Money

Lisa Vanderpump's rich husband Ken Todd says he has a concrete reason to file a fat lawsuit ... claiming a construction worker attacked him with a cement chipper, then tried to extort him for $50,000.

Todd filed the lawsuit against Kevin and David Cazaref, claiming the two brothers had been hired to do construction work on Ken's P.U.M.P. Lounge in West Hollywood.

Ken says he observed Kevin (a man twice his size) using a concrete chipper unsafely last week, so Ken confronted him and attempted to show Kevin how to use it properly.

Kevin must have taken offense ... because Ken says the worker then "became enraged, grabbed and violently hurled the heavy concrete chipper" at him ... hurting his hip, leg, and knee.

According to Ken's lawsuit, Kevin's brother David approached threateningly in Kevin's defense -- at which point nearby police officers became involved.

No arrests were made, but Ken says the brothers later contacted him in an attempt to shake him down for $50,000 in exchange for keeping quiet about the altercation.

Eli Roth's Goretorium may rise from the dead ... because he has a plan to resurrect the house of terror in Vegas, after the OG (Original Goretorium) went into bankruptcy.

The guru of gore hit up Eveleigh last night for disso-queen Laura Wasser's book party ... and he explained how bankruptcy does not necessary equal death.

In the video ... he also explains one of the biggest tricks of the terror trade.

Kris and Bruce Jenner may have split, but hey, business is business -- we've learned not only will they continue shooting "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," the separation will become a major plot line of season 9.

Sources connected with the show tell TMZ ... on Tuesday, after announcing the separation, Bruce went off to shoot scenes with Kylie and Kendall.

We're told the upcoming season will show Bruce and Kris living separately but coming together at various points for family events ... and there will be a lot of them.

What's more ... we're told the family is very conscious of the fact that they can make more in syndication.

And that's why it's called Show Business.

4:01 PM PT Sources say Bruce and Kris have been separated since June and they are reiterating what we are told from others -- that there is no plan to divorce.

3:39 PM PT Sources connected to Kris and Bruce tell TMZ ... Kris -- who is the moving force in the separation -- has NOT contacted a divorce lawyer. We're told as of now she's fine with the status quo. Fact is ... they've been separated for awhile, and Kris and Bruce don't want to screw up their reality show ... which is raking in $40 mil for the family.

Kris and Bruce Jenner have separated.

The couple issued a statement saying, "We are living separately and we are much happier this way."

Sources connected with the family tell TMZ ... Bruce has been living in Malibu full-time and spending a lot of time with his sons Brody and Brandon. Kris is firmly planted in Calabasas with her daughters.

We're told Bruce has privately told his sons living away from Kris was just the way the relationship evolved.

In their statement, they say they will continue to have love and respect for each other.

It's unclear how the split will impact their reality show.

Shortly before news of the split came out, Kris was spotted cruising solo through Calabasas ... or as she and Bruce now call it -- her side of town.

Enrique Iglesias just moved into an monstrous new $26 million mansion in Miami that's so huge ... ya gotta see it from the air to get the full effect.

He didn't have to move far ... it's just two doors down from his old place -- which just sold for $6.7 mil. Apparently he likes the Bay Point neighborhood -- what's not to like -- it's known as Millionaire's Row because of the rich celebs who live there -- including Cher, Ricky Martin, and Matt Damon. And his dad, Julio, lives nearby.

Enrique had the new crib built to his specifications ... it's so big -- 20,000 square feet -- he had to buy TWO lots just to hold it.

Amenities, you ask?? It's got a lap pool ... a dock for his speedboat ... and a tennis court for longtime galpal Anna Kournikova.

When was the last time you bought your girlfriend a tennis court?

Former NBA player and ESPN analyst Antonio Davis' wife wants out of her marriage, claiming, among other things, her hubby has stolen money from her by raiding their bank account.

Kendra Rae Davis filed legal docs back in June to end their 19-year marriage. Since then she claims Antonio's been blowing through money that belongs to both of them -- she claims that's a bozo no-no while a divorce is pending.

Here are the stats ... She says since July, Antonio has pulled $133,510 from their joint checking account. She says he also bought himself a house using $563,041 of joint funds.

Antonio fired back in a letter to her ... the house purchase was in the works before divorce papers were filed, so tough.

Kendra wants Antonio to pay back the loot -- and pay her legal bills, too.

Ex-Dallas Cowboys QB Troy Aikman needs just one more home in Dallas ... then he'll have one for each of his Super Bowl trophies ... cuz dude just dropped millions on ANOTHER swanky new mansion ... TMZ has learned.

The Fox Sports commentator paid $4.3 million for a 5-bedroom red brick home overlooking Turtle Creek Lake in the Highland Park area. One of the main selling points -- according to the listing -- DUCKS in the backyard. Obviously he's never had ducks in the backyard ... because they crap everywhere.

The neighborhood must be great ... because this is the 2nd crib he's bought there in the last 3 months --- in July, Aikman spent $4.25 million for a 10,000 sq. foot house not far away.

Katherine Jackson has no regrets for suing AEG over Michael Jackson's death -- despite our sources who say she's having buyer's remorse -- her attorney tells TMZ.

A source close to Katherine bristled at our post, telling us, “Any reports that Katherine Jackson is feeling remorse for filing the wrongful death lawsuit are completely untrue. Mrs. Jackson feels the lawsuit is very important, and that so far it has proven that AEG did in fact hire Dr. Murray."

