Money

Come and listen to a story about a man named Lachlan ... a not-so-poor media mogul who bought a house for $150 MILLION!!!

That's right ... the L.A. estate known as Chartwell -- best known for being featured on "The Beverly Hillbillies" -- is off the market, and the mansion's new owner is Rupert Murdoch's son, 48-year-old Lachlan.

The real estate transaction is not only the most expensive in L.A. history but in the history of the entire state of California. And, get this ... it sold for $200 million LESS than the initial asking price.

Chartwell was listed off-market about 2 years ago at an astronomical $350 million but dropped to a slightly more affordable $245 mil when it entered the multiple listing service. The price dipped again to $195 mil this summer, before reportedly being sold to Lachlan for the cool $150 mil.

It's now the second priciest home sale in the U.S. ... trailing only the $238 million NYC penthouse purchased by hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin in January.

The exterior was used for the credits of the legendary '60s show ... and it's become a tourist destination ever since, where people peer through the gates to get a look. The estate boasts a 25,000-square-foot main house, a tennis court, a guest house, and of course -- a cement pond ... and another house to go with that.

There are also acres of gardens with tall hedges and trees for privacy.

BTW -- Chartwell is actually located in Bel-Air, not Beverly Hills, and was last owned by late billionaire A. Jerrold Perenchio, the chairman of Univision. The new owner is cochairman of his family's company, News Corp.

Antonio Brown is gearing up for round 2 in his crazy condo trashing legal battle -- he's due in court for ANOTHER deposition -- and this time, he's leveling up his fashion game.

Just minutes before the deposition was scheduled to begin in Florida, Brown was showing off his expensive Gucci short suit at his home ... while wearing a super flossy gold chain.

The point ... Brown is trying to show he's cool, calm and collected for the deposition -- unlike the FIRST time when the opposition claims he acted like a "belligerent" lunatic.

As we previously reported, Brown is accused of going berserk at his luxury condo, causing thousands of dollars in damage, but never paying the bill.

The first deposition -- back in Sept. -- went so poorly, that a judge ordered Brown to appear at a Miami area courtroom for a do-over ... which should have started by the time this post is published.

So, how badly did things go the first time? Here are some snippets from court docs filed by the opposing attorney ...

"Antonio Brown was extremely noncompliant and flagrantly disorderly, to the point that he frustrated the totality of the proceeding."

And, there's more .... the attorney claims Brown's deposition was filled with "tumultuous tirades, defiant rants, use of profane language and refusal to comport himself in a civilized and grown-up manner."

"Once the deposition started, almost immediately, [Brown] was belligerent and pugnacious, refusing to answer the most routine of questions."

We'll see if he does better this time around. At least he looks good.

Harvey Weinstein's long battle with his accusers appears to be winding down, he's reached a tentative $25 million settlement with dozens of his alleged victims ... TMZ has confirmed.

The deal, struck Wednesday, means the disgraced studio mogul will NOT be required to admit any wrongdoing or pay anything to his accusers himself. Insurance companies repping The Weinstein Company will shell out the full amount.

More than 30 women accused Weinstein of a variety of allegations ... ranging from sexual harassment to rape. The alleged victims -- from actresses and former employees -- will share the payout ... with 18 alleged victims splitting $6.2 million and no individual getting more than $500k. There's a separate chunk -- $18.5 million -- that'll be set aside for those in a class-action case and future claimants.

The total payout is actually $47 million ... with a huge chunk covering legal costs. The settlement means that all civil suits against Weinstein and The Weinstein Company will also get dismissed. The New York Times was first to report the story.

Genie Harrison, a lawyer for one of the victims, told The NYT,  "I don’t think there’s a markedly better deal to be made. We have really, truly done the best we can under the circumstances, and it’s important for other victims to know this, come forward and be able to get the best level of compensation we were able to get.”

Disney's got trust issues ... it's being sued for straight-up jacking a battle cry that a breast cancer awareness company says has been theirs for more than a decade.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ ...  Trust Your Journey -- a Nevada-based company formed as a result of a personal fight and victory over breast cancer -- is suing the Mouse House claiming the company's illegally slapping its slogan, "Trust Your Journey," on "Frozen 2" merch.

