Money

L.A. Clippers star Patrick Beverley has one thing on his mind going into free agency -- WHO'S GONNA GET ME THAT BAG!!?!?!

The 30-year-old just finished up his 4-year, $25 mil contract -- and now he's free to ink another big deal ... and when we saw him at LAX he made it clear, the goal is to cash that check!

It's refreshingly honest considering most pro athletes try to convince the public it's NOT about the money -- it's about where they have the best shot at winning a ring.

But, ya gotta hand it to Beverley who essentially says he's gonna play his ass off WHEREVER he signs -- and the lucky team to snatch him up will be the team with the biggest offer, period.

There's reportedly been interest from the Lakers -- and Beverley says that could be a cool situation because the Lakers are "exciting" -- but they still gotta bring that bag if they want Bev!

We also spoke with Beverley about his on-the-court rivalry with Kevin Durant -- which heated up during the NBA Playoffs -- and you gotta check out what Patrick says.

Kim Kardashian's West is helping convicts who were just trying to make a living selling drugs ... at least that's the way a former drug kingpin who served hard time sees it.

"Freeway" Rick Ross -- who went to federal prison in 1996 after making millions as a drug kingpin during the '80s crack cocaine epidemic -- made his sentiments clear at LAX ... selling drugs is not a violent crime -- it boils down to simple economics.

Ross says drug dealers are mostly trying to support their families, and that's why they got in the game. He praises Kim for spearheading the Lyft partnership ... which will help up to 5,000 soon-to-be-released prisoners get a ride to job interviews.

Ross tells us this is a huge deal ... even though he had a girlfriend to drive him around once he got out in 2009 ... many others at the halfway house with him weren't so lucky.

The ex-drug boss also praises Kim for doing the right thing ... even if it means working with President Trump.

WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry did a pretty cool thing on Sunday -- organizing an event in his hometown of Austin, Texas to give haircuts and shaves to people in need.

Henry says he didn't just want to hand out cash and call it a day -- his focus was put boots on the ground and do something for the people that would really make a difference in their lives.

So, after talking with local organizations, he decided to spearhead a shave and haircut event -- because a lot of homeless people had been telling him the way they look can be a tough hurdle to overcome when trying to find a job.

Mark connected with the people from the Austin Area Urban League and the Maestro's Classic beard care company to set up the event ... where they offered free shaves, haircuts, food and water to anyone who needed the help.

Henry says he learned A LOT while talking with the people who came through his event -- especially when it comes to the way homeless people are treated by the rest of society.

"People don't acknowledge them. They treat them like they're invisible. 9 times out of 10 people just look at them and don't talk to them. That's gotta be a horrible existence."

Mark says he was so moved by the experience, he's already planning more events in cities across the country.

"I got a lot of joy out of seeing people smile and feel good about how they looked, it meant a lot to them," Henry says.

Michael Irvin tells TMZ Sports if Jerry Jones doesn't break out his checkbook and pay Dak Prescott ... the rest of the Cowboys roster will riot!!!

"They're going to say, 'Why the hell should I give all my effort if you didn't take care of the top guy?!'"

Of course, Dak is entering the final year of his 4-year rookie deal ... and Dallas is reportedly at a standstill in negotiations for his next contract.

But, Irvin says if Jerry and the 'Boys keep playing hardball and don't get the deal done soon ... it could mean big trouble for Jason Garrett's locker room.

"If you don't pay him, let's all go home," Irvin says.

Dak's new deal is expected to be a huge one ... reports say he wants to be in the area of the $30-ish MILLION per year that Carson Wentz, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson just got.

Will Jerry pay that up for a guy who's only made $2.7 million over the last three years TOTAL???

Kim Kardashian West's recent announcement at The White House was only the start of a massive undertaking ... of which almost 5,000 inmates will be able to reap the benefits from.

Sources with knowledge of Kim's partnership with rideshare giant Lyft tell us the company has committed services to get up to 5k soon-to-be released inmates to job interviews. We're told the biggest group of prisoners who have been granted release will get out of prison July 19.

Our sources say Kim -- in a partnership with #Cut50 -- has worked tirelessly on both federal and local levels to ensure inmates will be provided housing and employment opportunities. We're told there's also a long-term plan in place to make sure those released from prison will continue to get opportunities for years to come.

Kim has visited prisons across the country -- recently spending time on death row -- getting to know prisoners, their cases and possible injustices.

As we reported, Kim was at The White House Thursday with President Trump to announce her new partnership with Lyft.

Kardashian has been at the forefront of prison reform, lending her voice to help free those locked up for life for nonviolent crimes ... at one point, she helped to quietly free 17 inmates in 90 days.

Tracy Morgan just learned a hard lesson about owning a Bugatti -- fixing a scratch is the equivalent of plunking down enough money to buy the car that sideswiped it.

We broke the story ... Tracy was sideswiped by a Honda CR-V 15 MINUTES after driving his $2 million ride out of the showroom.

The Honda driver nailed the front bumper, and to replace it ... an unreasonable $22,000!!!

But wait, there's more. The fender on the driver's side quarter panel was also damaged, and we're told that will cost $10,000, and that doesn't include labor.

