How to go from being worth $155 million to filing for bankruptcy

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http://www.businessinsider.com/50-cent-files-for-bankruptcy-2015-7

Rapper 50 Cent files for bankruptcy
ALY WEISMAN

50-cent-19.jpg

Jamie McCarthy/Getty ImagesCurtis James Jackson III, better known as 50 Cent, has filed for bankruptcy.


Curtis Jackson, better known as rapper 50 Cent, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday.

"In court papers filed in the US Bankruptcy Court in Hartford, Conn., Mr. Jackson reported assets and debts each in the range of $10 million to $50 million," The Wall Street Journal reports.

The filing comes just three days after the "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" rapper was ordered to pay $5 million to his rival Rick Ross' ex-girlfriend, Lastonia Leviston, who sued him for posting a sex tape online to millions of viewers in an attempt to embarrass Ross.

The Hollywood Reporter points out that "The chapter 11 filing allows him to reorganize his business interests, as opposed to a chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, which would mean liquidation of his assets."

The rapper's attorney further explained to THR:

"The filing allows Mr. Jackson to reorganize his financial affairs, as he addresses various professional liabilities and takes steps to position the future of his various business interests. Mr. Jackson’s business interests will continue unaffected in the ordinary course during the pendency of the chapter 11 case. This filing for personal bankruptcy protection permits Mr. Jackson to continue his involvement with various business interests and continue his work as an entertainer, while he pursues an orderly reorganization of his financial affairs."

50 Cent was previously one of the world's wealthiest rappers, largely thanks to his minority stake in Vitamin Water. In 2007, the Coca-Cola Company acquired Vitamin Water from Glacéau for $4.1 billion.

According to The Washington Post at the time, "50 Cent was thought to have walked away with a figure somewhere between $60 million and $100 million, putting his net worth at nearly a half billion dollars."

While the rapper no longer has an equity stake in the company, he continued to act as a spokesman for Vitamin Water.

Additionally, the rapper's studio albums alone have sold more than 21 million units, and he has starred in a long list of film and TV projects, including Starz's new hit "Power."

In May, Forbes estimated 50 Cent's net worth at $155 million, ranking him No. 4 on the list of the wealthiest hip-hop artists.

The bankruptcy claim comes just days after The New York Times published a glowing profile of the rapper, praising his "exceptional business instincts."
 

Ramhusker

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I just don't get it. These guys have seen all those before them that have done the same thing and they don't learn.
 

Mackeyser

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Well, either he didn't learn... or...

He off-shored it.

Sean Coombs and Jay-Z learned about empire building and Dre and 50-cent clearly bought into startups for equity that earned them big money upon the later sale. That said, it wouldn't surprise me if he got some advice to take his money off shore and the file a Chapter 11 here in the states as a way to avoid taxes.

Corporations do it all the time.

And really, who would suspect a rapper of money laundering like a corporation?

Just a thought. I mean, he could have spent a $1ooM on bottle service... Then again, the guy's always working...movies, promotions, TV shows... I'm surprised he has time to spend his money. So, yeah. He could have spent it. No doubt. Bigger fortunes have been blown.

I just wouldn't be surprised if he like other Rap Moguls got some SERIOUS advice from big money guys on how to really, really keep his money.

Just a thought...
 

Legatron4

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He's not broke. He had a lawsuit going against him for revenge porn. So he filed for bankruptcy so he couldn't get sued. The dude is still loaded.
 

Mackeyser

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The revenge porn thing was dumb.

Strictly from a legal sense, it's a jurisdictional morass and depending on where the case gets domiciled, it could be a serious crime or no crime at all. So, just from a legal standpoint, it's dumb.

From a moral standpoint, it's reprehensible. There are umpteen ways to drop the Craphammer on someone and really ruin their day. I mean, we're surrounded by a-holes and they keep using their imaginations figuring out how they can make life miserable for others. I'm CERTAIN he could have figured out something else.

The problem is that as a society, we haven't applied our morality to the digital realm, yet. Like our laws, we're really need to get caught up with the times.

That said, yes, the bankruptcy is almost certainly a move to prevent certain assets from being included as part of any suit. The reorganization will allow him to move as much as he can away from him personally so that he literally can't pay her and the court will either be forced to go with a payment plan presuming guilt or it would give him leverage for a lesser settlement (the plan, I'm sure).

This is where the law becomes a game and has nothing to do with justice.
 

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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8
http://fortune.com/2015/08/04/50-cent-month-expenses/

Here’s how much 50 Cent spends each month on expenses
by Claire Groden

Get rich, die tryin’, or spend all your money on gardening.

Rapper 50 Cent revealed in a Monday court filing that he spends $108,000 each month on expenses, including $3,000 on clothes, and $5,000 on gardening.

The majority of the rapper’s spending is focused on his mansion outside of Hartford, Conn., where he maintains an 18-bedroom mansion with 37 bathrooms and five whirlpool baths for $72,000 each month.

50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson III, declared bankruptcy after he was ordered to pay $7 million to a woman whose sex tape he allegedly posted online. When he filed for bankruptcy in a Connecticut court in July, his declared assets and liabilities were both below $50 million, calling into question net worth estimates that had pegged the mogul at more than $150 million.

According to court filings, Jackson owes money to his stylist, his barber, and his fitness coach.
 

ChrisW

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He's not broke. He had a lawsuit going against him for revenge porn. So he filed for bankruptcy so he couldn't get sued. The dude is still loaded.

He testified that he only rents the expensive cars and jewelry for photo shoots and then returns it. He doesn't really own any of that shit.


Where he really fucked up was selling Vitamin Water. He should have held onto it.
 

OldSchool

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He testified that he only rents the expensive cars and jewelry for photo shoots and then returns it. He doesn't really own any of that crap.


Where he really freaked up was selling Vitamin Water. He should have held onto it.
Working for Coca Cola and knowing how we do those things and knowing the details of Glaceau, the original company that was VW, he didn't have an option. He was given a share of the company for endorsements and naming a flavor after him.
 

ChrisW

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Working for Coca Cola and knowing how we do those things and knowing the details of Glaceau, the original company that was VW, he didn't have an option. He was given a share of the company for endorsements and naming a flavor after him.

Ah, sounds like he didn't protect himself very well, then.
 

Legatron4

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He testified that he only rents the expensive cars and jewelry for photo shoots and then returns it. He doesn't really own any of that crap.


Where he really freaked up was selling Vitamin Water. He should have held onto it.
Yeah right. Of course he's going to testify that. Ever seen his house? He's worth 60 million dollars. And that doesn't even include the residual he's makes off his music. But I agree, any endorsement should be kept. Always.
 

fearsomefour

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The revenge porn thing was dumb.

Strictly from a legal sense, it's a jurisdictional morass and depending on where the case gets domiciled, it could be a serious crime or no crime at all. So, just from a legal standpoint, it's dumb.

From a moral standpoint, it's reprehensible. There are umpteen ways to drop the Craphammer on someone and really ruin their day. I mean, we're surrounded by a-holes and they keep using their imaginations figuring out how they can make life miserable for others. I'm CERTAIN he could have figured out something else.

The problem is that as a society, we haven't applied our morality to the digital realm, yet. Like our laws, we're really need to get caught up with the times.

That said, yes, the bankruptcy is almost certainly a move to prevent certain assets from being included as part of any suit. The reorganization will allow him to move as much as he can away from him personally so that he literally can't pay her and the court will either be forced to go with a payment plan presuming guilt or it would give him leverage for a lesser settlement (the plan, I'm sure).

This is where the law becomes a game and has nothing to do with justice.
I would try revenge porn but I think the only person I would humiliate would be myself.