A Canadian billionaire heiress and her former reality TV star husband are accused of defrauding their best friend out of $2 million, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court.
Brendan Fitzpatrick, 38, who appeared on "Rich Kids of Beverly Hills," and his wife, Chloe de Serigny, 31, the granddaughter of late Canadian financier Paul Desmarais, allegedly convinced their friend, Max Jan Fowles-Pazdro, 46, to provide a loan for a real estate project in the United Kingdom in January 2025.
According to the filing, Fitzpatrick exploited their personal friendship to secure the $2 million bridge loan, with a promise to begin repayment within six weeks. The lawsuit states that two years have since passed without any repayment, leaving Fowles-Pazdro and his wife facing financial ruin.
The suit claims the couple has presented themselves as living a life of luxury, posting pictures on social media of themselves on a yacht in the Mediterranean, while Fowles-Pazdro contends they are "beleaguered on all fronts."
The lawsuit details repeated promises from the couple to repay the loan, including suggestions that they would seek assistance from de Serigny's mother. Text messages cited in the filing show Brendan Fitzpatrick stating he would resolve the issue, even offering to borrow from his mother-in-law if necessary, describing the situation as "life or death."
Chloe de Serigny also reportedly indicated that her mother was involved in discussions about repayment, mentioning a potential change in circumstances if the funds were not secured by a certain date.
Fowles-Pazdro alleged that the couple laid the groundwork for the alleged fraud during lavish trips they took together in 2024. The Fowles-Pazdros reportedly spent time at the Fitzpatricks' rental in the South of France and stayed at the Montreal home of Chloe de Serigny's mother, Sophie Desmarais, who is the trustee of her grandfather's estate valued at approximately $4.5 billion.
Fitzpatrick's attorneys have largely denied many of the lawsuit's claims, while admitting to certain basic facts regarding agreements and communications. They have also filed a counterclaim, accusing the plaintiff of failing to meet their obligations.
Fitzpatrick is reportedly facing a separate lawsuit alleging an $80 million Ponzi scheme through his company, Carbonatik. He recently filed a motion to change his legal representation in the current case.