Cops say the accident was the Honda driver's fault ... we don't know her insurance policy limits, but it better be substantial.

The Honda chick is lucky ... if there were structural damage, she'd have to sell the farm.

As you can clearly see from the video, Tracy was none too pleased as he assessed the damage on the street.

Wendy Williams' new guy is sick and tired of people thinking he's hanging with her in hopes of landing a sugar mama ... because he insists he's not about that life.

Sources close to Marc Tomblin tell TMZ ... he doesn't care at all about fame and he's not the type of guy who'd let a woman take care of him financially. We're told the only reason he's kicking it with Wendy is because they enjoy each other's company.

We're told Tomblin hasn't asked Williams for a dime since they've been together and won't in the future -- don't let those pics of them hitting an ATM fool you. He's also telling friends that NYC shopping spree they went on was not funded solely by Wendy ... he purchased his own things.

Our sources say Marc's been getting a lot of flak from people who are suspicious of his motives, so he's been blocking them ... along with anyone who reaches out to him to talk crap about Wendy.

As we've reported ... Wendy's ignoring all the haters and naysayers and living her life how she wants. As she put it to us, "I am a 54-year-old grown ass woman. I know what I'm doing."

She's also been careful about not calling Tomblin her boyfriend, but making it clear she's having a lot of fun with him ... enough to keep him around in NYC with her much longer than expected.

6:20 PM PT -- Taylor just performed a surprise set at NYC's Stonewall Inn, wishing everyone a happy Pride. The event was hosted by Stonewall Inn and AEG to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising.

Taylor took the stage after an introduction from Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson ... and she sang "Shake it Off."

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, known as the dawn of the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

Taylor Swift's newest track is prompting something amazing -- her fans stepping up to make donations to one of the biggest LGBTQ groups ... all thanks to a shout out.

Honchos at GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, tell TMZ ... they've seen an influx in donations overnight after Taylor dropped her new song, "You Need to Calm Down."

The single is an anti-hate anthem that calls out anti-gay bullies, and includes the lyrics, "Why are you mad when you could be GLAAD?"

GLAAD recently started a fundraiser to support its LGBTQ advocacy work during Pride Month, setting a $1,300 goal as an homage to Taylor's favorite number 13 ... and we're told many of the donations flowing in are for $13.

The song's also prompting a flood of pro-LGBTQ posts on social media.

GLAAD executive Anthony Ramos is glad to have Taylor on their side ... he says, "The fact she continues to use her platform and music to support the LGBTQ community and the Equality Act is a true sign of being an ally."

Drake just might be executive producer of the year -- at least he is to the cast of HBO's "Euphoria" because Algee Smith says he came to set loaded with gifts ... the green kind!!

Algee, one of the stars in the new drama, was on "TMZ Live" Friday to spill some tea about shooting the show, on which Drake is an EP. Safe to say, it pays dividends to have Mr. Graham running the show.

Check out our clip ... Algee says Drake had swag bags filled with gifts when the cast partied to wrap up the season. He wouldn't say exactly how much cash was in the bag, but made it clear it was wayyy more than pocket change.

"Euphoria" premieres Sunday night on HBO ... and it follows the lives of high school students as they navigate a minefield of drugs, sex, social media, friendship and love. The series is definitely pushing the envelope, and Algee says it's gonna be groundbreaking.

We know what you're thinking ... and yes, Algee is wearing a chain and shirt with his name on it.

R. Kelly thinks his ex-wife has a lot of audacity telling him to get a job at Del Taco so he can pay child support, because he thinks she should get behind the counter at a burger joint to pay her own way.

The singer's crisis manager, Darrell Johnson, tells TMZ ... the "TMZ Live" interview with Drea and their daughter, Buku Abi, underscores the ridiculousness of him paying child support to an adult.

Buku's 21 and said she's got her own career and doesn't need R. Kelly's money, but it's still his responsibility to pay until she's 23.

The singer believes Drea's using child support to fund her own lifestyle, and says it's time for her to get a job ... and he suggests McDonald's and Burger King are viable options, adding she too has a responsibility to pay for their kids.

Kelly is on the hook for about $21k a month in child support, and he's currently behind $32k.

Celebrity gamer Sonja Reid -- aka OMGitsfirefoxx -- makes a living firing shots in virtual reality but in real life ... she's under fire for allegedly stiffing her lawyers.

The law firm McPherson LLP is suing Reid claiming the former client bailed on her legal bills. She hired the firm in February of last year to get a restraining order against one or more alleged stalkers that had been sending her threatening messages.

According to the law firm, it gathered tons of evidence which led to LAPD search warrants targeting Facebook, Instagram and others ... to unearth the identity of the bad guys.

Things went south just a month after Reid hired the firm, because the lawyers weren't getting paid. The tab is now $41,570.54.

McPherson claims Reid hired another lawyer ... and only offered to pay around 18% of the $41k bill.

