Money

The guy who got a million bucks for selling the record-breaking Powerball ticket didn't spend the dough on a new car or a fancy vacation ... so says his son-in-law, ex-NFL star Domata Peko, who tells TMZ Sports he gave $100k to his grandkids instead!!

Joe Chahayed -- who owns the Joe's Service Center gas station in Altadena, CA -- was the man of the hour in November ... after it was announced his shop sold the $2 BILLION ticket.

We spoke with 38-year-old Peko about Joe's million-dollar payday ... and he says it really wasn't so life-changing, 'cause he's still grinding every day at work!!

"That's the one thing about him, he's one of the hardest workers I know," Peko said. "He's been working forever. And even though he won and got that quick little million, he's still grinding, bro."

The former Cincinnati Bengals nose tackle says Chahayed didn't ball out with his winnings, but set his grandchildren up with an amazing financial gift.

"I'm like, 'hell yeah,' that's the type of person he is, man," Peko said. "He loves to give back. And that's why I think God keeps blessing him, man, because he loves to give."

As it turns out, good karma might be heading Chahayed's way ... 'cause Peko says he heard the person who won -- a man named Edwin Castro, who reportedly collected the prize as a lump sum of $997.6 million -- wants to give Joe a nice "thank you" gift!!

Peko also said there's now a line out Chahayed's door every time there's a huge drawing ... with customers hoping luck strikes again at his station.

Of course, a lawsuit was filed as a result of the lotto ... with a guy named Jose Rivera claiming he was the real winner, but his ticket was stolen.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck can't make up their minds ... they have dropped out of escrow again on a house they were about to buy.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... JLo and Ben have pulled the plug on the Pacific Palisades home which they seemed set on buying for $34.5 million.

Our sources say ... they were supposed to close escrow last Friday, but just before it was signed, sealed and delivered they pulled out.

As we reported, they were spotted at a nearby mansion last Tuesday -- while they were still in escrow on the other house -- so it looks like they weren't sure about the house they were about to get.

Our sources say they are now in escrow on ANOTHER house. We don't know if it's the same one they looked at Tuesday. We're told they looked at yet another house last week as well.

At least one of the estates they looked at last week was going for more than twice what they were spending on the one that just fell out of escrow.

Believe the hype ... Victor Wembanyama could really redefine what an NBA superstar looks like -- at least, that's according to Rudy Gobert, who tells TMZ Sports the phenom has absolutely no limit on his potential.

Of course, Gobert would know about Wembanyama's game as much as anybody ... the two Frenchmen squared off in a two-on-two contest back in 2020 -- and the teenager more than held his own against the NBA star.

Using his 7-foot-5 frame, Wembanyama sank basket after basket -- at some points rising up over Gobert's 7-foot-1 body to hit jump shots.

When we got Gobert out in Beverly Hills this week ... he explained he's a true believer in all of the buzz surrounding the 19-year-old.

"I think he's going to be very unique," the Minnesota Timberwolves star said. "I don't think there's any ceiling on what he can do. I'm very excited to see how he's going to change the game."

Nearly every draft expert has projected Wembanyama to go No. 1 overall in this year's NBA draft ... and shoe brand industry legend Sonny Vaccaro actually said the guy is so special, he could get an unprecedented sneaker deal that could include "a blank check."

Seems Gobert wouldn't dispute any of that ... telling us, "He has the right mindset. I'm excited to watch him grow."

Mac McClung put on a legendary performance during the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and now you can cop the actual Puma kicks he wore during the epic performance, 'cause they're hitting the auction block!

The Philadelphia Sixers/Delaware Blue Coats (G-League) guard brought life back to the Dunk Contest last month after winning the competition with some insane dunks.

TMZ Sports has learned the Rise Nitro sneakers he wore -- and the basketball he used -- are now up for grabs at Goldin ... in an auction featuring all game-used memorabilia and apparel.

If winning the kicks and/or ball isn't enough, there's another big bonus. We're told the winner will get a personal FaceTime with the 24-year-old.

