Grant Cardone Lawsuit 2026: The Investor Class Action, the $500 Million Defamation Case, and Why There’s No Claim Form
Quick Answer
- The Grant Cardone lawsuit is a real investor class action accusing Cardone Capital of misleading investors about projected returns.
- There is no settlement and no payout. The case is still fighting over class certification and opt-outs in 2026.
- No deadline applies to the public. Only investors in Cardone Equity Funds V and VI are part of the class.
You searched “grant cardone lawsuit” because you saw a headline, a social media post, or a video claiming Cardone is being sued. The main case is real, but it is not a settlement you can join, and it does not pay strangers who bought a course.
The core lawsuit is Pino v. Cardone Capital, filed in 2020 by an investor who said Cardone used social media to make misleading claims about returns, fees, and liabilities . A federal judge dismissed it, an appeals court revived it, and the case has been grinding through discovery and class certification fights ever since.
This article explains what the case actually alleges, why there is no money to claim, the separate $500 million defamation suit filed in Florida, and the opt-out numbers that are shaping the outcome. The surprising part: Cardone himself posted 12 hours of his own deposition to YouTube, and that video is now part of the public record.
The Facts
| Case | Christine Pino v. Cardone Capital, LLC, No. 2:20-cv-08499 |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court, Central District of California |
| Status | Active. Class certification contested; opt-outs filed; summary judgment briefing underway in 2026 |
| Fund Size | Not applicable (no settlement fund) |
| Est. Per Person | Not applicable (no payout; case seeks damages for Fund V and VI investors) |
| Claim Deadline | No public claim deadline. Class members received notice in 2026 |
| Administrator | Not applicable |
| Proof Needed | Investor status in Cardone Equity Funds V or VI |
Is the Grant Cardone Lawsuit Real or a Scam?
The Grant Cardone lawsuit is real, but it is not a settlement program. The main case is Pino v. Cardone Capital, a federal class action pending in the Central District of California . It accuses Cardone and his company of misleading investors about projected returns from two real estate funds.
The scam risk sits in the pages that imply you can file a claim for money. There is no claim form for the general public. The only people covered are investors who bought into Cardone Equity Funds V and VI. If you never invested, you are not part of this case.
Cardone has denied misleading investors throughout. He argues the 15 percent return figure was a target, not a guarantee, and that fund performance cannot be judged until the underlying properties are sold . The court has not issued a final ruling on the merits.
How Much Money Can You Get From the Grant Cardone Lawsuit?
There is no payout amount and no settlement fund. The case is still in active litigation, and no verdict or settlement has been reached. Any figure you see online claiming a per-person payment is not verified.
The lawsuit seeks damages for investors in Funds V and VI. But the economics are complicated. The defendants argued in a July 2026 filing that many class members do not want to participate because joining the class would require them to surrender their investments in the funds for a recovery that could be less than the value of those investments .
That unusual structure is why hundreds of investors have opted out. Cardone claimed in July 2026 that 900 or more investors opted out, representing roughly half the remaining equity in the funds . The court has not published a final opt-out count, so that figure is Cardone’s characterization, not a confirmed court record.
| Item | Verified Status |
|---|---|
| Total settlement fund | None. Case is not settled |
| Estimated per-person payout | Not applicable |
| Class counsel fee request | Not yet determined |
| Opt-out count | Contested. Cardone claims 900-plus; not confirmed by court |
Key Takeaway: The Grant Cardone investor lawsuit has no settlement money and no payout table. It is a live federal case, and the only people with a potential stake are Funds V and VI investors, not the general public.
Who Qualifies for the Grant Cardone Investor Class Action?
You may be part of the class only if you invested in Cardone Equity Funds V or VI during the relevant period. The case does not cover people who bought Cardone’s books, courses, or training programs.
The class notice went out in May 2026, and the opt-out process became a flashpoint. Defendants accused the plaintiff of launching the class website without allowing review and sending notice late at night to bury it . The plaintiff denied those characterizations. The court later addressed the notice dispute, and the case continued.
If you are a Fund V or VI investor and you did not opt out, you are likely part of the class by default. If you opted out, you preserved your right to sue separately. If you are unsure which side you are on, the court-approved class website named in your notice is the only reliable source.
What Is the $500 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against Grant Cardone?
A separate case filed in Florida seeks $500 million from Cardone and Cardone Capital. Chealse Sophia Howell, a former Miss Universe Canada delegate, filed the defamation and tortious interference suit in Miami-Dade County in December 2025 .
Howell alleges Cardone published false statements accusing her of criminal conduct, including human trafficking in the Middle East, and amplified them to millions of followers . She seeks compensatory and punitive damages totaling $500 million, plus injunctive relief and attorney fees. Cardone has not issued a public response to this specific complaint in the reporting available.
