Personal life
West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2008. While he initially accepted the diagnosis, he later disputed it, suggesting that his difficulties arose from a combination of temporary depression and the stresses of a basketball player lifestyle.
On September 17, 2009, West was pulled over near his home in Maryland, for a traffic violation while riding a Can-Am Spyder three-wheeled motorcycle. During this stop, it was discovered that West had a 9mm Beretta pistol in his waistband, a Ruger .357 Magnum revolver strapped to his leg, and a Remington 870 shotgun in a guitar case across his back. He was subsequently arrested and had a court appearance on November 20. West contended that he was moving the weapons to a different location because his mother had informed him that his cousins' children had stumbled upon them in a closet at his home. West pleaded guilty to the traffic and weapons charges and was sentenced to electronic monitoring, unsupervised probation, and 40 hours of community service as well as psychological counseling.
While West has bought homes for each of his parents and has provided other financial support for relatives, he has also experienced financial difficulties. During the 2011 NBA lockout, he applied for a job at Home Depot and worked at a furniture store.
West's first marriage ended in divorce in 2010. He married Caressa Madden in 2013 and had two children. They divorced in 2020.
In February 2016, West was photographed in a public place in Houston, Texas, while barefoot and wearing a hospital gown. In June 2016, a photo of West panhandling in Temple Hills, Maryland, went viral. The photo sparked speculation that West was homeless, as the Twitter account that broke the photo suggested as such and asked his followers to pray for West given his psychological issues. West immediately denied the rumors, stating that, while the photo is genuine, he has a home and was merely assisting someone who actually was homeless, since the homeless man was quadriplegic.
In January 2020, a video surfaced online showing West in handcuffs on a Washington, D.C., highway. In the same month, it was reported that West worked as a scout for the Boston Celtics but was not able to follow through with the role.
On September 28, 2020, after photos circulated showing West panhandling at an intersection in Dallas, Texas, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban picked up West from a gas station. Cuban paid for drug rehabilitation treatment and provided West a hotel room to stay in. On January 19, 2021, reports came in that West now had a job at the rehab facility where he checked in and had reunited with his mother. In July 2022, new videos came to light showing West begging again, this time in Virginia.
On October 15, 2022, West was arrested again in Fairfax County, Virginia, after being seen trying to enter a car that did not belong to him. He was booked on four misdemeanor charges.
On June 6, 2024, West was arrested again in Fairfax County, Virginia, for violating the terms of his previous release and resisting arrest. He was found unresponsive by police officers after a brief chase, and was administered Narcan. When that did not have the desired effect, he was taken to a local hospital and administered a second dose, which did work. He was released after being charged. Later that same month, West was captured on video by worried onlookers stumbling around a parking lot in Arlington, Virginia.
On November 2, 2024, West was accused of trespassing and arrested by the Fairfax County Police Department. He was held on a $1,000 bond and released on November 3.
On November 3, 2025, West was found unconscious in Fairfax County, Virginia. After Fairfax County police determined he was intoxicated, he was arrested for his own safety and protection. He was later released on bond.
On December 21, 2025, West was arrested in Fairfax County, Virginia for assault and robbery (of $23). He was released on a $1,000 bond.