Even better, we're told a portion of the proceeds for each item will go to the ALZ Alzheimer's association.

"Mac McClung is a star in the making who deserves to take center stage at our first-ever auction featuring only game-used items,” Goldin founder Ken Goldin said.

“We’re thrilled to be charged with these items from Mac that commemorate one of the most exciting dunk contest performances in history."

Pooh Shiesty has been ordered to cough up a bunch of dough ... and it'll be going to the victims of the shootout he was involved with back in 2020.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the rapper now has to pay $156,585 in restitution as part of his sentence. The docs say that some of that cash must be forked over from money he earns while working in prison.

As we reported, Pooh was busted in 2020 for a shootout involving himself and other men at a Miami-area parking lot, leaving 2 injured.

Surveillance video from the scene showed the whole thing unfold -- Pooh appeared to have an assault rifle while sitting in a McLaren, directly in the middle of all the action.

Remember that whiteboard President Barack Obama used to fill out his 2013 NCAA Tournament bracket? Well, now it could all be yours ... if you've got some DEEP pockets.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the piece of equipment #44 famously wrote on to give his predictions for the tourney a decade ago is hitting Heritage Auctions -- and it's expected to ultimately sell for around $20,000.

Of course, it's a steep price for a bracket that got busted quickly, but ya gotta remember ... Barack only filled out a few of these during his time as President -- when he'd meet up annually with ESPN's Andy Katz to talk March Madness.

In this particular set of picks, Obama went with a Final Four of Indiana, Florida, Ohio State and Louisville. Not great -- as Louisville, Wichita State, Michigan and Syracuse actually made it. But, hey, one of four isn't bad!

Almost all of the picks were handwritten by Obama himself -- and afterward, he signed it.

The whiteboard is now framed behind plexiglass ... and it's considered one of the more special ones of his presidency, considering it's the first bracket he did after his reelection in November 2012.

Joe Montana's iconic jersey, worn during Super Bowl XXIII (and SB XIX), when the legendary quarterback engineered "The Drive," the most iconic drive in football history, sold for an astounding $1.212 million, smashing the previous record of $480K, which a fan paid for a Tom Brady jersey last year.

Goldin brokered the historic sale.

"It's only right that the two greatest quarterbacks of all-time are still trading off records, even in retirement," said Ken Goldin. "Montana was already in rarefied air with four championship rings and three Super Bowl MVPs -- [and] with the record-breaking sale of his Super Bowl XXIII jersey, Montana has surpassed Tom Brady on top of that mountain."

Montana -- who went undefeated in Super Bowls during his career (4-0) -- first sported the record-breaking jersey in Super Bowl XIX (1985) when the 49ers defeated the Dolphins, 38-16. Joe was named SB MVP.

The 4x Super Bowl champ -- regarded by many as the G.O.A.T. -- also wore the same jersey in Super Bowl XXIII (imagine that happening now) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami on January 22, 1989.

The 49ers were trailing the Bengals 16-13 late in the fourth quarter when Montana cemented his legendary status by marching his team down the field 92 yards, scoring a touchdown with less than 3 minutes to go in the game.

The game-winning 92-yard drive is historic among sports fans -- as it propelled the Niners to a 20-16 victory over the Bengals. It was Montana's third Super Bowl championship.

Fyre Festival creator Billy McFarland is getting back into the cheese sandwich game -- but don't worry, these won't come in styrofoam while you're getting screwed out of a concert in the Bahamas.

Sources close to Billy tell TMZ he recently had a reunion, for the first time in 5 years, with Andy King. Yes, that Andy King from the Netflix documentary about Fyre ... the guy who says Billy asked him to give oral sex to a customs officer to get shipments of Evian water released!!!

Seems all is well between them now, though, because they shot a video together promoting their newest venture ... selling grilled cheeses at 7th Street Burger in NYC, and the clip is pretty funny.

The video features Andy makin' the sandwiches -- a tongue-in-cheek take on the ridiculous cheese-on-bread meals served at the doomed Bahamas festival back in 2017.

