Money

Cardi B's 2019 calendar is filling up fast ... she's now got a date with attorneys for the ex-manager she's suing for $15 million.

According to docs obtained by TMZ, Cardi has been ordered to sit for a deposition on March 12. She'll be testifying about her legal battle with her ex-manager, Shaft. As we told you, he sued her in April, claiming he made her the star she is ... only to see her cut him off, financially. Shaft sued her for $10 million.

Cardi didn't take it quietly, and fired back with a countersuit for $15 mil ... and claimed Shaft overstepped the bounds of a manager. In docs, she said he tried to control every aspect of her professional life, and also her relationship with Offset.

The court had agreed to delay her deposition back when she was pregnant, but now all bets are off.

BTW, there's a good chance Offset will be deposed for the case as well. No date set for him yet, but we know it would be sometime before April 2.

Mo money, mo problems.

Pras says he doesn't know why the Dept. of Justice is putting him at the center of a scheme to help a Malaysian financier funnel millions into the country -- but he's got a hunch it's due to his skin color.

We got the Fugees rapper at LAX where we asked him about this crazy new civil lawsuit filed by the U.S. DOJ. He's accused of conspiring with Jho Low in 2017 to sneak tons of cash into U.S. bank accounts. Allegedly, Low's intention was to bribe DOJ officials to influence a criminal probe into his alleged misuse of international dough.

The feds filed suit to recover some of those funds -- but Pras is not listed as a defendant. He's mentioned because of his business dealings with Low. The DOJ's still investigating and says criminal charges against Low and/or Pras could be coming.

Complicated, right? That's how Pras reacted to the allegations, but he did have one possible explanation for the suit ... they're pointing at him because he's black. At least that's the "vibe" he's getting.

Low has been tied to other celebs he lavished with gifts, which are now being seized by the feds. Leonardo DiCaprio reportedly received Marlon Brando’s 1954 Oscar from Low, as well as a Pablo Picasso painting, and supermodel Miranda Kerr was gifted jewelry and a see-through grand piano.

Finding someone to replace Kevin Hart as the Oscars host is turning into a tall order, and not because of offensive tweets -- the real problem is money ... or the lack thereof.

Sources connected to the award show tell TMZ ... the infamously small paycheck for hosting the Oscars has been an underlying issue for the Academy for a long time. Jimmy Kimmel said he only got $15k for his services in 2017, and we're told most potential candidates are inclined to turn down the job because of that figure.

All the scrutiny and criticism that come along with it isn't helping either ... according to our sources. As to the money, we're told the Academy doesn't like to shell out for a host because they consider it the opportunity of a lifetime.

Of course, big names have taken it. Kevin didn't only accept, he was ecstatic about it before getting ousted for homophobic tweets.

Fact is, whoever fills the job now will have leverage to demand more money -- after all the Academy's kinda behind the 8 ball.

DJ Khaled and his fiancée just upped their wrist game ... with watches worth over ONE HUNDRED STACKS!!!

The famous hitmaker and Nicole Tuck always throw joint birthday parties this time of year. He turned 43 on November 26 but Nicole just turned 43 on Friday ... prompting a huge shindig thrown by Haute Living Saturday night at the Perez Art Museum in Miami for a 60-person dinner with friends and family.

While at dinner, they were surprised with these incredibly insane watches. Khaled rocked a Roger Dubuis Excalibur automatic skeleton pave. That watch runs around $106k. Nicole got a Roger Dubuis Velvet Caviar watch ... worth about $53k.

Khaled now has nearly a handful of $100k watches floating around his house. Remember, he got this sick timepiece for his 41st birthday. And, last year, Nicole commissioned Haute Living to make this watch laced with more than 600 diamonds. That one was for their son, Asahd, who was celebrating turning 1 ... sippy cups be damned.

The dual bday bash later moved over to LIV nightclub where Ciroc was flowing for Khaled's celeb pals ... including Swizz Beatz, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Young Jeezy and Fabolous. We're told CIROC Black Raspberry was the drink of choice at the bash and was flowing all night.

Tim Brown's 1987 Heisman Trophy has just been auctioned off ... and the winning bid was $435,000 ... TMZ Sports has learned,

Brown won the trophy during his legendary senior year at Notre Dame -- when he caught 137 passes for 2,493 yards and 22 touchdowns.

The NFL Hall of Famer had sold the trophy in a private sale in 2017 -- and the person who bought it consigned it to Goldin Auctions in New Jersey to be auctioned off.

The identity of the new owner has not been disclosed.

