The music industry often runs on trust, especially when it comes to the people who manage an artist’s finances. Eric Prydz has now stepped forward with a lawsuit that claims this trust was broken by his longtime business manager, Thomas St. John. This makes him the second major DJ this year, after Calvin Harris, to bring serious allegations against the same individual. The situation has created a ripple across the entertainment world, and the details paint a troubling picture.

Years of Partnership Turn Into Dispute

The story begins more than a decade ago. Prydz started working with St. John around 2012 and depended on him for everything a high-level business manager usually handles. This included record keeping, tax planning, and support during global tours. Over time, Prydz placed significant confidence in the partnership, expecting the basics to be handled with honesty and accuracy.

Things shifted in 2023 when a new agreement came into play. What this really means is that the relationship moved into a fresh phase, but according to Prydz, this is where the problems began. The lawsuit states that St. John started taking payments for work that Prydz never approved. These payments were made quietly without alerting Prydz or his team. When Prydz’s manager went through the accounts, they reportedly found more than two hundred nineteen thousand dollars that had been taken without authorization.

Accusations of Pressure Ahead of a Tax Deadline

The financial dispute escalated further just before a key tax filing deadline. Prydz alleges that St. John withheld important tax documents unless he received a payment of one hundred fifty thousand dollars for what he called additional services. Prydz’s legal team described this as a form of pressure, especially because the deadline was closing in. When the payment was not made, St. John allegedly refused to submit the tax return.

The lawsuit also claims that after Prydz informed St. John that their professional relationship was ending, St. John took an additional fifty thousand dollars from Prydz’s accounts. The series of events left Prydz facing financial loss and unwanted stress during an already complicated tax period.

What Prydz Seeks Through the Lawsuit

Prydz is now asking the court to order repayment for all the money he believes was taken without approval. He is also seeking punitive damages and legal fees. The goal is clear. He wants accountability and recovery of the funds he says were mishandled.

A Larger Pattern Emerges

This case does not exist in isolation. Two months earlier, Calvin Harris filed a separate lawsuit against St. John, accusing him of mishandling more than twenty two million dollars through a failed Hollywood investment project. St. John has rejected the allegations and earlier stated that investor funds remain secure. His United States based company, Thomas St. John Inc., has already filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The situation now places intense scrutiny on St. John’s business operations. With two major artists raising similar concerns, the industry will likely follow this case closely to see how it reshapes expectations around financial management for global performers.