Money

Beyonce threatened a company that came perilously close to using her name to hawk mugs ... and guess what you can't buy anymore?

Etsy -- a craft website that's a cross between eBay and Pinterest -- was hawking Feyonce mugs. They became a thing ... when someone got engaged lots of people went to the website and bought the happy couple mugs to celebrate the occasion.

The singer felt the pun was more than coincidental -- right down to the accent on the last "e" -- so her lawyers fired off a letter to the company crying foul ... and then threatening them.

Etsy got the message and took the items off the artist's online shop. But all is not well. Etsy still has other feyonce items on its site, including clothing and glassware. And these items are selling big.

Porn star Christy Mack is taking her talents to Vegas for the AVN Awards -- but after recovering from a brutal domestic violence attack ... she's doing it for a charitable cause.

TMZ has learned Mack will be doing a meet and greet at OG Las Vegas on Friday night -- and a portion of the door proceeds will be donated to Safe Nest -- a domestic violence org.

Christy's appearance kicks off AVN weekend in Vegas ... and we're told there will be VIP gift bags with limited edition Christy Mack merchandise on sale to fans. Some of that revenue will also go to Safe Nest.

TMZ broke the story ... Mack was allegedly pummeled by her ex-boyfriend War Machine back in August ... leaving her with broken bones and a ruptured liver.

War Machine is still behind bars facing 32 charges ... including attempted murder.

He's only 10 months old, but Torrey Smith's son has already DOMINATED his first modeling contest -- winning a $5,000 prize in a national Gerber Baby competition.

The Baltimore Ravens wide receiver and his wife Chanel entered Torrey Jr. into Gerber's "Be Our Baby Photo Search" back in November -- competing for a $50,000 grand prize.

As adorable as TJ is, he didn't win the grand prize -- but he did win in his "milestone" category ... receiving more votes than anyone else in the "Crawlers" division.

The prize -- a $5,000 check from Gerber.

Chanel has previously said that she planned to split up any prize money between TJ's college fund and a children's charity.

The star of "Hardcore Pawn" is gunning for the famous game-winning football from the Seahawks vs. Packers game ... and he tells TMZ Sports he'll CRUSH the $20K offer that's already on the table.

Les Gold tells us ... the pigskin that Seattle WR Jermaine Kearse launched into the stands after catching the winning touchdown is an instant collectors item -- and he's dead set on getting it.

The man who caught the ball, Scott Shelton, has already received a $20,000 offer from a sports memorabilia dealership -- but Gold says he's ready and willing to smash that number.

"Whatever the highest offer, I'll offer a thousand more," Les tells us, "Offer 25K, and I'll offer 26K. That ball will be in my shop."

So, why's he so set on getting the ball? Les says it's an iconic piece that could double in value over the next few years.

TLC's Kickstarter campaign to make a new album is $5,000 closer to its fundraising goal ... thanks to none other than Katy Perry.

According to our sources, the "Roar" songstress is such a big fan ... she dug into her own pockets and shelled out 5 grand for the cause.

One of the perks for a $5k donation is a slumber party in L.A. with T-Boz ... so we could be in for some epic selfies.

As of this posting, the girls are still a little more than $44,000 shy of their $150,000 goal.

Now we know how he can afford that Million Dollar Piano … TMZ has learned Elton John has bumped Britney Spears in her Vegas run by hauling in more than $500K a show.

Elton’s definitely in the driver's seat. According to his deal he gets 88% of the door for every show. He also has a sign off on ticket prices, which range from $55 to $1,000 for VIP seats.

Captain Fantastic is putting Britney's $475K take a show to shame, because he's doing it with fewer seats -- The Colosseum only seats 4,296 while Britney's show at Planet Hollywood has 4,600.

The show began Friday and runs through April 14.

We reached out to Elton, but he's too rich to comment.

Jay Z and Beyonce may think they lost out on the best house in SoCal -- that's because they never laid eyes on Malibu mega-realtor Kurt Rappaport's $100M palace ... and it's insane.

Don't get too excited ... he's not selling ... but consider this -- the sprawling 22,000 sq-ft Malibu paradise sits on 6 acres and comes with the longest private pool in the entire state -- 168 epic feet.

Kurt, who brokers deals for a slew of celebs, is a patient guy ... it only took 7 years to build the place with a $60M price tag. That's a modest $40M return in the year and a half since completion.

But if you're looking for another reason to hate your life, consider Rappaport is only 43.

Now step away from the ledge.

Blac Chyna swept through the launch of L.A.'s brand new Ace of Diamonds Gentlemen's Club like a hurricane ... raining down stacks of hundos on her former comrades-in-thongs.

Our stripper sources tell us Tyga's baby mama, and ex-stripper ... Blac Chyna got back to her roots Monday night at the club's grand opening and dropped about $10K on the dancers.

