Real estate

Ohtani, Agent Sued Over Hawaii Real Estate Deal

Published AUG 12 2025

Story

Above: Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., on Dec. 14, 2023. Image credit: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

The Facts

Hawaii real estate developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto filed a lawsuit in Hawaii on Friday against Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, over a $240 million luxury housing development.
NBC
New York Post
The lawsuit accuses Ohtani and Balelo of tortious interference and unjust enrichment, claiming they exploited their celebrity leverage to destabilize and dismantle the plaintiffs' role in the project for their own financial self-interest.
FOX News
The Associated Press
ESPN
Hayes, a developer with 40 years of experience, and Matsumoto, a listing agent, were both set to work on developing and selling the houses, averaging $17.3 million each in The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort development, which featured 14 luxury residences.
ESPN
The Associated Press
Daily Mail
The developers reportedly signed an endorsement deal with Ohtani in 2023 as part of a marketing strategy, with investment materials calling him "Japan's Babe Ruth" and the "1st Resident," giving him top billing in promotional materials.
CBS News
New York Post
According to the lawsuit, Balelo allegedly threatened to pull Ohtani from the deal if concessions weren't made, and demanded that business partner Kingsbarn Realty Capital remove Hayes and Matsumoto from the project.
Daily Mail
CBS News
Kingsbarn fired Hayes and Matsumoto last month in what the suit called a "coordinated ambush," with the company openly admitting that Balelo had demanded the terminations solely to placate him, potentially costing the plaintiffs millions in compensation.
New York Post
The Associated Press
ESPN

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Based on this massive lawsuit, coupled with his past million-dollar financial scandal, Ohtani appears prone to using his celebrity status to rig systems for personal gain. If guilty, he risks severe financial and reputational damage, pointing to a pattern of leveraging star power to evade accountability.

Sporting News

Narrative B

Based on the lawsuit, Nez Balelo, not Shohei Ohtani, demanded concessions and firings in a $240 million project, exploiting Ohtani's fame for personal gain. Balelo's disruptive actions suggest he's using the baseball star. Repeated scandals tied to Balelo show Ohtani should fire him to stop further misuse of his celebrity.