Exclusives

There were numerous reports Rachel settled on the brink of holding a Gloria Allred-style news conference for anywhere between $2 - 5 million.

But our sources -- and they are good -- tell TMZ Tiger was so concerned with the depth and detail of information from Alleged Mistress #1 that they folded like a cheap suit, and offered the huge $10 million sum in return for an ironclad confidentiality agreement.

TMZ has learned the actual settlement could fluctuate $1 million either way, depending on future circumstances. But the baseline is $10 mil.

Compare Rachel's settlement with what other A.M's received, if they got anything at all. We're told several mistresses got several hundred thousand dollars, and others got nothing. That speaks volumes about how much Rachel knows.

Insiders are saying Rachel's settlement could be a precursor to what Elin Nordegren could get if she pulls the plug on her marriage to Tiger. Reports that Elin could get $300 million under the prenup are absurd. It's more likely the prenup is in the $5 - 10 million range, with provisions for support. But insiders tell us -- with the backdrop of Rachel's settlement -- there's no way Tiger would get off cheaper than $20 mil.

Dennis' assistant, Emily Davis, made the shocking allegation in a declaration filed in Hopper's epic divorce battle with wife Victoria.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Davis claims she and everyone else in the Hopper household were "at the mercy of [wife Victoria's] cruelty" when Hopper had to be taken to the hospital last December -- and added that his wife "was trying to kill him." Emily didn't specify the alleged method of termination.

Davis claims Victoria -- who's been trying to preserve her stake in Dennis' inheritance -- "is a threat to all in the home and has already looted millions of [dollars in] property that is not hers."

Dennis' daughter from a prior marriage, Marin Hopper -- who's actually older than her stepmother -- also weighed in, calling Victoria's behavior "frightening" ... and accusing her of spreading "slanderous lies" to the media.

UPDATE: Victoria tells TMZ: "Emily Davis' claims are outrageous, horrifying, and not based on facts or reality."

Joe ate a steak dinner yesterday at Wolfgang's Steakhouse in Bev Hills.

One of our restaurant spies asked the waiter if Joe was a good tipper ... he just rolled his eyes and said, "No comment, but that's life."

It's hard to hit the town big on an allowance.

We got this pic from Wednesday's rehearsal. The show tapes today in front of a live audience.

We're told Mr. Top will play himself in a "fantasy sequence." So if you ever wanted to see Charlie's fantasy ...

According to our sources, MTV just picked up Pauly D in Rhode Island and then grabbed The Situation in New York City before heading south. We're also told Snooki and Jwoww are in another ride -- and are also en route.

We're also told MTV is keeping the stars on total lockdown -- our source says the network has banned the use of cell phones during the trip.

Interesting that Sandra is making what appears to be a rare outing -- presumably to see a money guy.

As we reported, Brener -- who runs Brener International Group, LLC -- lives on the same street where Michael Jackson died.

Brener International invests in media, real estate and high-technology.

It looks like Sandra left her house Wednesday around 6pm. She was wearing a big green sun hat that was covering her face. A bodyguard and an assistant blocked her -- with the help of several trusty umbrellas -- as she exited the house through the garage and got into a waiting car.

Sandra got in the backseat of a black Mercedes and the driver whisked her away.

Sandra just pulled into a house ... on the same street where Michael Jackson died.

A rep from the Beverly Hills PD tells TMZ the accident occurred Monday around 4 PM -- emergency vehicles responded to the scene.

A witness tells us it didn't appear that anyone was seriously injured in the wreck.

A rep for Poitier had no comment.

UPDATE: The Beverly Hills PD released a statement saying, "Poitier was driving a dark colored Mercedes Benz northbound when it collided with a dark colored Porsche."

According to cops, Poitier was not injured -- but a passenger in the Porsche was transported to UCLA Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

An investigation is underway.

Operating room spies tell TMZ Thiago Alves just underwent an 8 hour operation to separate an artery from a vein in his brain.