As we reported, our sources say Katherine felt pressured by Jermaine and Randy to file the case in the first place.

Katherine's lawyer says, "The lawsuit has also confirmed that Michael Jackson was an outstanding father, son, humanitarian, and human being. [Katherine] hopes that the lawsuit will change the way that entertainment companies treat their talent."

Fact is ... even though MJ was arguably pushed to the limit, the jury didn't feel AEG did anything wrong.

Lauryn Hill is about to be sprung from home confinement -- because we've learned she's going to sing sing.

Lauryn has been confined to 3-months of home detention as part of her sentence for tax evasion -- but here's the thing ... She wants to go on tour from Nov. 15th through Dec. 31st, so she asked the judge to give her a pass so she could tour -- and we've learned the judge is down with it.

As we reported ... Lauryn was freed from jail last week and she wants to resume her career STAT.

Lauryn -- who has a new single out -- can now start signing on at specific venues for the concerts. But prison officials will still keep tabs on her -- she'll have to run all the details -- dates, cities, hotels -- past her probation officer.

On New Year's Day ... the party's over, and Lauryn will have to return home to complete her home detention sentence.

Kylie Jenner, Lil Twist, and Diddy’s son, Christian are already rich and famous ... but they're set to become even richer --and famous-er -- thanks to Diddy's new television network.

Here's the plan. Kylie, Twist and Christian will become the centerpiece of the 24-hour music channel, called Revolt -- it's kind of old school MTV. They'll do promos, appear on the various shows and build up hype with social media.

We're told Diddy is also eying one of Quincy Jones' kids.

Diddy is actually copying what Oprah did with OWN, although that was kind of a pain in the ass for her.

So the rich get richer, and the famous get ... famous-er.

Warren Sapp’s claim that he funded a $5,000 bounty program during his playing days is starting to sound like BS … ‘cause one of his most high-profile teammates says he NEVER saw it happen.

Sapp went on Dan Patrick's show this week and said he “used to have $5,000 waiting for anybody who hit somebody and got a fine” during his time with the Buccaneers. He also claimed to have paid out the bounty “at least six times.”

But TMZ spoke with Keyshawn Johnson, who shared a locker room with Sapp for four years in Tampa Bay, and Key tells us he never saw 99 engage in any sort of Bounty activity.

“I didn't witness it, nor have I ever heard of it.” Keyshawn says.

Ducharme says the scaffolding was defective or damaged ... and it was the ex-WWE champ's responsibility to make sure the equipment was safe.

Ducharme wants more than $15k to cover the pain, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, yada yada yada.

A rep for Cena had no comment.

Check out the clip below -- it's not an actual re-creation ... but you get the idea.

10:52 AM PDT: Her attorney tells us Lauryn was released from prison a few days early ... partly for good behavior ... and will now be confined to her home for three months as part of a 1-year probation period.

Lauryn Hill IS NO LONGER A PRISONER ... the ex-Fugees singer has been released from federal prison after serving her 3-month sentence for tax evasion.

According to the Bureau of Prisons, Hill -- aka Inmate #64600-050 -- was released early Friday morning from the minimum security Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut.

Hill had been locked up since July 8 ... after failing to pay taxes on more than $1.8 million in income she earned between 2005 and 2007.

Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Wale, Omarion and Stalley are being sued for allegedly bailing on a huge London concert ... but what's really interesting is who commanded the most $$$. So what's your guess?

First, a little background. The 5 rappers were supposed to perform Wembley Arena in London on Sept. 12, 2012. After the promoter advanced a big chunk of the fees, Meek Mill threw a monkey wrench in the works by trying to postpone the concert. They negotiated another date but everything broke down and now the promoter wants all the money back.

So back to the question. Who's the biggest dog. Here's what each rapper got as a fee:

-- Stalley: $5,500
-- Omarion: $12,000
-- Wale: $35,000
-- Meek Mill: $40,000

And the winner ....

-- Rick Ross: $100,000

You visiting NYC ... forget the Statue of Liberty -- CLOSED
Poor women who need help feeding babies: Tough Luck, WIC -- CLOSED
You work at the IRS? Good luck making your rent this month.

But, if you're the President of the United States and need to chill in the woods, you're in luck, because CAMP DAVID -- OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

Several government officials tell TMZ ... most of the Camp David employees are still on the job and will stay on the job during the government shutdown. That includes chefs, gardeners, electricians -- everyone who keeps the place up and running. In all, we're told more than 250 Camp David staffers are still going to work and getting paid.

Mind you, Camp David -- located in Catoctin Mountain Park in Frederick County, Maryland -- is a 180-acre compound built and run specifically for Presidential R&R. It has a pool, tennis courts, a skeet range, bathhouse, bowling alley, horseshoe pit, cabins, and lots of other stuff.

Turns out ... Camp David is operated by the Dept. of Defense, so most staffers are designated as active duty military personnel -- and those people aren't getting furloughed.

The Prez says the U.S. military must be ready for any contingency during the shutdown -- which apparently includes preparing grilled cheese sandwiches on a moment's notice.

Jesse Ventura has a message for the U.S. government -- YOU DON'T WORK, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TAXES!!

The former governor and fake wrestler is still fuming over the shut down ... telling TMZ both the Republicans AND the Democrats are the bad guys -- and they should all be thrown out of office!!!

But JV doesn't just want people to get mad, he wants them to get even -- saying, "For every day the government is shut down, it should be that we don't have to pay income tax that day because they're not working."