Brandon Miller, a prominent real estate developer, left behind nearly $34 million in debt and had just $8,000 in his bank account when he decided to take his own life, according to legal documents.
A significant portion of this debt was tied to his Hamptons estate at 25 Cobb Isle Road, which is now on the market for $15.5 million.
His widow, Candice Miller, has filed a bond petition detailing four outstanding loans on the property, including a $2 million mortgage from Titan Capital, which has recently sued her over missed payments.
Beyond the property debt, Miller had a substantial unsecured loan of $11.3 million from BMO Bank. Additionally, he owed over $6 million to Donald Jaffe, a lender who had previously funded Miller and his father on various projects. Jaffe is still pursuing legal action to recover the unpaid balance.
Other creditors include American Express and Funding Club, a Brooklyn-based cash advance lender, to whom Miller owed over $300,000 and $266,000, respectively.
Brandon Miller, a prominent real estate developer, left behind nearly $34 million in debt and only $8,000 in his bank account, after his suicide, according to legal documents
A significant portion of this debt was tied to his Hamptons estate at 25 Cobb Isle Road, which is now on the market for $15.5 million
In his suicide note, Miller explained that a last-minute make-or-break business deal had fallen through leaving him feeling he had no way out.
The New York Times reports that Miller also detailed two life insurance policies that could be used to pay off creditors.
Miller killed himself by inhaling exhaust fumes while his wife Candice was touring Europe with their two daughters.
The troubled Miller, 43, waited until his family had left town for a weeks-long luxury vacation before getting into his car and running the engine until it filled their garage with toxic gas.
A wealthy friend arranged for shaken Candice, 42, and their two girls to fly back to the US on a private jet.
They arrived in time to say their final goodbyes before Miller was taken off life support at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and declared dead on July 3, according to a well-placed source.
‘They are amazing, sweet girls who loved their dad so much. This is absolutely devastating for all of them,’ the source added.
Miller had been struggling to maintain the lavish lifestyle he and his wife enjoyed in the years leading up to his death.
The couple had already been forced to sell up their TriBeCa townhouse and were renting a $47,000-a-month Upper East Side home to try and keep up appearances.
His widow, Candice Miller, has filed a bond petition detailing four outstanding loans on the property, including a $2 million mortgage from Titan Capital, which has recently sued her over missed payments
Beyond the property debt, Miller had a substantial unsecured loan of $11.3 million from BMO Bank. Additionally, he owed over $6 million to Donald Jaffe, a lender who had previously funded Miller and his father on various projects. Jaffe is still pursuing legal action to recover the unpaid balance.
At the time of his suicide, Miller is estimated to have owed around $17 million.
He was being sued for at least $221,000 for various non payments and had taken out a series of loans for millions of dollars against the Hamptons estate.
Interior Marketing Group Inc sued Miller in April, claiming he failed to pay a balance of $102,730.27 for luxury furnishing services, as reported by Page Six.
The same lawsuit accuses Miller of refusing to return over $64,000 in furniture from their apartment in Manhattan.
In another lawsuit against Miller, filed in May, Lighthouse Marina claims he failed to pay his balance for the services on his boat, named MillerTime, which had been at the Long Island marina since October 2020.
The marina claims Miller never ‘responded nor acknowledged’ a notice in October 2022 informing him he owed nearly $40,000. Miller’s alleged debt eventually grew to $55,205.76, per the legal filing.
Sources told the New York Times that Miller had begun weeping openly in business meetings as he struggled to cope with increasing financial pressure.
He was found unconscious in the garage of the couple’s $15.5 million Hamptons home which has since been listed for sale
By the time his wife jetted off to Europe, Miller was scrambling to arrange a $1,000 loan – a minuscule amount compared to the sums he was used to dealing with.
Friends said that Miller encouraged his wife to take the vacation by reassuring her everything had been paid for.
However, upon arrival, her credit card was declined and the family’s travel agent was forced to vouch for them, sources said.
Meanwhile, Miller was said to be at home attempting to pull off a deal which could reverse their fortunes but sadly fell through.
Candice Miller has since listed their Water Mill home for $15.495 million and is said to be relocating to Miami with her children ahead of the new school year.