If you've seen the movie, you know that's basically Anna and Elsa's theme. But, in the suit, Trust Your Journey says Disney's slapped the slogan on t-shirts, posters, jewelry and tons of other stuff ... despite its trademark on the phrase.

Gerrit Cole just got PAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDD!!!

The superstar ace reportedly just signed a new 9-year, $324 MILLION contract with the New York Yankees ... making him the highest-paid pitcher EVER!!!

Cole was electric for the Houston Astros the past two years ... piling up 602 strikeouts in 412.2 innings, and he finished second in the AL Cy Young voting just a couple weeks ago.

He was the hottest free agent on the market this offseason ... with the Yanks, L.A. Angels and L.A. Dodgers reportedly falling all over themselves to ink the 29-year-old.

But, bidding ended Tuesday night ... 'cause Cole signed the biggest pitcher contract of all-time to move from Texas to New York.

In case you're wondering just how massive of a deal it is ... if Cole makes 33 starts for the Yankees this year like he did for the 'Stros last year -- he'll make more than $1 MIL PER OUTING!!!

As for Cole's agent, Scott Boras ... the dude is SWIMMING in cash this offseason -- he also repped Stephen Strasburg, who signed a $245 MILLION deal this week with the Nationals.

The one downside for Cole to all of this? The Yankees don't allow facial hair, so his beard will have to go in 2019.

Tyler, the Creator's new piece pays homage to himself, his alter ego and his latest album ... and it's helping a celebrity jeweler close out the year with a bang.

The eccentric rapper's chain features a pendant of IGOR -- the alter ego he debuted this year -- and it's dripping in a variety of diamonds. Blue, black, white and even chocolate and cognac diamonds, to be specific!

It's made out of 18k gold and comes with a shiny "T" clasp for the chain and "IGOR" emblazoned on the back.

The jeweler, Ben Baller, points out the intricacies of the piece ... including how the gradient levels of brown match Tyler's IGOR's skin tone when the light hits it, and how you can make out the curvature of the nose.

Baller's clearly proud of his handiwork -- which he says is his final piece of the decade -- and Tyler is too. Good reason for pride all round ... the thing cost $275,000!!!

Soledad O'Brien was right about President Trump getting impeached -- and now, she's here to collect on her bet ... which we'll have to pay her back for later.

We got the veteran TV journalist Tuesday at LAX, and our photog recalled she'd placed a bet with our D.C. guy about whether the Dems would actually go through with impeachment.

You'll recall ... Soledad and our boy pinkie promised on a whopping 5 bills -- dollar bills -- with Soledad taking the over/under on the House pulling the trigger. Obviously, she won and we lost. Pelosi and co. intro'd 2 articles ... abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Fast-forward to Tuesday ... and our cameraman in L.A. was desperately trying to pay up on behalf of his TMZ coworker. Sadly, he came up short by a buck so -- and Soledad wasn't trying to get paid in parts. Don't worry ... our man in D.C. will pay up, SO!!!

Just for kicks, we asked if Soledad wanted to run another bet on whether the Senate would convict -- but she pumped the brakes on that one. It ain't happening, she says.

Justin Hartley's estranged wife thinks the almighty dollar destroyed her marriage.

Sources connected with Chrishell Stause tell TMZ, the "Selling Sunset" star is privately calling BS on the date of separation Justin listed in his divorce filing. TMZ broke the story ... Justin claims in his docs he and Chrishell separated July 8, 2019. By contrast, she says they were together right up until the day he filed ... November 22, 2019.

We know the 2 were seen out in public together multiple times between July and November, so the early separation date is puzzling. We're told Chrishell doesn't think it's all that puzzling ... that the tea leaves point to some sort of deal Justin may have and she believes he just doesn't want her to get a piece.

As we reported, both Justin and Chrishell acknowledge they were having problems, but she says they never called it quits until she learned from TMZ he filed to end the marriage.

And, as we reported, Chrishell's lawyer, Samantha Spector, is asking Justin to pay her client spousal support ... something he made clear he does not want to pay.

Keep the party going in DC ... Stephen Strasburg just chose to remain a National -- signing a new 7-year, $245 MILLION deal with the World Series champs!!!