He's also taking swigs from Evian bottles -- yeah, they go there!

We're told 100% of the sales from the April 7 event will go to the workers in the Bahamas who are still owed money from Fyre Fest. They also tease a Coachella trip in the video, but we're told that hasn't been set in stone yet.

As you know, Billy was released early from his 6-year sentence a year ago, and he's already working on PYRT -- another tropical festival, only based in virtual reality this time around.

"A lot of times people see someone in a wheelchair with a disability, they think they can't enjoy alcohol and other things, and I'm like that's totally not true, and I wanted to end that stigma."

That's 32-year-old former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, paralyzed during a college football game in 2010, turned motivational speaker/kick-ass businessman telling TMZ Sports why he decided to launch his very own Kentucky Bourbon, LeGrand Whiskey.

"I wanted to create a brand of something that represents me, which I feel like whiskey is the perfect thing that represents me," Eric said, adding ... "It takes patience, it is something that's tough, strong and something that you celebrate life to."

Celebrities have been slapping their names on alcohol for years, but that's not the case with Eric -- he was very involved in the process, all the way through.

LeGrand hooked up with business partner Brian Axelrod ("Brian worked very closely with Conor McGregor and his team on [Proper No. Twelve]"), found a distillery in Kentucky, and they made Bourbon!

"I'm thinking this is about to taste like rubbing alcohol, it's gonna be terrible. I took a sip and I'm like hold up, let me get a little bit more. I took another sample and I'm like whoa," Eric said, describing his first time tasting the product.

"I'm like, we got something special here. This is perfect."

And, if drinking good bourbon wasn't enough reason, Eric's also raising money for charity.

"We have a purpose behind this. We want to raise money for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to help us find a cure for paralysis. Every case that we sell, $5.20 will go back to the foundation, because 52 was my number."

Eric LeGrand Whiskey officially launched this week ... and to commemorate his latest endeavor, EL's celebrating at Batch Bin & Barrel in New Brunswick, NJ on Thursday -- just miles from where he played football!

Cheers, Eric! 🥃

Travis Barker's finger injury has put his band's touring plans on pause -- something fans feared that's now become a reality.

Blink-182's lead singer, Tom DeLonge, officially broke the news Wednesday -- telling their fans in Mexico and several Central and South American countries they'll have to circle back to see them some other time. The tour was set to begin in Tijuana on March 11.

Obviously, with Travis' recent updates about his busted digits ... that probably wasn't going to happen, and now Tom and co. are confirming it with a formal postponement.

No word on when they'll be able to get back on the road, but Tom says TB's gotta get well again before they can perform as a troupe. He also apologized to ticket buyers and promises to update them in the near future.

As we reported ... Travis has been documenting his journey, posting photos and videos of his hand getting worked on in recent days. It was pretty clear he'd be out for a while.

Britney Spears' quick decision to buy, and then turn around and sell, her new home is creating a significant financial loss for the singer.

Property records indicate Brit recently found a buyer for her Calabasas mansion, which she and husband Sam Asghari bought just last year for $11.8 million. However, soon after buying it, they listed it for $12 mil ... and we've learned the final offer she accepted was around $10.1M.

The final tally is about a $1.7M loss, but it seems this is what the market was able to bring in amid soaring interest rates and dipping property values. Fact is ... the longer she would have waited to sell, the less she'd get. The new homeowner is reportedly a Texas-based personal injury lawyer.

Remember, Britney and Sam bought the place right around the time of their wedding ... the home is in the same neighborhood where her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, lives with their 2 sons.

Things haven't really worked out on that front, though -- her boys are keeping their distance lately -- and we'd heard Brit felt the Calabasas home was too exposed for her liking anyway. She moved out just as quickly as she moved in, and currently resides back at her old place in Thousand Oaks.

As for the newly-offloaded crib itself -- well, it's a beaut. The guy who snapped it up has a lot of house on his hands. It's got 7 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, and all the bells and whistles of luxury you'd expect with a Calabasas mansion. It also sits on a 1.6-acre parcel.

