Money

After more than a decade in the league, NBA star Matt Barnes FINALLY signed the mega-contract he's always wanted ... telling TMZ, "I've been underpaid for a long time."

Barnes -- who recently inked a 3-year $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers -- was working out at TapouT in L.A. yesterday when we congratulated him on striking it rich.

"It's been a long time coming," said Barnes ... who only made $854,389 last season.

When we asked why he thought it took so long to get such a big contract, Barnes didn't hold back -- saying, "I don't know ... I don't think they liked me."

It's unclear who the "they" is ... considering he's played for multiple NBA teams including the Lakers, the Suns, Orlando and Golden State.

FYI -- back in 2010, Barnes passed on more lucrative offers to sign with the Lakers, hoping the opportunity to play in L.A. would lead him to a bigger contract down the line. It didn't work out at the time, but after the incredible season he had with the Clips last year, it would have been hard for the team NOT to show him the money.

It just got a lot colder in the D ... 'cause the City of Detroit is so broke, it just filed for bankruptcy.

A State-appointed emergency manager filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection today, making Detroit the largest municipality ever to file for bankruptcy in U.S. history.

Just to show how bad things got in the Detroit area ... just look at the famous Silverdome, where the Detroit Lions played football until 2002. The stadium cost $55.7 million to build back in 1975 ... but sold for just $583,000 in 2009.

There are too many reasons to list for Detroit's financial woes -- but among the top ... massive population decline and a dwindling tax base. From 2000-2010, Detroit lost a quarter million residents.

If the filing is approved, it would allow Detroit to restructure its debts in order to satisfy endless creditors and city pensioners ... as unlikely as that may be.

Prince Jackson picked up something in his pickup Wednesday -- a speeding ticket.

TMZ has learned ... Michael Jackson's eldest son was nabbed by cops near his Calabasas home for going around 40 mph in a 25 zone.

FUN FACT: Prince was stopped in the area where Justin Bieber and his Lil friends race his Ferrari -- at much higher speeds. FYI -- Justin and the Lils have never gotten a speeding ticket in that area.

As for Prince -- well, the 16-year-old must now dig deep, because the fine is around $250.

Already blowing the $10 billion nest egg he's after ... kids.

17-year-old Rapper Chief Keef has been stiffing his baby mama on child support ... or so she claims, which is crazy ironic considering the guy rolls around with STACKS of cash in his pocket.

As we reported, Keef allegedly fathered the child when he was just 15 -- her age is unclear. He was subsequently ordered to pay $2,600 per month in child support (plus $500 for daycare) based on his income of $13,000 per month.

But the mother has now filed legal docs, claiming Keef hasn't been paying his child support bills.

The woman says Keef was supposed to start paying up in May, but so far he's only paid $1,900 ... meaning he's already way behind ... which is mindblowing if it's true because Keef regularly carries THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CASH. Like that time he was arrested with $8,000 in his pocket, or that time he left LAX with stacks of stacks.

The woman claims she can't afford to support herself without Keef's money and he needs to pay up stat.

A judge has since ordered the rapper to appear in court in September to explain why he hasn't paid. If he doesn't show up, an arrest warrant could be issued. Calls to Keef's camp weren't returned.

Opie from "Sons of Anarchy" suffered one of the most tragic deaths on TV ... but the actor who played him is living the high life ... dropping $1.7 million on a sick new pad in the Valley.

Our Valley real-estate sources tell us ... Ryan Hurst bought a 3,400-square-foot Woodland Hills home in April. With 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, wood floors, vaulted ceilings, built-in BBQ, and a pool.

His TV counterpart didn't fare so well ... Opie was killed off in season 5, during one of the most intense moments of television history ... when he got beaten to death with a lead pipe.

So congrats to Ryan. RIP Opie.

They asked the public for HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS for George Zimmerman's defense ... but now that the case is over, GZ's lawyers are living the high life-- eating at one of NYC's most expensive restaurants.

TMZ cameras rolled as Mark O'Mara, Don West and the rest of the team left the famous Nello restaurant in NYC earlier today ... where the lobster bisque will run you a cool $43.

