Money

Eric Clapton made millions off his MTV "Unplugged" album, but gave credit -- and royalties -- for one of the songs to the wrong blues artist ... according to a new lawsuit.

The estate of Bo Carter -- a blues guy in the 1920s and '30s -- says Clapton incorrectly ID'd the song "Alberta" as a tune from Lead Belly. In the lawsuit, it says Clapton's performance is really a famous rendition of Carter's original song "Corrine, Corrina."

Carter's lawyers say Bo wrote and owns the copyright to "Corrine, Corrina" ... which over time, with many different people covering it ... became interchangeable with "Alberta."

Carter's camp points out Clapton's "Unplugged" went on to sell millions of copies, and all those royalties mistakenly paid to Lead Belly's estate should have gone to Bo's. The estate is now suing Clapton -- not to mention a slew of media and music publishing companies -- for every penny they made off the song.

We've reached out to Clapton for comment ... so far, no word back.

The National Football League is opening their fat pocketbook ... and DONATING $300,000 to help people from the U.S. to Haiti who were affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Matthew devastated the Caribbean ... before slamming the Southeast U.S. As a result of the storm, over 1,000 people died in Haiti ... and 22 lives were lost in North Carolina.

The NFL says $200k will be split between the Salvation Army, UNICEF and the American Red Cross. The rest will go toward repairing youth football fields in the Southeast that were torn up by the storm.

And it's not just the league that's helping ... as we previously reported, Redskins star Pierre Garcon used team owner Daniel Snyder's jet to bring medical supplies to Haiti.

If it looks like the Pittsburgh Steelers defense has baggage ... it's because Cam Heyward just hooked everyone up with $15,000 in Couture backpacks ... TMZ Sports has learned.

To show his love to his defensive unit, Heyward hit up Prime Society Boutique and locked down 31 personalized Crown Collection backpacks, which run about $500 a pop.

Plus, he also hooked up the guys with toiletry bags and elevation masks (training first!) ... and we're told it was all because he just wanted to show the guys he appreciates 'em.

It also helps that Cam signed a 6 year, $60 million contract last year!

2 Chainz can rock out in true style ... especially since the crib he bought was owned by legendary rock guitarist Steve Vai.

The rapper plunked down $2.45 million for the 3 bedroom, 5 bathroom Hollywood Hills pad -- which includes the famous "Mothership Studio" where the likes of Van Halen and Ozzy Osbourne once recorded music.

Check out the pics ... 2 Chainz has 3,400 square feet of space to throw epic parties -- if he wants.

"Teen Wolf" star Colton Haynes fell victim to some punks who busted into his Hollywood Hills home and took thousands of dollars of electronics.

We're told the burglars got in by smashing open a lockbox outside the garage, then snatching between $5-6k worth of stuff, including a TV and a laptop.

We're told cops don't have any suspects ... but detectives are on the hunt.

You've heard it a million times before -- athletes who make a FORTUNE only to blow it on dumb (awesome) stuff like cars, booze, clothes and strip clubs (looking at you, Antoine Walker).

Enter Andrei Kirilenko -- who made more than $100 MILLION during his 15-year run in the NBA -- and now he's got some advice for the young bucks on how NOT to follow in Antoine's broke footsteps.

Justin Bieber's ex-neighbor from the egging isn't letting past battles die -- he's STILL suing over an alleged spitting encounter, and now he wants a bodyguard to roll over on the singer.

Jeffrey Schwartz was the victim in the infamous egg attack in 2014, and also claims Justin spat in his face during another argument. Justin settled with his next-door nemesis for the egging, but Schwartz wants compensation for the spitting too.

According to docs, Schwartz says Bieber assaulted him and caused emotional distress, and he wants to grill bodyguard Michael Arana about the incidents, and most likely about Justin's character as well.

Arana lives in Florida these days, but Schwartz is willing to have his lawyers make the trip to get Arana's testimony.

Justin's already called BS on Schwartz's emotional suffering.

Ciara's $15 million lawsuit against Future is going to be more of an uphill battle for her ... after the judge just ruled the rapper's angry tweets alone aren't enough to prove Ciara's been damaged.

The exes are locked in a nasty suit -- with Ciara claiming Future ruined her image as a mother and a singer. However, a judge ruled Wednesday the tweets ... including gems like, "this bitch got control problems" ... aren't libelous on their face.

It means, Ciara will have to offer up more evidence as to how her career has been damaged since Future's Twitter rant.

The issue still for Future, there's still a count of libel and distortion left in the case ... which could hang him out to dry.

Yom Kippur? More like Yom Stripper for Floyd Mayweather.

The boxer wrangled up around 15 dancers for a private twerkest at his residence at a fancy L.A. hotel -- and threw so much cash in the air, you can't see the floor.

Floyd's been known to host these private hotel stripper parties every now and then ... because, well, he's got the time and the money.

How was your Tuesday night?