Brown's Heisman appears to be the most expensive Heisman ever sold at auction -- Rashaan Salaam's 1994 trophy sold in 2017 for $399k, Charles White's 1979 trophy went for $184k in 2000 and O.J. Simpson's went for $255k in 1999.

Goldin says Brown's trophy came with a letter of authenticity from Brown who confirms it's the real deal.

Oh, and if you're wondering why Brown was allowed to sell his award -- the Heisman Trust only began making winners sign a no-sell contract in 1999.

Jacquees gave his mom one hell of a wedding gift in the form of a hundred grand -- and by give, we mean drop ... as in he dropped it all over the place.

The Cash Money crooner was celebrating his mother's nuptials Sunday at the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Braselton, GA -- where he got on the mic and expressed his love for his mama bear, Rosie Broadnax, and then proceeded to gift her $100,000 ... cash.

Jacquees made a bit of a show by walking out to the middle of the floor and emptying out a Louis Vuitton duffel bag full of Benjamins. It poured for a minute and bills were kinda scattered everywhere. Everyone was in awe, of course ... but mostly Rosie.

It's not the first time's Jacquees has balled out for his ma before -- he's gotten her some pretty sweet gifts on her birthday ... and seems pretty tight with her in general.

Chief Keef just made a shocking revelation in court ... he's got 4 more children under the age of 5, and they all have different mothers who are all seeking child support.

The surprising announcement means Chief's kid tally is up to a whopping NINE!!! We previously knew about 5 of Keef's kids ... but he had another handful on the down low.

In court docs, obtained by TMZ, Chief revealed he's fathered 4 kids with 4 different mothers who all want child support. A judge is ordering Keef to pay each woman $564 per month, starting in January.

The "Love Sosa" rapper could practically fill his own daycare because all 4 of the recently revealed kids are under the age of 5. Keef's brood now includes 3-year-old Kamiah, 1-year-old Khalo ... and 4-year-olds Khalil and Kirsten. Remember, all different moms.

Chief's gonna have to tighten his pockets ... 'cause he claims he's a self-employed musician making roughly $9k a month with $9k in expenses.

Evidently, women really do love Sosa. Maybe too much for his wallet.

Travis Scott wants his fans to have genuine, bona fide merchandise at his Astroworld shows ... and a judge has agreed to let him put the kibosh on any wannabe bootleggers.

According to new legal docs ... Travis and his company have the right to shut down any unauthorized selling of gear -- hats, shirts, fanny packs, etc. -- at his upcoming tour stops, which include Denver, Oakland, Phoenix and L.A.

Scott's also been approved to enlist law enforcement to seize any fake merch from hucksters trying to make a buck in or near the concert venues.

The "Sicko Mode" rapper isn't the first big star to institute a crackdown on unapproved peddling ... Beyonce and Jay-Z got a similar court order last summer at one of their "On the Run II" shows.

Bottom line -- don't mess with a musician's bottom line.

Kid Rock was feeling the Christmas spirit this week -- thanks in part to Tyler Perry -- and helped hundreds of Nashville residents save some cash for the holidays.

The rocker announced Friday that he paid off the layaway balance at his local Walmart -- $81,000 worth according to the store manager -- after he was inspired by Perry doing the same thing in Atlanta last week.

Kid Rock's generosity reportedly cleared 350 layaway accounts ... which should make those shoppers a little more merry this season.

The kind gesture should also help Kid get back in the good graces of the community ... after he was removed as grand marshal of the Nashville Christmas parade for calling Joy Behar a bitch on FOX News.

We broke the story ... Tyler started the trend of paying off layaway items Thursday when he dropped $434k at 2 ATL area Walmarts.

The Trump Organization's got legal trouble unrelated to Robert Mueller ... this time it's a guy pissed off about an ice skating rink he considers a virtual death trap.

Philip Kassai is suing President Trump's organization over the Lasker Rink it operates in Central Park. According to Kassai's attorney, Marc Freund, his client was injured during a March skate outing with his 9-year-old son. After just one lap, he claims he noticed the rink had dangerous areas of slush, crevices and bumps.

As he was leaving the ice, his skate got caught in a crevice, he fell and dislocated and fractured his shoulder ... according to Freund. He says the injury still hasn't fully healed.

According to the suit, filed by Freund's firm Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman ... Kassai wants Trump's co. to fork over damages for negligence in properly inspecting and maintaining the ice rink.

Zero and none -- those are the chances Tenshin Nasukawa has to beat Floyd Mayweather when they square off on New Year's Eve ... according to Roy Jones Jr.

