Beverly Hills Divorce Battle Unfolds
A socialite from Beverly Hills and a UCLA physician are in the midst of an intense $200 million divorce dispute filled with heated emails, allegations of concealed finances, and even clothes tossed from their mansion’s balcony.
Setare “Star” Brar is said to have initiated divorce proceedings against Dr. Ryan Aronin on May 3, 2024, right when children were being picked up from school. This has ignited a fierce legal conflict over her potential access to a substantial family trust worth millions.
The trust, valued at $200 million, originates from Setareh’s late father, Saeed Brar, who was a prominent real estate mogul believed to have connections to Iran’s last shah. After fleeing Iran following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, he established a vast business empire in Los Angeles.
Following his passing on April 27, 2021, control of the trust was handed to his wife, Yaffa. Upon her death in September 2023, their children, Sean and Cetera, assumed management.
In her divorce documents, Cetera reportedly claimed to have no income and questioned her estranged husband’s trustworthiness. However, Dr. Aronin counters this by asserting that Setare hidden his income and relinquished her access to the trust to evade financial obligations.
Court filings allege that Setare intentionally stepped down as a co-trustee on October 10, 2024, suggesting it was a strategy to distance herself from managing trust distributions.
This decline of responsibility, noted in documents from October 26, 2023, is a key point in the ongoing legal tussle. The trust, according to the filings, continues to support Brar, covering all her expenses, including housing and legal fees.
Dr. Aronin estimates that Setare’s net worth is at least $19 million, with the potential to generate over $700,000 annually from interest alone. The couple, who tied the knot in 2014, enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, often attending high-profile fundraisers and private events in upscale Los Angeles areas.
The pair resided with their two children in a $6 million Beverly Hills home purchased through the trust. A troubling text exchange apparently reflects the deteriorating relationship; Setare allegedly told Dr. Aronin, “People treat their dogs better than you treat me.”
Surveillance footage, also part of the court documents, shows Setare tossing Dr. Aronin’s clothes from their home’s second-floor balcony. Their history involves multiple court appearances over the years.
Currently, the trust is pursuing a lawsuit against both parties for $1.825 million in unpaid rent, as per legal documents. Additionally, attorneys are engaged in a dispute concerning a Miami Beach condo that Dr. Aronin was contracted to manage for the family.
Setare contends that the property was acquired during their marriage and claims rights to a $1 million penthouse on Collins Avenue. Meanwhile, Dr. Aronin is a practicing internal medicine physician at UCLA, with reported earnings of $190,000 annually; he maintains that he supports their children while expressing financial strain.
As the case continues in Los Angeles Family Court next May, there has been no response from Cetera Brar regarding media inquiries.
