expenses included more than $300,000 (over Rs 2.5 crore) owed to American Express and $266,000 (over Rs 2 crore) owed to Funding Club, a Brooklyn-based cash advance financing firm.
There were reports of jealousy and resentment toward Candice, who appeared to lead a picture-perfect life, forming close friendships with celebrities like Ashley Olsen, Mary Kate, stylist Rachel Zoe, Ivanka Trump, and fashion blogger Arielle Charnas.
However, the family was deeply in debt and far beyond their means to sustain their luxurious lifestyle. Miller was found unconscious in his car in the family’s garage, according to The New York Post. He was rushed to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where he passed away a few days later.
Recently, Page Six reported that Candice has been left to rebuild her life and has relocated to Miami with her two young daughters.