"He's not gonna lose the fight."

Floyd and Tenshin -- an undefeated 20-year-old kickboxing superstar -- are fighting in Japan at the end of the month ... and there are some people who think Tenshin could be the guy to finally put Mayweather on the canvas.

Roy Jones, however, is not one of those people.

That said, Roy expects Tenshin to fare better than Conor McGregor -- because Tenshin is a seasoned stand-up fighter ... and "McGregor had never had a boxing match before in his life."

Trippie Redd's ready to clock in and do some serious work with this insane new piece of bling.

We're told the rapper dropped $200k on this incredibly detailed chain and pendant. Yes, it's a clock, and all due props to Flavor Flav ... but Trippie's timepiece is a major upgrade. He's even given it a name -- Wicked the Clock.

We don't wanna speak for Flav, but ... yeahhhh, boyyyyyyyyy!!!

Our sources say the pendant features 90 carats of VVS diamonds -- jewelry-speak for high quality -- on 14 karat white and rose gold.

Trippie's going all out to celebrate his debut album, "Life's a Trip." He commissioned Eden and Izzy over at NYC Luxury to design his latest piece.

Christmas came early for a bunch of lucky Walmart customers ... because Tyler Perry just picked up their tabs.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... the famous actor and filmmaker wrote a couple big checks to 2 Atlanta area Walmarts Thursday, to cover the cost of outstanding layaway items that were registered at the stores as of this morning.

We're told Perry dropped $178k at one store in ATL and another $256k at a nearby store in Douglasville.

All the customers have to do to collect their outstanding items is pay a penny at pickup ... as Tyler just explained in a video about the awesome gesture.

Add this to a laundry list of charitable acts by Tyler in 2018 -- including buying an old friend's mom a house and hooking up Geoffrey Owens with an acting gig -- and it's safe to say he's on the nice list.

Tristan Thompson's one-finger salute just cost him a chunk of change ... 'cause the Cavs star's been slapped with a $15k fine for flipping off hecklers at the Nets game on Monday.

TMZ Sports posted the video ... T.T. snapped at the end of the Cavs-Nets game at Barclays Center ... flipping off some courtside fans after Cleveland sealed the W.

The league announced Thompson's punishment on Thursday ... and it's a bargain compared to the $25k fines handed to Kevin Durant and Patrick Beverley for their recent fan incidents.

It's the only recent blemish in Thompson's hot streak ... as the dude is averaging a double-double so far this season and has been helping the Cavs keep from being a complete embarrassment.

Cardi B's not crying a river -- publicly, anyway --- after breaking up with Offset ... she's too damn busy getting that money.

We got the rapper at E11EVEN nightclub Wednesday night in Miami where she showed off some very colorful locks (very Tekashi-esque of her) and a super tight, see-through dress. Cardi grabbed the mic and did her thing ... showing no signs of a heartbreak. Sorry, Offset.

Life in the single lane seems to suit her well ... she's taking selfies, yukking it up and making it rain out there. Bad Bunny and Teyana Taylor also showed her some love at her table.

You can also see Cardi rapping to her track, "Money" ... and even when "Drip" featuring Migos started blaring through the speakers, things did NOT seem to get awkward. She kept her cool.

Keeping it cool seems to be her thing. As we reported ... Cardi cut Offset loose on Tuesday and said the two remain good friends and business partners. But, as we first reported ... the fact Offset tried orchestrating a threesome with a Cardi wannabe hit too close to home.

Home might be where the heart is ... but Miami's definitely where the money is.

Michael Avenatti and his estranged wife have an agreement in place for him to pay her child and spousal support, and it requires him to fork over a ton of his assets ... TMZ has learned.

According to docs filed in Orange County, a judge ordered Avenatti to pay Lisa Storie-Avenatti $37,897 per month in child support, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2018. We'll do the math for ya ... it's $454,764. The order also requires Avenatti to pay her spousal support of $124,398 per month, retroactive to Jan. 2018. That's roughly $1.5 million.

Now, cut to Dec. 4, when both parties filed docs stipulating Avenatti write child support checks for $40k now, and another in January.

As for the balance ... according to the docs, Avenatti agrees to hand over a bunch of his assets for Lisa to liquidate. The loot includes 5 luxury wristwatches -- some worth more than $50k -- a Frank Gehry sculpture, and several other expensive works of art.

Additionally, he has to hand over the keys to a 2017 Ferarri 488 GT Spider he was leasing. By the way, those go for about $300k.