Eccentric billionaire Stephen Cloobeck’s friends tried to warn him to break off the relationship with his fiancée long before he was arrested on suspicion of witness tampering and threats involving her criminal case, the California Post has learned.
“A lot of the people who were involved in his life tried to help and he didn’t want the help, and they’ve chosen to walk away because it’s too toxic,” a source with knowledge of the situation told The Post.
The source branded Lavie a “master manipulator.”
“She basically made him believe she was a victim, even though it’s very proven she’s not a victim.”
The warnings came long before Cloobeck turned himself in Tuesday after prosecutors accused him of trying to intimidate or silence alleged victims and attorneys connected to the criminal case against his fiancée, Adva Lavie, who’s also gone by the aliases Shoshana and Mia Ventura.
Cloobeck, 64, now faces multiple felony charges after Los Angeles prosecutors alleged he attempted to dissuade witnesses from testifying in the pending criminal case against Lavie, who prosecutors say preyed on wealthy older men she met through dating apps.
Cloobeck allegedly threatened or pressured multiple alleged victims — including businessman Michael Craine, Scott Thurman and Mike Farag — as well as attorney Lou Shapiro, who represents one of the men. Prosecutors allege some of the conduct involved implied threats of force and violence.
Cloobeck has denied wrongdoing.
“These charges are false, and we look forward to our day in court,” a spokesperson for Cloobeck told The Post.
Cloobeck’s arrest stunned many in Los Angeles political and social circles, where Cloobeck had become known for lavish parties at his sprawling Beverly Hills mansion — a property he previously boasted had been expanded to roughly 30,000 square feet.
“I designed a mini hotel,” Cloobeck told The Post last month. “It’s Xanadu.”
During a Super Bowl party he hosted in February, hundreds of guests packed into the estate, including Lavie and disgraced ex-congressman Eric Swalwell, according to an attendee.
“She was just kind of holding him like he was an old man,” the source said.
Cloobeck gave more than $1 million in support of Swalwell’s campaign for California governor but kicked him out of the Beverly Hills mansion after woman came forward with allegations of sexual assault and rape against the politician.
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Lavie, 28, has pleaded not guilty to six felony charges alleging she manipulated and financially exploited wealthy older men she met online.
Since her 2025 arrest, she has remained out of custody under electronic monitoring while repeatedly seeking permission from the court to remove the ankle bracelet.
Court filings included modeling photographs, bikini runway shots and letters from business associates who argued the monitor was damaging her career prospects.
Despite the allegations, Cloobeck publicly stood by Lavie, saying previously that their shared “trauma” was something that bonded them and he’s continuing to plan their wedding.
“The marriage is still on,” Cloobeck said, “the date is now a secret.”