There were rumors after Strasburg's epic WS performance that he could bolt from the nation's capital to sign with the Yankees or the Padres this offseason, but he slammed the door shut on that by putting pen to paper with the Nats on Monday.

It's a massive new contract -- reportedly worth nearly $30 million MORE than the record-setting, $217 mil contract the Red Sox gave David Price back in 2015.

Of course, it's also a huge win for the Nationals despite the large amounts of cash ... Strasburg was dominant this season, going 18-6 with 251 strikeouts in 209 innings.

But, the best part about it for the Nats? It guarantees the team keeps Max Scherzer and Strasburg at the top of its rotation for the foreseeable future.

Yeah ... sorry, Mets.

By the way, the new deal has also put a little bit of egg on Donald Trump's face ... remember when he famously predicted Strasburg would leave the Nats?!?

The relationship between Chris Cornell's widow and his former band is in black days, to say the least ... because she's suing over money and the rights to 7 unreleased recordings.

Vicky Cornell filed legal docs, claiming the remaining members of Soundgarden are withholding hundreds of thousands of dollars in royalties owed to her and Chris' minor children.

She calls the move an "unlawful attempt to strong-arm Chris' Estate into turning over certain audio recordings created by Chris before he passed away."

The rights to those recordings -- some of Chris' final ones -- are the crux of the dispute between Vicky and the band. According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, she says the 7 tracks were "solely authored by Chris; contain Chris' own vocal tracks; and were bequeathed to Chris' Estate" for the benefit of her and their kids.

Vicky claims she's offered to share the recordings with Soundgarden, so they can be released in a way that respects Chris' wishes -- including having his producer involved -- but she says the band refused.

She also accuses lead guitarist Kim Thayil of putting her family in harm's way by suggesting she's the main obstacle to Soundgarden putting out another album.

In the docs, filed by powerhouse attorneys Marty Singer and James Sammataro, Vicky says those comments are intentionally misleading to Soundgarden's "loyal, rabid fan base" ... and she believes Thayil knows Chris worked on the music solo.

However, Soundgarden is claiming Chris and the other members had been "working on the files in a collaborative effort." In a letter to Vicky, they say ... "The entire band was feeling very positive about their rekindled artistic energy and creativity" before Cornell died.

It also lists various members as co-songwriters along with Chris on 5 of the 7 disputed recordings.

Vicky's not buying it, and wants the judge to declare Chris' estate the sole owner of the unreleased tracks ... and force the band to fork over the alleged unpaid royalties.

NBA legend Paul Pierce has been ordered to write a $100,000 check to a security guard he called "racist" at the Conor McGregor vs. Khabib fight ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... a security guard at the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas sued Pierce for defamation and other things over an altercation they got into during UFC 229 in Oct. 2018.

Long story short ... Pierce called security guard Christopher Mostello "racist" -- claiming Mostello (who is white) gave him a hard time while trying to get to his seat.

Pierce's "racist" allegation was captured on video and posted by TMZ Sports.

In his suit, Mostello claimed it was Paul who was acting inappropriately that night -- saying Pierce had gotten aggressive and physical with a female security supervisor -- and Mostello was only doing his job.

Mostello claimed his reputation took a serious hit because of the altercation and Pierce's accusations -- and he's been subjected to public embarrassment, harassment and ridicule.

The case went in front of a judge who ordered Pierce to either respond to the lawsuit or face a default judgment ... and since the court never heard from Pierce, the judge ordered him to pay up.

Pierce isn't out of moves yet ... he can ask the court to set aside the judgment but that's usually reserved for someone who didn't have the means to fight in the case in the first place.

Bottom line, it's an uphill battle for Pierce and it would probably cost him more than $100k to go that route anyway.

Elon Musk is taking his super cool looking Cybertruck out for real-world spins now -- and it made its debut in ... Malibu, of course.

The Tesla honcho rolled into Nobu Saturday night with the Cybertruck and some friends ... and his ride was instantly the biggest celeb in the always celeb-packed joint. Not shockingly, the valets left Cybertruck upfront, and patrons circled around it taking photos all night.

We know what you're thinking ... and NO heavy objects were hurled at the whip's Armor Glass.