Iggy Azalea has moved into Kardashian country ... renting a new pad inside their gated community for around $15k a month.

We're told Iggy got the home 4 months ago in The Oaks -- where most of the Kardashians and Jenners live -- right after she broke off her engagement to Nick Young.

Sources close to Azalea tell us renting makes sense for her right now while she's looking to buy. Plus, she wanted to live near horse facilities because she's an avid equestrian.

Gabrielle Union claims she is getting screwed into doing way more episodes of her hit BET show than she agreed to do in a single season ... and for a much lower price.

Union claims in a new lawsuit, BET is cramming 20 episodes of "Being Mary Jane" into Season 4 instead of splitting them into two seasons. Problem is she says network execs repeatedly promised her there would never be more than 13 episodes in a season. Plus, Gabby says her contract clearly states she gets a pay raise from $150k per episode to $165k per episode in Season 5.

In her lawsuit she also says BET's trying to cut corners on production cost by doing the ole 2-for-1.

Although, Union admits her contract allows for a maximum of 26 episodes per season -- she says that was merely a standard clause of all Viacom contracts, and again ... BET orally promised they'd never have the dough to shoot that many.

We told you it was coming ... and now it's official -- Johnny Manziel has been formally sued for not paying rent on a $25,000 per month party pad in the Hollywood Hills.

However, Manziel says he's being unfairly targeted and has done NOTHING wrong.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the guy who owns the legendary Weidlake mansion (used in tons of TV shows) served Manziel and his friends with an eviction notice last week -- claiming the QB missed a rent payment and had badly damaged the property.

Manziel had claimed he never rented the home and the allegations were bogus -- but in his suit, the owner included a copy of the original lease which includes Manziel's name listed as a person who would be residing in the home.

In his suit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Fitzgerald claims Manziel and his two friends are all on the hook for more than $25k for rent and other fees.

We reached out to Fitzgerald who says he's planning to file a separate lawsuit for the damages -- which could go into the 6 figure range.

We reached back out to Manziel who says he did occasionally stay at the home -- but NEVER signed any agreement that would put him on the hook for the rent.

Cleveland Browns receiver Corey Coleman is a man of his word ... 'cause the former Baylor star just surprised his mom with a BRAND NEW HOUSE!!

The 15th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft told reporters earlier this year that he planned to thank his mom, Cassandra Jones, for the lifelong support by moving her into her dream home ... and today, CC delivered in a big way.

Coleman delivered the keys to the Texas home on Tuesday -- which happens to be her birthday!

"Growing up I always believed that there was more to life than the circumstances that surrounded me," Coleman tells TMZ Sports. "I told my mom, one day she could stop working the 2-3 jobs she worked to support my sisters and I, and I would buy her a house and take care of her."

"I knew that one day I would be able to make my dreams for her come true ... It's been a long, rough road, but momma we made it!"

FYI, dude can afford it -- he signed a 4 year, $11.6 million contract that included a $6.6 million signing bonus!

Congrats!!!

Puppy love ain't cheap for Paris Hilton -- not when she's scooping up 12 ounces of chihuahua worth $8k ... very delicately, of course.

TMZ has learned the 4-month-old pup was delivered to Paris in NYC on Monday from a boutique teacup breeder.

Paris is a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to teacup pooches ... she spent $25k on two others over a year ago, and bought a teacup Pomeranian in 2014 for $13k. So, if you're keeping score at home, that's about $46k on about 5 pounds worth o' dogs ... in 2 years.

We're told the new dog doesn't have a name yet. Paris is asking her followers to decide on social media, although she's partial to London or Ibiza. We're guessing China's off her short list.

Tony Romo has 127 MILLION reasons to stay retired -- so says comic Bill Engvall who tells TMZ Sports the QB needs to step aside and let Dak Prescott take some of Jerry Jones' money, too!

The Cowboys super fan was leaving Craig's when he raved about Dak racking up ANOTHER victory over the weekend ... leading Dallas to an impressive 4-1 record.

But when we asked about Romo's possible return, Engvall said he loves Tony -- but says it's time for him to start enjoying the $127 MILLION he's made in the NFL so far ... instead of trying to come back.

By the way, Romo reportedly stands to make more than $50 MILLION if he stays in his current contract for the next 3 seasons.

Robert Griffin III's estranged wife wants the Cleveland Browns QB to pay for the legal team she had to hire after he filed for divorce ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Rebecca Liddicoat -- who was married to RGIII for 3 years -- filed her response to his divorce petition in Texas last week.

In the docs, she doesn't go into specifics about child custody or shared property -- but denies everything he said in his petition, across the board.

Liddicoat also says Griffin should pay for her lawyers ... probably 'cause he was the breadwinner in the relationship.

R.L. says she needs attorneys to ensure she gets her share of their assets and a fair custody arrangement for their 1-year-old daughter.

RGIII officially pulled the plug on their marriage on Sept. 7th -- and has moved on with Florida State University athlete Grete Sadeiko.