This is not a class action. It is one individual’s lawsuit, and it does not create a claim process for anyone else. The filing is an allegation, and no court has made findings of fact.
What Did Grant Cardone Say in His 12-Hour Deposition?
Cardone sat for two depositions in July 2026, totaling more than 12 hours, and posted the footage publicly. The Real Deal reviewed the testimony and reported that Cardone denied defrauding investors, argued over internal rates of return, and rejected the label “social media influencer” .
The central number in the case is 15 percent. Attorneys questioned a 2019 YouTube video where Cardone said investors would “walk away with a 15 percent annualized return” . Cardone maintained that figure was a target, not a promise.
The deposition took strange turns. At one point an attorney asked if Cardone was a time traveler, and Cardone replied that “there’s a lot of things we don’t know about time and space” . He also called opposing counsel “dude” and discussed ChatGPT. The video is public, and it is now part of the record that both sides will use in summary judgment briefing.
Reality Check: No one texts you money from the Grant Cardone lawsuit. There is no settlement fund, no claim portal for the public, and no per-person payment. If a page asks for your information to “check your Grant Cardone settlement,” it is not connected to the real case.
How Do You Check If You’re Part of the Cardone Class Action?
You check by finding your class notice, not by filling out a new form. The notice went out in 2026 to investors in Funds V and VI. If you invested and received notice, your options were to stay in the class, opt out, or object.
Here are the steps:
- Find your class notice. It was sent by email in May 2026 .
- Confirm which fund you invested in. Only Funds V and VI are at issue.
- Check whether you opted out. If you did not act, you are likely still in the class.
- Do not use third-party claim sites. There is no public claim form.
- Contact class counsel if you have questions. The plaintiff’s firm is named in the court docket.
- Watch for summary judgment rulings. The case is moving toward dispositive motions in 2026 .
What Is the Gary Brecka Lawsuit Against Grant Cardone?
A separate business breakup fight involved Cardone and Gary Brecka, but it is not the main investor case. Cardone Ventures sued Brecka and his wife in federal court in Florida over trademark and unfair competition claims. Brecka and Workinger filed a $100 million defamation suit in Florida state court .
The parties agreed to mediation in 2025, and a trial date was set for February 2026 . The current status of that case in late 2026 is not confirmed in the reporting available. This dispute is separate from the investor class action and does not involve a public claim process.
What Happens Next in the Grant Cardone Lawsuits?
The main investor case is moving toward summary judgment and potentially trial. The timeline below covers the verified stages.
- July 2026: Cardone sits for 12 hours of depositions and posts the video publicly .
- July 2026: Defendants file opposition to plaintiff’s motion for a curative notice, arguing opt-outs have shrunk the class .
- 2026: Class certification and summary judgment briefing continue .
- TBD: Trial date, if the case does not settle.
- Ongoing: The $500 million Howell defamation case proceeds in Miami-Dade County .
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Grant Cardone lawsuit a class action settlement?
No. It is a pending class action, and no settlement has been reached. There is no fund and no payout.
Can I file a claim in the Grant Cardone lawsuit?
No. There is no public claim form. Only investors in Funds V and VI are part of the class, and they received notice directly.
How much did Grant Cardone’s investors get?
No court-approved payout has been made. Cardone claims investors received about $40 million back from their investments, but that is a company statement, not a court finding .
What is the Grant Cardone lawsuit about?
It alleges Cardone and Cardone Capital misled investors about projected returns, fees, and liabilities in Funds V and VI .
Did Grant Cardone settle the investor lawsuit?
No. The case is still active, with class certification and opt-out disputes ongoing in 2026.
Who is suing Grant Cardone for $500 million?
Chealse Sophia Howell, a former Miss Universe Canada delegate, filed a defamation suit in Miami-Dade County in December 2025 .
Is the Gary Brecka lawsuit still active?
The current status is not confirmed. The parties entered mediation in 2025, and a trial was scheduled for February 2026 .
What if I invested in Cardone Capital but never got a notice?
Contact the plaintiff’s counsel named in the court docket for Pino v. Cardone Capital, No. 2:20-cv-08499. Do not rely on social media posts or third-party sites.
Your Next Step
If you invested in Cardone Equity Funds V or VI, find your class notice and confirm whether you opted out. If you did not invest, there is nothing for you to claim in this case. The real deadline that matters is not a claim deadline. It is the next court ruling on class certification and summary judgment, which will decide whether this case ever produces a payout. Until then, any page promising Grant Cardone settlement money is selling something that does not exist.
