Money

Marc Anthony's burned out yacht is posing a significant danger to Miami's coastal waters -- so the federal government's stepping in to assist ... but it ain't gonna be cheap.

As you know, Marc's $7 million yacht, the Andiamo, burst into flames Wednesday night in a Miami marina, and despite valiant efforts ... the vessel went under. It's still resting mostly submerged, and it will until divers tackle the issue of fuel leaks.

The U.S. Coast Guard tells TMZ ... the government is dipping into something called the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to pay for the divers. We're told they're inspecting the wreckage to figure out the best way to clear the engines and tanks.

After the fuel clean up, another company will tow Marc's baby to dry dock where investigators can determine what caused the fire. Officials estimate the job will cost about $300,000 -- that's how much they pulled from the fund.

Now, before ya fire off an angry email to Congress ... the feds only front that $300k.

We're told the government will seek reimbursement from Marc, or more likely, his insurance company, once the job is done. So, if you need to know ... taxpayers will NOT be paying to raise his yacht.

Todd and Julie Chrisley are adamant the feds' case against them is based on evidence the government should never have had, and they want it all tossed out of court and returned to them.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ ... the Chrisleys claim the Georgia Department of Revenue illegally seized 2 of their Atlanta storage units in 2017. The units had a trove of the Chrisleys' financial docs.

The Chrisleys claim the GA Dept. of Revenue seized the units based on a bum warrant. In docs, they say the warrant was based on a non-existent tax lien -- meaning, investigators cut corners and violated their rights.

The Chrisleys say that evidence was handed over to federal prosecutors ... who then indicted the reality stars on multiple counts of conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion.

Todd and Julie want their stuff back, and they want the judge to declare the ill-gotten records off-limits to prosecutors.

As we reported, a federal grand jury indicted the Chrisleys in August ... alleging they concocted a scheme from 2007 to 2012 to fabricate docs and provide false information to banks when applying for and receiving millions in loans ... money they allegedly used to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Pete Buttigieg isn't apologizing for raising some serious cash at a wine cave fundraiser, despite criticism from his Democrat opponents ... because he says it's vital in the fight against Donald Trump.

Mayor Pete appeared on "TMZ Live" Friday and noted the Prez and his allies have already raised hundreds of millions of dollars and in order to keep pace for the 2020 push ... so he's not going to turn down money from ultra-rich donors. Besides ... the max the donors can fork over is $2,800.

Buttigieg says he's proud more than 700,000 people have donated to his campaign, and with big-money donations included ... the average contribution is around 30 bucks.

As for the now-famous wine cave -- which is actually more of a fancy basement -- Buttigieg says it's as remarkable as advertised ... and he's happy to have the support of the billionaires who own it. BTW, many Democrats before him have felt the same.

Joe Horn is facing 10 YEARS in prison after the ex-NFL star just pled guilty to scamming the NFL's retired player health care plan out of nearly $150,000.

The former New Orleans Saint was one of several ex-NFL players -- including Clinton Portis -- who was charged by federal prosecutors earlier this month with defrauding the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan.

Officials say Horn, along with 10 other ex-NFLers, sought reimbursements for things like expensive medical equipment and prescriptions that they never bought in the first place.

But, instead of fighting the case in court, 47-year-old Horn agreed to plead guilty on Thursday to one charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, the charge carries a sentence of up to 10 YEARS behind bars ... as well as fine of up to $250,000 -- plus probation.

But, it seems Horn took the plea deal with the hopes a judge will take it easy on him at his sentencing hearing later next year.

As for the details of the plea agreement -- according to the docs, Horn admitted to submitting two false claims that totaled up to $149,775 ... and will have to pay that back.

Joe Burrow says he's absolutely floored by the nearly $500,000 worth of donations to his hometown food bank ... but tells TMZ Sports he's already thinking of other ways to help.

23-year-old Burrow delivered a powerful speech after winning the Heisman Trophy on Saturday ... bringing national attention to some very serious issues.

“Coming from Southeast Ohio it’s a very impoverished area and the poverty rate is almost two times the national average," Burrow said.

"There’s so many people there that don’t have a lot and I’m up here for all those kids in Athens and Athens County that go home to not a lot of food on the table, hungry after school. You guys can be up here too."

America was so inspired by Joe's words ... thousands of people donated more than $458k to the Athens County Food Pantry.

Fresh off winning the most desired award in college football, Burrow joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs nightly on FS1) ... where he says he was shocked his words kick-started a half-million-dollar campaign.