Reid, btw, is one of the biggest celebrity gamers in the world ... with nearly 1 million followers on Twitch, the game streaming platform. She has nearly 2 million followers on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

You can call Kelly Rohrbach Mrs. Baewatch now ... although she'd probably prefer Mrs. Walton, because TMZ has learned she's married into the freakin' Walmart fortune!!!

Some would say Steuart Walton is the one who hit the jackpot when he and the "Baywatch" actress tied the knot. Our sources say they did the deed down in Florida a couple of weeks ago.

They've settled into married life well, apparently -- we're told they were spotted at a friend's wedding recently ... and both were sporting wedding bands.

Back in March, the happy couple was spotted grabbing coffee and she seemed ecstatic. The massive engagement diamond weighing down Kelly's hand probably didn't hurt her mood.

Steuart and Kelly started dating about 2 years ago. Both attended Georgetown -- she went for undergrad, and he went to the law school.

His grandfather, Sam Walton, opened the first Walmart in 1962, and the fam's net worth was about $163 BILLION in 2017 ... when Bloomberg's Index named them America's richest family.

Kelly -- who used to date Leonardo DiCaprio and once went on a date with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers -- was Rookie of the Year in 2015 for SI's Swimsuit Edition.

Yeah, this one's a win-win, for sure. Congrats to the newlyweds!!!

Can you picture R. Kelly working the register in a red shirt and an apron at Del Taco? His ex-wife can ... if that's what it takes to dig himself out of a child support hole.

Drea Kelly and her daughter, Buku Abi -- who are both on "Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta" -- joined "TMZ Live" Thursday and pretty much she said she doesn't give a damn what kinda job Kelly has to land to meet his legal obligations ... so long as he once and for all wipes his debts clean.

As we first reported ... Drea asked the court for a hard and fast deadline for Kelly to pay her the $32k he owes. Kelly's camp previously insisted the money owed is interest and not back child support ... but we've learned only $11,500 of it is interest and the rest is for unpaid child support and educational expenses.

Check out the clip ... Drea suggests the fast food joint for the King of R&B.

Kelly, of course, has hired an army of lawyers for his mounting legal troubles, which can't be cheap. This is on top of back child support he's already ponied up ... to the tune of $161,633. That money, we were told, came from a benefactor. So, you can see why Drea's worried.

Who chugs Pappy Van Winkle straight from the bottle!?!?!

... STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS DO!!!!

Just ask St. Louis Blues center Robby Fabbri -- who grabbed a bottle of the ultra-rare Pappy Van Winkle rye and slammed it right after beating the brakes off the Boston Bruins!

FYI, Pappy Van Winkle products are the most sought-after whiskeys in the world ... a bottle of PVW Rye can run you about $1,200 -- and that's if you can even find one in the first place!!!!

Most people sip this stuff by the glass ... and that ain't cheap either!

But screw it, it's the Cup and Fabbri was ready to party!

Back in the locker room, the players went crazy too -- and even took a low key shot at the Bruins by playing "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys as they poured beers into the trophy.

It was a quick party for the Blues ... they hopped on the plane to get back to the fans with the shiny, new hardware ... and the Blues supporters lost their minds.

Michael Avenatti's legal troubles continue mounting ... he's now facing a lawsuit from his former paraplegic client who claims Avenatti stole nearly $4 million from him.

Geoffrey Johnson is suing the lawyer claiming Avenatti took the vast majority of a $4 million settlement payment that Johnson scored years ago but Avenatti wired to himself in January 2015.

In docs, obtained by TMZ, Johnson sued the L.A. County Sheriff's Department in 2012 claiming its deputies roughed him up during a wrongful arrest. Long story short ... Johnson scored a settlement but says all Avenatti's firm did was wire him meager $1,900 monthly payments.

Johnson's now suing for $9.5 million in compensatory damages ... which includes the $4 mil settlement and $5 mil in additional damages including severe emotional distress. Johnson, BTW, is the guy the feds mentioned in its 36-count indictment that could land Avenatti in prison for the rest of his life.

Avenatti's vehemently denied any wrongdoing telling TMZ ... "Mr. Johnson's claims are categorically false and frivolous, and his case will be thrown out of court." Avenatti explained, "He previously agreed on numerous occasions, including in multiple detailed writings which he reviewed, initialed and signed (after a different lawyer reviewed), that I conducted myself ethically at all times."

Mod Sun has some unanswered questions about Bella Thorne -- the first being, why can't she take a joke? The second being ... WHERE'S MY MONEY?!?!

We got Mod Sun as he was leaving The Nice Guy in WeHo, and had to ask him about what he said a couple of weeks ago. ICYMI ... he told our friends over at TooFab that Bella's stuff was still at his place -- dubbed the Mod Sun storage unit -- and threatened to hawk it all on eBay.

Bella, of course, didn't take too kindly to this ... and blasted Mod as a fame whore.

Mod strongly hints Bella's stuff is STILL at his place, but he also says his issues with her go beyond that. We're talking finances, and specifically ... debt!!! He claims she owes him some cold hard cash, and it sounds like the already bad breakup could get way worse.

As we reported ... Mod and Bella ended their 18-month fairy tale romance after their weekend in Coachella back in April -- and when she tried to get her stuff from his place, the ugliness began.