Sources tell TMZ the gang was seen drinking champagne inside the restaurant ... and when it comes to the bubbly at Nello -- even the cheap stuff is expensive.

On the way out, the lawyers told us they still believe the jury in the Trayvon Martin case made the right decision -- "[Zimmerman] was not guilty from day one."

The man whose truck was carjacked by Christopher Dorner during his cop killing rampage -- and who subsequently notified police -- doesn't deserve a cent of the reward money ... so says Riverside County, California.

TMZ broke the story ... Richard Heltebrake sued a bunch of government bodies in SoCal that promised a million-dollar reward for information leading to the capture of Dorner, who murdered three police officers in February, 2013.

Heltebrake claims his tip was crucial in tracking down Dorner -- and he demanded the full reward, which was collectively financed by several municipalities, including Riverside County, the City of L.A., and the City of Irvine.

But now, Riverside is saying Heltebrake deserves jack squat -- because his "tip" regarding Dorner's whereabouts came in AFTER police already knew where Dorner was.

Lawyers for Riverside cite Heltebrake's own account of his call to police -- where Heltebrake describes hearing a "serious volley of gunshots" before calling a local deputy. Riverside claims those gunshots were from a firefight between Dorner and police.

Translation: his tip came in too late.

Peyton Manning is OFF-LIMITS in practice ... and any defensive teammate who even thinks about SNEEZING too hard around PM could wind up on a missing persons list ... this according to Von Miller.

The Denver Broncos superstar linebacker -- who signed a $21 million contract in 2011 -- was at the Playboy mansion this week ... when he spelled it out for us -- NO ONE TOUCHES MANNING.

"I have never even touched ... even got CLOSE to Peyton Manning," Miller said ... "We know how important he is to our team. We don't get close to him."

Of course, Manning's not just valuable -- he's fragile -- with serious neck issues.

"Big Brother" winner Mike 'Boogie' Malin got voted out by a California appeals court, which just ruled his claim that a business partner and her lawyer tried extorting him was ridiculous.

Shereen Arazm sued her former business partners Boogie and Lonnie Moore, claiming they siphoned money away from their restaurant, Geisha House. Before filing the lawsuit, Arazm's lawyer, pit bull Marty Singer sent Boogie a demand letter, essentially saying if they didn't ante up quickly ... all the sordid details would surface in a suit.

Boogie sued Singer for extortion, but today the California Court of Appeals scoffed at the claim and threw it out. The court said Singer's letter was par for the course in lawsuits -- making a claim to settle, or else.

Riff Raff -- the rapper and former MTV reality star -- says he's suing the people responsible for the movie "Spring Breakers" for $8 to $10 MILLION ... because he believes he was the basis for one of the characters.

Basically, Riff believes James Franco based his character Alien (a white rapper/gangster with cornrows and gold teeth) after himself ... and therefore he should get a bag full of cash for his troubles.

On his way out of AV Club in Hollywood last night, Riff offered up the logic behind his case ... and it's glorious:

"It's like if I have a front yard. And you're planting soil and you're planting trees and building peaches and houses and selling parking lots on my property ... then I deserve to be compensated for some portion of that money."

Lindsay Lohan's guts don't come cheap, because we found out she's spilling them to Oprah at a cost of around $2 million.

Sources close to Lindsay tell us ... The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) has been negotiating with Lindsay for 4 months. The plan -- an 8-part docu-series about Lindsay's struggles, her career and her plans for the future -- but we're guessing it's mostly about her struggles.

It's a better deal for Lindsay than just taking her top off. For that ... Playboy paid her a measly $1 mil.

Ironically ... Lindsay's latest rehab stint may have scored her more cash, because of the drama and interest created around almost going to jail, firing her lawyer, going to Betty Ford, bailing from Betty Ford ... and on and on.

Sources tell us ... Lindsay actually signed the deal at Betty Ford.

Lindsay got some perks from Oprah as well -- as in TWO fully-paid assistants and a stylist.

Substance abuse can pay handsomely -- Who knew?

Hey, we interviewed Lindsay for free -- check it out!

Michael Jackson could have raked in as much as $1.5 billion had he lived ... at least that's what an entertainment money man told jurors today in MJ's wrongful death case.

