Money

Michael Jordan's super fancy Mercedes Benz S600 Lorinser -- owned by MJ in the mid-'90s -- just hit the auction block and is expected to rake in $100k!!

"His Airness" -- known for his ridiculously fast and luxurious car collection -- had the whip back in the day ... when the '96 Benz was registered to Jordan and his then-wife, Juanita.

MJ unloaded the MB years ago ... but the car was recently acquired by the Beverly Hills Car Club who decided to sell it.

The S600 was just listed on eBay ... and the starting bid is only $23 (get it?!).

But, it's gonna take a lot more than a crisp Jackson to buy this car ... 'cause BHCC tells us they expect it'll bring in around $100 grand.

The car has 157,000 miles on it, and doesn't exactly have all the bells and whistles of a current Mercedes (it's got power windows, heated seats, and AC!) ... but, it was owned by Jordan.

And, the value of MJ items has exploded since the airing of ESPN's docuseries, "The Last Dance" ... with everything from signed checks, Little League baseballs and Bulls uniforms selling for crazy amounts of cash.

The coolest part? The metallic navy blue S600 actually made a cameo on the show ... with Michael behind the wheel.

The Weeknd's philanthropy isn't confined to North America ... he's opening his wallet to help people who were injured, people whose loved ones died, and people who were left homeless by the tragic explosion that rocked Beirut.

The singer's manager, Wassim "Sal" Slaiby, and his wife, Rima Fakih, have been leading the charge to get relief for the people in Lebanon affected by last week's devastating blast. Now the Weeknd's chipping in with a $300k donation to Global Aid for Lebanon.

We're told the money will be distributed to the World Food Programme, the Lebanese Red Cross and the country's Children's Center.

Slaiby, who is Lebanese-Canadian, says ... "I am so honored and humbled to work with artists who have such deep care for the world and right now for our brothers & sisters of Lebanon who are in pain and need our collective help."

He thanked the Weeknd for his generosity and is encouraging others to give what they can.

As you may know ... The Weeknd's one of the many celebs who's been extra charitable over the last 6 months. He's pledged $500k to social justice orgs and also donated $1M for COVID-19 relief and $350K  for Tik Tok's Equal Justice Initiative.

Clearly he's got more to give ... and the people of Beirut certainly need it.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have left Los Angeles for greener pastures ... in the lush, super-exclusive city of Montecito ... and the Oprah connection seems undeniable.

Montecito realtors with knowledge tell TMZ, the couple went into escrow in July and the deal closed about a week ago.  We're told they spent around $10 mil, which got them a lot more house than they'd get in L.A.

It seems Oprah may have helped guide their path. We're told she helped put them in contact with Tyler Perry, who let them live in his Beverly Hills estate while they got their SoCal sea legs.

Oprah, who has a massive, incredible estate in Montecito and clearly loves it, has a connection to Harry ... they co-produced a documentary on mental health.

Montecito is a relatively small, quiet community near Santa Barbara. Interest in living there has exploded since the pandemic hit the U.S. Lots of people from L.A., Dallas and New York are picking up and moving there.

Lots of celebs live in Montecito, including Ellen, Scooter Braun, Dick Wolf, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Stewart, Rob Lowe and many others.

As for Meghan and Harry, we're told they bought a secure, gated estate. These properties have plenty of land ... in some cases up to 50 acres, although most of that is hillside. But, the properties have lots of flat land, so Archie can play away.

Wendy Williams and Kevin Hunter have tied up another loose end following their divorce ... but didn't make the dough they'd hoped to on the deal.

The ex-couple finally closed on the sale of their New Jersey mansion -- which they called home for years -- after putting it on the market in August 2019.

Though it was originally listed for nearly $2 million, it sold for $1.475 mil ... quite a significant price cut.

Jamie Silverman, who exclusively repped Wendy and her ex-husband in the sale, tells TMZ ... the reason for the price reduction was the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jamie says the buyers are a young family who are very excited about the property -- calling it the home of their dreams -- and are also fans of Wendy's ... so they were stoked when she dropped by to pay them a visit and wish them well.