Dana White tells TMZ the operation -- in a New York City hospital -- was a complete success and Pitbull's first words ... "When can I start training again?"

Dana's answer ... a couple of weeks.

We're told Pitbull will be in ICU for the next two days.

The facility -- Sierra Tucson -- specializes in drug, alcohol and sex addiction, as well as other disorders. TMZ broke the story last night.

Multiple law enforcement sources have told TMZ when a CHP officer stopped Jesse last Friday on the 10 Freeway near Blythe, CA. -- for driving without a front license plate and driving with tinted windows -- James told the officer he was going to Arizona to try to save his marriage to Sandra Bullock.

We have now learned from our law enforcement sources that James was specific -- that he was going to a rehab facility in Tucson.

A TMZ producer called Sierra Tucson and spoke with a therapist, who told us Jesse was at the facility and in fact had a 6 PM treatment Tuesday night.

Jesse's rep acknowledged he's in rehab.

UPDATE: Cops initially told us Bryant was popped for a weapons charge, but now Deputy Pardinas -- who took Bryant to jail admissions last night -- tells us he was turning himself in for an outstanding warrant. The warrant was for an additional charge related to his March 7 arrest for marijuana possession.

The son of "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star NeNe Leakes turned himself in to police last night.

Officials at the Gwinnett County Detention Center tell TMZ Bryson Bryant -- who appeared with his mother on the reality show in the past -- was arrested on Tuesday in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

We're told Bryant was released at 3 AM.

So ... goodbye Heidi and Spencer ... hello White Wolf and Running Bear, respectively.

A rep for the couple tell us Spencer decided to give up his previous moniker, King Spencer, because it was "too much of a burden to have to carry the weight of royalty. "

Instead, Running Bear claims, he and Heidi "are getting more in-tune with our spirituality ... and will be known as the name our creator has given us – our true native-AMERICAN names."

TMZ has learned Machine -- which is the fighter's legal name -- was arrested outside a bar called Thruster's Lounge around 11 pm.

Law enforcement sources tell us Machine and another male were fighting with bouncers -- and when cops tried to approach the situation, War Machine took off running.

Eventually, cops caught up with the 28-year-old, threw him in handcuffs, and for some reason, put a spit bag over his head ... which is generally applied when the perp gets a little too aggressive with his oral fluids.

Machine was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon -- though it's unclear what the weapon is. He's currently being held in a SD jail.

TMZ has obtained a cease and desist letter just fired off to Vivid Entertainment in which Mindy's lawyer claims the tape -- which reportedly shows Mindy describing sexual encounters with celebrities like Roger Clemens -- was "never intended for sale or public distribution."

Mindy's lawyer believes Vivid does not have the right to distribute the tape -- which Mindy claims was stolen from her home three years ago -- and they want Vivid to "destroy" any copies they have of the tape ASAP.

A rep from Vivid was unavailable for comment.

Diddy had a Hollywood-style run-in with cops early Friday morning after officials say the mogul broke the law right in the middle of Sunset Blvd.

According to law enforcement sources, Diddy was cited around 1:30 AM for pulling an illegal U-ey right in the middle of the strip -- a major no-no around that part of town.

We're told the rap mogul was "cooperative" when the L.A. County Sheriff's deputy approached Diddy's 2009 Cadillac Escalade -- and after the cop wrote him up, Diddy was sent along his merry way.

The incident marks Diddy's second run-in with cops in the same exact place in less than two years -- but this time cops didn't bother to draw guns.

Michael says he'll fly to L.A. in a week to see Lindsay and try to persuade her to go to rehab. Michael says Lindsay will either go to rehab voluntarily or he and several professionals will ensure it will happen involuntarily -- her choice.

We'll be streaming live today as Michael makes his plea -- scheduled at 1:30 PM PT/4:30 PM ET.

Stay tuned.