French Montana hit with fraud lawsuit over missing $1M watch

French Montana faces a $1 million lawsuit after allegedly keeping a borrowed luxury watch from Paris Fashion Week

Rapper French Montana is facing a new legal battle after being accused of borrowing a $1 million luxury watch and never returning it.

The Moroccan-American artist, known for hits like Unforgettable, is being sued by two Swiss businessmen, Justo Obiang and Samir Gato, who claim he took their high-end timepiece following Paris Fashion Week 2024.

According to court documents filed Thursday, the plaintiffs allege that Montana borrowed the watch under the agreement it would be returned within 30 days. The lawsuit accuses him of fraudulent misrepresentation, conversion, and unjust enrichment, and seeks damages of at least $1 million.

The men say they had known Montana since 2015 after meeting in Geneva, and reconnected years later in Egypt. There, the rapper allegedly proposed a trade involving another watch, claiming it was worth over $1 million. When Obiang declined to swap, Montana reportedly asked to borrow the piece temporarily—leaving behind what the plaintiffs now claim was a fake watch as collateral.

Montana’s lawyer, Steve Haddad, denied the allegations and stated the rapper plans to countersue. Haddad claims Montana was invited to Egypt by Obiang for promotional appearances and accepted the luxury watch as payment for services, not as a loan.

This case adds to a string of legal troubles for the rapper, who was previously ordered to pay $402,000 in a civil suit tied to a dog attack and has faced other lawsuits related to a music video shooting and sexual misconduct allegations.

The dispute highlights the risks of informal deals involving luxury watches in celebrity circles, where items from brands like Richard Mille and Patek Philippe often serve as status symbols — but without documentation, ownership claims can become legally complex.