"It's been crazy. I didn't expect that at all," Burrow said. "I was just speaking from the heart and just trying to bring attention to an area that kinda gets lost in the mud."

The family of "The Walking Dead" stuntman John Bernecker scored millions in a wrongful death lawsuit but it was significantly short of what they wanted.

A jury on Thursday awarded the estate $8.6 million after 2 days of deliberations ... this according to a report. AMC Networks was found NOT to be negligent, but the show and its production company, Stalwart Films, were found liable. Stalwart was found 40% responsible and the show is 25% responsible.

The jury ruled the victim -- Bernecker -- was 6% liable for his own negligence. There were others found liable as well, but it appears none will have to pay out of pocket. Insurance will cover the judgment.

Andrew Yang is riding high after getting a big thumbs-up from Donald Glover, using the celeb endorsement to push merchandise and raise funds for his presidential campaign.

This is America as the decade comes to an end.

We got the 2020 candidate Thursday at his Donald Glover X Andrew Yang pop-up merch shop in Hollywood, where Andrew was busy getting mobbed by a huge throng of supporters chanting his name.

The Yang Gang was out in full force, and Andrew says his collab with Glover is doing wonders for his campaign's bottom line and helping spread his message to voters. Ya gotta hear how much Andrew says he's pulling in thanks to his most famous fan.

Donald was there too, hanging out in the back while Andrew schmoozed with shoppers on the store's floor. Yang seems like he's having the most fun of any White House hopeful.

Jake Paul is a conniving music thief ... so claim a team of music producers alleging in a new lawsuit the YouTube star jacked their work.

Producers Erik Belz, Jonathan Pakfar and Shane Abrahams are suing Jake claiming the entire backing music in Jake's popular "Litmas" track was stolen right from under them.

In docs, the producers claim they produced a track dubbed "Bad Santa" back in 2015. They claim they were in the same studio as Jake on multiple occasions and alleged Jake heard the track. The producers say lo and behold ... 2 years later, Jake released "Litmas."

Specifically, the producers claim their work is original, unique and specific in terms of pitch, register and overall use, which they claim can be entirely heard in Jake's track.

The group says Jake never asked for permission to use the music and has never compensated them ... even after his track racked up nearly 17 million views on YouTube.

Leave it to Bella Thorne to find a slice of paradise within paradise ... that's how sick her vacation villa stood out and the pics are stunning.

Bella, her BF, Benjamin Mascolo, and sister, Dani, spent a couple of weeks in the Dominican Republic ... in the luxurious beachside of Cap Cana. The rental pad -- known as Villa Las Hamacas (the hammocks, for the gringos out there) is palatial ... and that's putting it lightly.

The $20 million estate features just about everything you need to feel at home -- from a butler and private chef to housekeepers. Nearly a dozen hammocks hang under one of the villa's structures and throughout. There's 6 bedrooms including a master that's practically its own Airbnb.

There's an infinity pool, concierge service, and a freakin' kayak!!! We're told Bella and Benjamin also spent plenty of time riding ATVs through the jungle and horseback riding while watching the picturesque sunset. They also went snorkeling and jumped on a yacht.

The trio also took part in the Paradise Music Festival ... featuring Maluma and Bad Bunny.

So, how much does this kinda luxury cost per night? Try a cool $15k per night. Again, you get your own butler!!! Bella's the most recent celeb to soak up the Dominican sun.

Tekashi 6ix9ine deserves to rot in his cell for the holidays AWAY from his loved ones, and he's got even more paying back to do after that ... so says one of his victims.

We talked to Skyy Daniels on the heels of Tekashi receiving his 2-year prison sentence Wednesday -- one of which he's already been completed -- and asked if she was pleased with the outcome. Overall, she says she's not ... but there is a silver lining in her mind.

Skyy tells us she's giddy at the fact Tekashi69 won't get to be with his family for Christmas -- something she says she couldn't even do this time last year all because of him.

If you're unfamiliar, Skyy was one of the people who got held up at gunpoint by Tekashi's Nine Trey Blood gang members -- which turned out to be an awful case of mistaken identity. They thought she and her assistant were Rap-A-Lot Records associates ... they weren't.

Of all the famous TV wedding dresses out there -- from Monica's on "Friends" to Aunt Becky's on "Full House" -- the one that tops them all is "90 Day Fiance" star Larissa Lima's ... at least according to her ex-husband, who's trying to hawk it online.

Colt Johnson's listed an ad for the dress Larissa wore on their wedding day, touting it as a piece of television memorabilia "on par with Dorthys [sic] ruby slippers and back to the future delorean."