Along with a sweet deal, the family's getting an awesome place to live ... the pad's 5,700 square feet with 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, including a master suite with huge walk-in closets, plus a marble bath, jacuzzi and steam shower.

Ozuna is moving on up ... to a massive mansion in Miami.

Our real estate sources tell us the "Caramelo" singer is the new owner of a 5-bedroom, 6-bathroom crib in Miami's coveted Coconut Grove neighborhood. We're told Ozuna dropped a cool $5,475,000 for the 7,200-square-foot pad, which is nestled in a lush, half-acre lot littered with palm trees.

The modern mansion is like a mini resort ... it's decked out with a pool, putting green, basketball court and a large outdoor patio. Ozuna's new place also features floor to ceiling windows, a home theater, a chef's kitchen and a summer kitchen.

Ozuna's already taking advantage of the home gym too.

The pad comes furnished, and as you can see in the gallery, there's tons of artwork and paintings throughout.

Ozuna's the second celeb to call this place home ... we're told it used to belong to former NFL linebacker and University of Miami football star Jon Beason.

Lourdes Alatriste of Engel & Völkers Miami held the listing.

Big career move for Deion Sanders -- who just announced he's leaving his gig at the NFL Network for a role at Barstool Sports.

Prime Time spent 14 years as an on-air analyst with the NFL Network -- but there were rumblings of a contract dispute and he bailed.

But, the 53-year-old ain't riding off into the sunset ... on the contrary, he's joining Barstool Sports where he'll bolster the company's NFL coverage with his own podcast and weekly appearances on "Pardon My Take" to break down NFL games.

"I'm happy! I'm excited," Sanders said on "PMT" ... while revealing the name of his podcast will be "21st and Prime."

What's interesting ... Barstool has been at WAR with NFL commish Roger Goodell for years and ya gotta wonder how Rog feels about one of the sport's biggest stars EVER landing with the enemy.

As we previously reported, Barstool honcho Dave Portnoy recently won a charity auction to watch an NFL game with Goodell, but the league refunded his winning bid, labeling Portnoy as persona non grata.

Kurt Cobain rarely ever signed his full name to anything which is why a signed home insurance policy is making for a very rare, yet macabre auction item.

The folks over at Goldin Auctions are brokering the sale of this super-rare document featuring the late Nirvana frontman's full signature -- Kurt D. Cobain. He usually signed his name simply Kurt. The Chase Bank insurance company letter is dated 74 days before the guitarist was found dead in his Seattle home.

Yes, the policy was for that house ... where Kurt killed himself on April 8, 1994.

Kurt owned that home for just a couple of months before his untimely death. As rock historians know, this is where he went shortly after fleeing rehab in California to begin a drug binge that ended with Kurt's suicide by a 20-gauge shotgun.

The auction lot-- currently owned by Inscriptagraphs Memorabilia and expected to fetch over $100k -- also includes original photos of what the house looked like before portions of the house burned down in a fire.

We're told the memorabilia company plans to give a portion of their proceeds to a suicide prevention organization.

Goldin Auctions describes this auction as "insanely rare" ... and it comes on the heels of last month's record-setting item.

Akon is turning his dreams into reality -- building a futuristic city in Senegal, which he says will resemble Wakanda from "Black Panther" ... in more ways than just its futuristic appearance.

The singer, who hails from Senegal, joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday for an update on "Akon City," the $6 BILLION cryptocurrency-run city which recently broke ground in his West African home country.

Akon told us why the city's centerpiece will be a 5,000-bed state of the art hospital, which he says will cost about $1 BILLION alone to build. The hospital is part of the first phase of construction, which Akon says will also include residences, hotels, schools, police and fire stations, an airstrip, a mall and all the other hallmarks of modern-day cities.

Looking at renderings for Akon City, it's easy to see why some folks think Akon's building a real-life Wakanda ... and he tells us how "Black Panther" actually helped him sell the project to investors and partners.

Akon is expecting phase 1 to be completed by 2023, and when the city's completed in 2029 it will run entirely on, you guessed it -- akoin cryptocurrency.