Elon eventually came out with actor Ed Norton in tow, who clearly wanted to catch a glimpse of the electric truck -- which won't be available to the public until 2021 or 2022.

As you know, the innovative vehicle made its debut last month with a splashy live streamed event from SpaceX HQ -- but it didn't go as scripted when a demo ended with metal balls shattering the supposedly shatterproof glass.

Like many Hollywood celebs in need of an image makeover -- Cybertruck put on its best dress and headed out for a photo op in the 'Bu.

FaZe Banks tells TMZ Sports that Jarvis' Fortnite ban is real -- saying there's NO CHANCE the kid plays the game again ... but he says the 17-year-old is still in good spirits regardless!!

"Jarvis is doing really good, man," Banks says. "He's holding in there."

As we previously reported, Jarvis was hit with a perma-suspension after he was caught using Aimbots during a recreational game that he streamed on his ultra-popular YouTube channel.

Essentially, Jarvis was cheating by illegally hacking the game so his guns could auto-focus on his opponents.

Turns out, Fortnite officials were SUPER pissed over the incident ... and gave him the boot from the game FOR LIFE!!!

Banks -- the founder of the clan Jarvis is a part of -- had previously told us there was at least some hope Jarvis could eventually be "freed" from the punishment.

But, Banks changed his tune when we got him out in L.A. last week ... saying, "The chances of him playing Fortnite are zero."

Good news, though ... Banks says the door is open for Jarvis to at least make SOME kind of Fortnite content in the future -- despite not being able to play it anymore.

Ozzy Osbourne is willing to put some big dough if someone can help track down the thieves who looted a music school with ties to his late pal, Randy Rhoads ... we're talking thousands.

The Black Sabbath frontman posted some sad news Saturday about the Musonia School of Music in North Hollywood, saying it had recently been broken into and looted for a lot of its instruments and precious valuables. Ozzy says at least 6 items were taken by crooks.

Among them ... Randy's first electric guitar, as well as Randy's mother's Great Depression-era trumpet that she'd been gifted in childhood. High value, sentimental stuff, in other words.

Welp, Ozzy's got a solution of his own ... $25,000 of cold, hard cash in the form of a reward.

He writes, "I am heartbroken that these treasured physical memories of Randy and Delores have been taken from the family so I’ve decided to personally offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction and/or return of all stolen items."

Cardi B's gonna mess around and bring floods to Africa ... if she keeps making it rain the way she did in a Nigerian strip club ahead of what's going to be a historic gig for her.

Actually, Cardi's already making history if you ask the dancers inside the club she took over Friday night in the city of Lagos. Not only did seemingly EVERY stripper jump in a giant selfie with the rapper, but they went home covered in naira.

Here's your international travel tip for the day: Nigeria's currency is the naira, and Cardi came with stacks on stacks on stacks of 'em when she hit the VIP. The video is pretty insane.

While the DJ pumped Cardi's music, every stripper got a chance to entertain the queen.

Mind you, this is a business trip. Cardi's performing at the Livespot X Festival Saturday in Lagos, and then in neighboring Ghana on Sunday. This is Cardi's first time on the African continent, and she said on IG she wants to experience the "real" Nigeria ... not just a hotel.

She's off to a great start!!!

Meg Ryan's no longer an island girl ... she's unloaded her Chappaquiddick Island mansion, and it's gotta connection with Barack and Michelle Obama's new island pad.

Our Massachusetts real estate sources tell us Meg just closed the deal to sell her 6,600-sq-ft crib for $9.125 million. She's been in the home -- which sits on just over 5 acres -- for about 10 years. We're told she bought it for about $6 million.

The spread has 7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and isn't far from the water to the east and west. Translation: tremendous sunrise and sunset views from inside the home.

We know all you history buffs are wondering, so we Googled for ya. Meg's old place is less than 3 miles from the infamous Chappaquiddick bridge where Ted Kennedy crashed in July 1969.

Meg was repped in the sale by Tom LeClair and Gerrett Conover of Landvest. If those names sound familiar, it's because they're having a helluva week!

They also helped the Obamas close on their new $11.75 million estate on neighboring Martha's Vineyard.