He calls it the "one and only famous wedding dress" worn by his ex-wife, and get this ... it can be yours for only $500.

Considering the average wedding dress cost in the U.S. is $1,000, this is quite a steal for a television-worn wedding dress more coveted than ones worn on shows like "Friends," "Gilmore Girls," "Sex and the City," "Jane the Virgin" or "Game of Thrones" ... according to Colt, of course.

Chester Bennington's ex-wife just scored a major victory ... the executor of his Estate is earmarking 50% of the Estate's Linkin Park royalties to her.

Samantha Bennington -- who was married to Chester between 1996 and 2005 -- filed a claim with the Estate demanding the royalties as well as child support. The child support portion was withdrawn back in June. They had one son together.

The executor filed legal docs with the probate court, stating that he would allow Samantha's royalties claim, which includes a share of the non-touring merch, publishing rights and a share of the master sound records.

The executor made no mention of child support.

What's interesting ... the executor is Chester's widow, Talinda, so she seems down with Samantha getting her cut.

Ian Ziering's willing to do a little horse-trading in his divorce ... he says he'll help out his estranged wife financially for a bit, but then she's gotta get a job.

The '90210' star just filed a response in his divorce case and, according to docs, Ian says he's down to pay Erin Ziering "reasonable spousal support for a limited period of time," but he's also requesting "an order that [Erin] become self-supporting."

In docs, obtained by TMZ, Ian's also asking for joint legal and physical custody of their 2 minor daughters. Erin has asked for sole physical custody when she filed divorce papers. Translation -- it's acrimonious.

There a discrepancy on the date of separation -- Erin listed October 31 while Ian listed October 14. As we reported ... Ian announced back in October he's splitting from Erin after 9 and a half years of marriage.

Bret Michaels is on a mission to give the folks in the Bahamas something to believe in ... including 15,000 lbs. of supplies and toys for all the good girls and boys!

The Poison lead singer is teaming up with The Paradise Fund to deliver gifts to 200 families in the Coopers Town village on Abaco island. We're told along with toys, Bret and members of the organization are packing planes with meals, winter clothing, books, school supplies and even Christmas trees.

Sources connected to the giveaway tell us Michaels will be flying in on his own plane Friday to deliver the goods ... and fittingly, he'll be wearing a Santa hat. We're told the Paradise volunteers will match him -- in elf garb.

All in all ... $20,000 worth of gifts and supplies will be dispersed to the families in need.

How do you celebrate closing roughly $1 BILLION in MLB contracts in one short offseason?!?

That's the question we posed to MLB superagent Scott Boras -- and while he's trying to downplay the historic impact of his work, you can tell he's pretty fired up!

FYI, Boras is arguably the most powerful agent in pro sports ... at least judging by the deals he's negotiated in the past couple of weeks.

Gerrit Cole signed a $324 million contract with the Yankees. Anthony Rendon inked a $245 mil deal with the Angels. Stephen Strasburg's getting $245 mil from the Nationals. And Mike Moustakas got $64 mil with the Reds.

So far, Boras' clients are at $878 mil in contract money this off-season -- and with Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dallas Keuchel and Nicholas Castellanos expected to close deals soon, Boras should easily pass the $1 BILLION mark.

"It’s really a great thrill," Boras told us at Reagan National Airport in Virginia.

"The biggest celebration is that you get to call the players you represent and let them know that something they’ve worked so hard for is complete."

Boras has a reputation for being a pretty hard-nosed negotiator -- so we asked if there are teams that are afraid to deal with him out of fear they'll have to break their piggy banks to get SB's clients.

"Oh, I don’t think anybody is [afraid]. When you represent great players everybody wants to talk with you."

There's more ... we also spoke with Scott about Bernie Sanders, who recently tweeted about the deal Boras inked for Gerrit Cole -- "If pitchers can make $324 million, we can pay every teacher in this country at least $60,000."

Boxing star Adrien Broner has been ordered to pay more than $700k to a woman who claims AB sexually assaulted her at a nightclub back in 2018, court records show.

As we previously reported ... the woman using the alias Katherine Larson claimed she was sitting on a couch when Broner smothered her and shoved his tongue down her throat at a Cleveland nightclub on June 8, 2018.

The woman claims Broner continued the assault until his friend pulled him off her.

The woman went to police and filed a report -- and later filed a lawsuit against Broner. Earlier this year, Broner pled guilty to assault and unlawful restraint of Ms. Larson.