The guy accused of shooting at Lil Wayne's bus in 2015 has copped a pretty sweet plea deal ... but we're told he's not getting out of jail just yet.

Jimmy Winfrey has pled guilty to 2 counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act ... this according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ. As part of the deal, prosecutors have dropped a slew of other charges -- 4 counts of violation of the RICO Act, 6 other counts of violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, 12 counts of aggravated assault, 2 counts of criminal damage to property in the first degree and 1 count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

He was sentenced to 7 years in prison ... a much lighter sentence than what he got in 2015, when the judge threw the book at him with a 20-year sentence. The Georgia Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 2018 and so the case went back to square 1.

And, get this ... Winfrey got credit for time served and set to be released, but Winfrey's lawyer, Steve Sadow, tells TMZ ... the reason his client hasn't been released involves an unrelated outstanding warrants case. Sadow wants to be clear ... Winfrey entered a special kind of guilty plea where his client maintains his innocence, despite pleading guilty.

As part of the sentence, he's also gotta pay $100k in restitution to Alvin Lewis, the bus driver.

TMZ broke the story ... Alvin accused Birdman and Young Thug of striking secret deals with prosecutors in the case. Alvin had said he found it unusual Cobb County prosecutors described Birdman and YT as co-conspirators in the alleged shooter's indictment but did NOT bring charges against them.

Alvin made no bones about it ... he claimed there was overwhelming evidence of complicity among Winfrey, Birdman and Young Thug ... evidence that includes phone records, recorded confessions, and promises of payment.

Sources close to Birdman had told us the rapper denied any involvement in the case. Young Thug has never commented publicly on the incident.

Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli are running for the hills ... cause that's where their new house is located after dropping almost $10 million.

Aunt Becky and Mossimo are the new owners of a 6-bedroom, 9-bathroom crib in Hidden Hills. It's practically a brand new house ... it was built in 2019, but nobody's lived in it. The couple dropped $9.5 million for the 11,748-square-foot pad, which is tucked inside a super-exclusive gated community.

The farmhouse-style crib offers a "fresh take on luxury country living" ... from marble countertops and high ceilings to a sprawling, grassy backyard and swimming pool. There's also a temperature-controlled wine closet, movie theater and home gym.

The new crib is a little less baller than their Bel-Air estate, which they just sold. As we first reported ... Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen got a deal at $18.75 million.

The Baltimore Ravens are donating $1 MILLION to combat social injustices ... and the team's star players are deciding who gets the cash.

A players council -- consisting of ex- Ravens WR Torrey Smith, and current stars like Ronnie Stanley and Justin Tucker -- selected 28 local organizations who are each getting a share of the money.

The organizations range from a group that uses dirt bikes to eradicate poverty (B-360) to a program that provides mentors for kids in Baltimore (Challenge 2 Change).

"When you talk about social justice, there are many different issues – from education, to criminal justice reform, to health," Smith says.

"There are so many avenues the players could have chosen, so they really spread it out among a lot of different grassroots organizations."

26-year-old Pro Bowl T Ronnie Stanley says he's pumped to help people who aren't getting a fair shake in life.

"I'm passionate about this, knowing the position I'm in and how blessed I am to be in a position to help people," Stanley says.

"I'm not going to forget about the people who are dealing with things that aren't fair. We have an opportunity to help make the world a better place, and I want to take advantage of that."

Many NFL teams and players -- including the league -- have stepped up in a big way in the wake of George Floyd's killing ... donating huge amounts of money.

The NFL committed a whopping $250 million over the next 10 years to "address criminal justice reform, police reform and economic and educational advancement for African Americans."

Saints star Drew Brees is throwing down $10 mil to build healthcare and community centers in the New Orleans area.

Now -- thanks to team owner Stephen Bisciotti's donation -- a bunch of groups in the Baltimore area will have thousands of dollars to fight for equality.

Rachael Ray's home in upstate New York appears to have suffered major damage from a fire that ripped through the inside, shooting flames out the roof.

Firefighters were called to the celebrity cook's house in Lake Luzerne Sunday night around 8 PM to battle the blaze, the cause of which is still unknown ... according to officials.

