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Celebrity Justice
Most Famous Photog Ever -- Imagine Losing It All

Posted Sep 6th 2009 10:15AM by TMZ Staff

In the world of high-end photography, Annie Leibovitz's portfolio is the equivalent of The Beatles' catalog -- and she's in danger of losing it all.

Annie Leibovitz, John Lennon, Yoko Ono

Leibovitz, who took the infamous last photo of John Lennon before he was assassinated, is facing catastrophic financial problems -- if she doesn't pay back a $24 million loan by Tuesday, she'll lose the rights to every big photo she's ever taken. The list includes that controversial Miley Cyrus photo from last year, the pregnant Demi Moore Vanity Fair cover, the cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" -- and really every interesting VF cover for the last 20 years or so.

In classic Michael Jackson-esque form, Leibovitz sunk deep into debt and then got a loan using her photo catalog (estimated at $40 million) and homes as collateral.

Tuesday is D-Day.

Tags: annie leibovitz, AnnieLeibovitz, bankruptcy, john lennon, JohnLennon, photographer, photography, photos, rolling stone, RollingStone, vanity fair, VanityFair, yoko ono, YokoOno

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(Page 1 of 9) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. Drug problems?

Posted at 10:31AM on Sep 6th 2009 by shuffler

2. Fiiieeerrsst!

Posted at 10:31AM on Sep 6th 2009 by Fieerrst

3. second!
How can this people spend so much money? give me give me.... lol

Posted at 10:32AM on Sep 6th 2009 by caty

4. I think she got too greedy. Are we supposed to send her money or put on a benefit concert?

Posted at 10:33AM on Sep 6th 2009 by Greedy

5. Wow, that is so sad. I hope she is able to pull it off and keep her stuff!

Russ
www.anon-tools.vze.com

Posted at 10:35AM on Sep 6th 2009 by dunkledomy

6. Couldn't happen to a MORE deserving [a]sshole. Over-rated bitch has to pay the piper, one way or the other. ;-)

Go get 'em, repo man!!!

Posted at 10:36AM on Sep 6th 2009 by KJIH-TV Media

7. Looks like you might have to sell a couple of photos

Posted at 10:37AM on Sep 6th 2009 by homie1kanobe

8. sounds like she pissed it all away and didn't manage it well. that's too bad. such great talent. i hope the many people who used her services will somehow help her out.

Posted at 9:35AM on Sep 10th 2009 by mehere

9. WTF is wrong with these people, don't they have money managers that are worth a darn?

Posted at 10:40AM on Sep 6th 2009 by tacox@dslextreme.com

10. How can you get a loan ...

and use the property that you don't own...

as collateral...

to get MORE money...

from the (you and me) bank?

Name names.

Who gave her these loans that we paid for?...

Which the taxpayers will pay for...

to bail out the banks that gave out bad loans ..

to leaches like Lebo.

Posted at 10:42AM on Sep 6th 2009 by Inny

11. Where do you go to get one of those $24 million loans. I could use one.

Posted at 10:42AM on Sep 6th 2009 by Antoinette

12. No one should be allowed to borrow against their art nor loose the rights to their art. I'm calling BS.

Posted at 10:45AM on Sep 6th 2009 by click

13. WTF did she buy? How do you spend that much money?? Good Gawd you would think she could have spent a bit on hair/makeup/plastic surgery.

Posted at 10:43AM on Sep 6th 2009 by BobbityBoo

14. Lesbian loses stuff. Call Oprah.

Posted at 10:43AM on Sep 6th 2009 by What Women Want

15. Inny, she took the picture of people with consent, she owns it. Not like TMZ and other people who take photos out in the open and should not own it. People should have to give consent of their image/likeness/and self before being exploited.

Posted at 5:55PM on Sep 6th 2009 by Click

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