17-Year-Old Stabbed Over Wristwatch Debt at $30M LA Party

A wealthy hedge-fund manager and his wife allegedly hosted a party for their son's friends at their fancy LA mansion, only for it to end in tragedy with one teenager stabbing another. Mario and Ann Marie Govic threw this event in 2024 inside their $30 million Brentwood home. The gathering involved card games where money changed hands among the guests.

Seventeen-year-old Noah Setareh used his expensive wristwatch as collateral to cover a gambling debt, according to the lawsuit filed by the New York Post. When Setareh tried to get his watch back, Jack refused until the financial dispute was settled. The argument heated up fast. Jack whipped out a knife after the boy asked for his property one final time.

Without warning, Jack produced a butterfly knife and lunged directly at the plaintiff. The blade struck Setareh's dominant right hand and pierced his palm and pinkie finger, leaving an open wound. Several people in the room watched the fight unfold. Mario intervened to demand his son return the watch immediately.

Setareh needed urgent medical care and now carries a visible scar that reminds him of the attack every day. Court documents state the parents knew minors were gambling at their home. They understood money was being wagered and that Jack held the stolen watch. The lawsuit claims Setareh wants compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Mario currently leads Govic Capital, a private wealth management firm based in Florida. He worked as a financier on Wall Street for many years before starting his own business with MetLife. Both he and his wife Ann Marie are originally from Croatia. The Daily Mail has reached out to the County of Los Angeles Superior Court for more information.