Fortunately, Rachael and her husband, John Cusimano, are safe. Rachael's rep, Charlie Dougiello, tells TMZ ... "Rachael, her husband John and their dog Bella are safe. Their home was unfortunately damaged and we are in the process of accessing to what extent."

Rachael has owned the home since 2013, and has been filming live cooking segments of her daytime talk show there during the coronavirus pandemic.

She was at a charity golf outing with John earlier Sunday and had shared photos of elaborate spreads of food just hours before the fire.

"Fixer Upper" is back -- but, before Chip Gaines can shout, "It's demolition day!" he and Joanna gotta hunt down the right projects ... and that's where you can help 'em.

The "Fixer Upper" reboot will be coming to the couple's new Magnolia Network in 2021, but in the meantime, they've put out a casting call for current homeowners in the Waco area looking for a stunning home renovation.

To be eligible, homeowners have to live within 30 miles of Waco ... though most hardcore fans of the show already know that. The new wrinkles include having at least a $50k remodel budget, handing over all design and renovation decisions to Chip and Joanna ... and be willing to vacate during the renovation.

They expect that to start later this fall.

It's interesting ... during the show's 5 successful seasons on HGTV, which last aired in April 2018, the Baylor football-loving couple usually trotted around town with their clients looking for a house they wanted to buy and renovate.

It looks like this time around ... they're considering "only homeowners who have closed on a home and/or currently living in their 'Fixer Upper.'"

The projects will last between 30 to 35 weeks, so anyone who gets picked will have to provide their own alternative housing. And, in case you've ever wondered ... the furniture used to stage the renovated home is available for purchase at a discounted rate after the big reveal.

Sylvester Stallone is rarely EVER down for the count ... but when it comes to his tricked-out Escalade, he's decided it's time to hang up the gloves and sell the whip for a small fortune.

The folks over at Becker Automotive Design did the customization and now are handling the sale of Sly's 2019 Cadillac Escalade. But, it's no ordinary Escalade, not when Rocky's the owner. The pimped-out whip is the stretched version ... 20 inches to be exact, and it's decked out for the VIP of all VIPs.

The beast is loaded with a 43-inch UHD LCD smart TV built into the electric center divider partition, plus rear 12-inch LCD screens for rear-facing passengers. It's also loaded with two SIM cards from different carriers to ensure you always have the most reliable internet connection.

Got back problems? Enjoy the massagers built into the seats with thermoelectric cool and heat functions.

For extra privacy, the windows are outfitted with electric curtains, and for a more comfy ride -- 2 fully electric rear bucket seats and electric leg rests. The car alone cost $89,500 but the interior enhancements -- for a cool $136,330 -- are what really make this a powerhouse on wheels.

So, why's Sly selling this beast? He says, "I ordered my Becker ESV for a specific purpose, however, my requirement for it has recently changed and I no longer have a need for this beautiful vehicle." Whoever lands this luxury room on wheels will enjoy the Stallone touch ... considering he personally designed the luxurious interior. Howard Becker, BTW, also worked with Tom Brady for his 2017 Cadi.

Sylvester says, "The on-board electronics and ride quality are second to none. I hope the new owner gets years of fulfilling use from this sensationally appointed Becker Cadillac ESV."

Congrats are in order for Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin -- the UFC superstar popped the question to his longtime GF ... and she said YES!!!

The couple -- who have been together for more than a decade -- made the news official on Saturday ... showing off a MASSIVE engagement ring.

The fighter posted about dropping to one knee before Devlin's 33rd birthday, which is August 9 ... but hints it may have happened around his birthday last month.

"What a birthday, my future wife !" Conor captioned his post on Instagram.

McGregor and Devlin have 2 children together -- 3-year-old Conor Jr. and almost 2-year-old Croia.

It's been an eventful 2020 for Conor ... he kicked it off by beating Cowboy Cerrone at UFC 246 ... and retired from MMA (for the third time) in June.

Conor and Dee have spent their time traveling all over the globe ever since ... including a lavish getaway in France.