We're told BC was paid an appearance fee for poppin' in and rubbin' elbows booties -- so unlike all the guys there ... she probably broke even for the night.

Watch her work and see how it's done, son.

FUN FACT: Blac Chyna got her start on the poles of Miami's King of Diamonds (no relation).

One made it THUNDERSTORM ... the other made it drizzle.

TMZ Sports has learned ... L.A. Clippers star Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Tampa Bay Bucs star Dashon Goldson were two of the stars that hit up the grand opening of Ace of Diamonds in L.A. on Monday.

For the record, Goldson signed a $41.2 million contract in 2013. Davis has made about $26 million in his NBA career.

Which is why it was a bit shocking when Big Baby created his own indoor monsoon that dwarfed Goldson's mini-downpour.

Our strip club sources tell us Davis was throwin' so much cash around, 4 dancers left with $3k each ... and that doesn't include the $5k he dropped around the stage.

Check out the pic below which shows one dancer's take from Davis.

As for Goldson, as one strip club source put it -- "He made it sprinkle."

Cory Monteith's father could be cut off from the "Glee" star's estate funds ... after admitting he abandoned his son for most of his life.

In new court docs ... Joe Monteith, cops to not communicating with his son from the time he was "nine years old until his twenties" -- and to ditching on child support payments. Cory's mother says under the law... Joe's confession means he doesn't deserve a cent from the estate.

The docs reveal Cory's estate is worth $810,000 -- and his old roommate, Zachary Larson, will be in charge of paying off various debts ... such as $80K in taxes and another $15K to unnamed creditors.

Since Monteith did not have a will when he died in 2013 from a drug overdose -- the lion's share of his estate will go to his mother.

Kesha was stopped by security over the weekend at L.A.'s Natural History Museum for unwittingly making off with a dinosaur.

Our dino-sources tell us ... Kesha was at the museum Saturday for a wedding. On her way out she went to the gift store with her assistant and admired a faux T-Rex. She held the 3-ft tall critter in her hand and walked out of the store.

On her way to the car security stopped them and asked them what was up with the prehistoric beast. Each said they thought the other paid and apologized for the misunderstanding. Kesha forked over the dinosaur and left.

Problem is ... it was covered in glitter, so it had to endure a dino-wash ... not sure you can resell that.

And that wasn't Kesha's only problem. She posed on top of a Triceratops which was on display in the museum and got heat from archaeologists and others who felt it showed a lack of respect.

And that's a Raptor.

The saddle that was strapped to Seabiscuit's back when the legendary horse won his very last race in 1940 has just sold at auction for more than $100,000 ... TMZ Sports has learned.

It's the saddle ridden by jockey Red Pollard at the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap -- one of the most dramatic races in Seabiscuit's career. After losing the race several times before, Seabiscuit dug deep and emerged victorious in what would be his very last race.

In fact, the race was featured in the 2003 Disney movie about the thoroughbred.

According to Lelands, the company behind the auction, the final sale price was $104,260.06.

So far, the identity of the buyer has not been released.


Jay Z and Beyonce have scratched plans to get a wildly expensive pad in L.A. ... after losing out to an incredibly rich nerd in a ferocious bidding war.

TMZ broke the story ... Jay and Bey put an offer in on a sick Beverly Hills mansion ... we're told just shy of $70 mil. At the time we were told they were only several million off from sealing the deal. But former Minecraft mastermind Markus Persson swooped in and sealed the deal for $70M.

Mr. and Mrs. Z have told close friends in L.A. they really wanted that house and it's soured them on looking further. They looked before eyeing the property and found nothing they really liked.

So for now ... they're putting L.A. on ice.

The FBI is on the hunt for hackers who shutdown Nik Richie's website The Dirty ... and the reality star tells us he's hemorrhaging money.

The Dirty has been down for weeks after a team of hackers began hitting the site with a DDoS attack -- which basically floods a server with so many requests it shuts down.

Nik tells us he contacted FBI investigators and they're on the case.

Richie says he's lost $250-300K this month alone in Super Bowl ads he couldn't deliver. He's also losing out because of cancelled appearances because he promotes them on his site.

Jaime Pressly doesn't have grounds that would justify a $220,000 gardening bill, but she definitely thinks she has grounds for suing her ex-accountant who paid that tab to her landscaper.

Jaime claims in a new lawsuit ex-pencil pusher Daniel Rivero paid the loot over just 5 years, which she says is ridiculous since she has a fairly modest home in the San Fernando Valley.

But it doesn't stop there. The actress says the accountant screwed up her taxes and now she owes $850K to Uncle Sam. And there's more. She says the guy made 3 bad business investments that cost her $170K.

Pressly's now asking for $900K plus punitive damages.