Accounting guru Arthur Erk testified ... Jackson could have earned minimum $1.1 billion if he performed a worldwide concert and showcased his music in Las Vegas. And Erk felt if ticket prices were high enough, the figure would soar to $1.5 bil by the time Michael turned 65.

There are a couple of problems. First, MJ never planned a worldwide tour. The "This Is It" tour was limited to London. Second, the family is seeking more than $40 billion.

Another interesting thing ... Erk said he deducted what he felt Jackson would have spent between age 50 and age 65, when he hypothetically would have retired -- $134 million.

Oh the struggles of living on a budget.

Yasiel Puig may have been snubbed for baseball's All-Star Game -- but he was in All-Star mode at an L.A. club in his totally PIMP white Rolls-Royce!

Last night -- when the Los Angeles Dodgers phenomenon should've been on his way to NYC for the All-Star Game -- we spotted him leaving Greystone Manor ... flanked by security guards, and, of course, a beautiful woman.

Check the video ... we threw Puig a few bilingual curveballs -- about baseball, his lady friend, his ride and Castro.

By the way, this time last year ... Puig had just defected from Cuba to Mexico.

That 7-year, $42 million deal looks good ... for YP and the Dodgers.

Former "Real Housewives of Orange County" star Lynne Curtin might not be on the show any more ... but Uncle Sam wants a piece of the green she made while she was, TMZ has learned.

According to docs ... the IRS filed a tax lien against Curtin claiming the former reality TV star needs to cough up some more tax dollars from the year 2009 ... to the tune of $32,006.24.

Lynne joined "Housewives" in 2008 (Season 4) and left in 2010 (after Season 5). Which means the money she allegedly failed to pony up in 2009 ... is partly "RHOOC" gold.

It's been a rough year for Lynne, as TMZ previously reported, she and her husband called it quits on their marriage after 22 years. He is NOT listed on the lien.

A rep for Lynne tells TMZ, she was unaware of the lien and her attorneys are looking into it.

Wanna get Allen Iverson to pay his child support bill? Threaten jail ... because the ex-NBA star finally coughed up the $40,000 he owed his ex wife ... narrowly escaping time in the slammer.

TMZ broke the story ... Iverson's ex, Tawanna, has been trying to collect child support from the b-baller since their divorce was finalized in February, but no cigar. Then, last month she asked a judge to throw him in jail, if he continued to dodge the bill: $8,000 / month for the last 5 months.

In new court docs -- filed last month in Fulton County, GA -- Iverson said he never paid the money because he was led to believe he and Tawanna would reconcile.

Taking a hard stance a judge ordered Iverson pony up the cash within 72 hours ... or be arrested.

The threat apparently worked, Iverson's lawyer tells TMZ ... "Allen has complied with the order and met every term for which he was required."

Rihanna is taking a page out of the Lindsay Lohan legal defense playbook and skipped out on a deposition -- and now it could now cost her MILLIONS ... if her ex-accountants get their way.

As TMZ previously reported, Rihanna sued her former money managers, claiming they mismanaged her funds and owed her millions. But the firm, Berdon LLP, fired back, saying Ri's money woes were her own fault and they owe her squat.

Berdon has been trying to get RiRi to sit down for a deposition for NINE MONTHS, but no cigar. Now they've filed new legal docs, imploring a judge to punish Ri for her actions.

Specifically, Berdon says RiRi has blown off a court-ordered deposition on a slew of occasions: November 2012 (extension), January 29, 2013 (avoided), May 8 and May 9, 2013 (said she had a concert, but knew the concert dates loooong before), and most recently June 19 (said she was sick).

Berdon is MOST pissed about June 19. They claim they accommodated RiRi's schedule and set-up the deposition in London, costing them about $100k ... only for Rihanna to cancel. Despite the fact, they claim, she performed shortly before and after the 19th and was tweeting the day before ... with no signs of illness.

Berdon says it's "been pushed beyond the breaking point" and "cannot excuse her behavior."

The accountants are asking a judge to dismiss RiRi's multi-million dollar suit outright and wants her fined at least $100,000 for their wasted time and resources.