Vic Mensa spent a night out in the cold to help raise awareness and combat the growing homeless crisis in his home city.

The rapper took to the streets Tuesday night in Chicago, in temps as low as 37 degrees, showing solidarity by doing exactly what the homeless are forced to do every night.

Vic spent his night on the curb with his good friend, Englewood Barbie -- someone who's been feeding and sleeping under the viaduct with the homeless for weeks as a way to bring awareness.

Vic and E.B. are working toward the goal of $1 mil to open up a shelter to house the local homeless. The fundraiser has already raised over $126K, but it's still got a long way to go.

Vanessa Bryant just received a heck of a lot more money from L.A. County after her initial $15 million win last year ... another $13 mil or so, in fact, which now accounts for her kids.

Kobe Bryant's widow has settled with L.A. County, amounting to a total of $28.8 million -- this according to her lawyer, who says this resolves both Vanessa's original complaint and subsequent award ... as well as any potential future claims from her surviving daughters.

Unclear when, but it seems Vanessa amended her initial lawsuit to add 20-year-old Natalia, 6-year-old Bianka and 3-year-old Capri. The settlement resolves all claims.

Vanessa's lawyer, Luis Li, says, "Today marks the successful culmination of Mrs. Bryant’s courageous battle to hold accountable those who engaged in this grotesque conduct." He adds, "She fought for her husband, her daughter, and all those in the community whose deceased family were treated with similar disrespect. We hope her victory at trial and this settlement will put an end to this practice."

You'll recall ... Vanessa actually went to trial over this, taking the stand with emotional testimony about how the thought of those photos of Kobe and Gigi's remains possibly being leaked out publicly tortured her -- something a jury agreed with in the end.

They awarded her $16M ... but a mil got knocked down afterward due to a clerical error. Vanessa and her team had previously said she'd be donating the money from this to her Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation -- and in light of this, there's more to go around.

Bob Saget's former L.A. home has finally found a buyer ... just one year after the comedian's unexpected death.

The late comedian's 6-bed, 7-bath house sold off-market last week for $5.4 mil -- as we reported, the place was originally listed for $7.7M last June but dropped down to $6.9M 3 months later.

He bought the beautiful home back in 2003 for $2.8 mil, and it comes with a ton of space -- and has sweet amenities like a spa, BBQ area, walk-in closet, and a big motor court out front. It's even got its own guest house, too.

Of course, the house hit the market months after Bob's death, which just reached the one-year anniversary last month on January 9 ... when he died in Orlando, after accidentally hitting his head and suffering a brain bleed.

Bob's wife Kelly saw the property as "too much of a burden," deciding to unload it despite all the fond memories they shared there.

She posted a photo last month at a get-together to honor Bob with other "Full House" cast members.

Tommy Fury is back on his home turf -- the boxing star just touched down in London following his huge win over Jake Paul ... and he's putting his new belt on full display.

Tommy, Tyson and John made their way through the airport on Monday ... and the Furys were happy as could be, posing for pics and meeting with fans.

It's been a wild 24 hours for the Fury fam -- Tommy went 8 rounds with Jake and earned the split decision win in Saudi Arabia ... and they've been celebrating ever since.

Aside from a bandage over his right eye, Tommy looks pretty clean ... and he appears to be in good health.

Tyson was turning heads going through the airport, too ... but his hot pink luggage might be responsible for that.

After the fight, Tommy said he was eager to spend time with Molly-Mae Hague and their newborn daughter, Bambi ... and now that he's back home, we're sure some much-needed R&R is on the horizon.

As for Jake, he's bummed about the loss ... but he can wipe his tears with the $30 million he claimed to make off the fight.

Rick Singer, the mastermind behind the infamous college admissions scandal, just checked himself into prison ... where he was sentenced to spend the next 3 and a half years behind bars.

A rep for the Federal Bureau of Prisons tells TMZ ... Singer arrived at the Federal Prison Camp Pensacola in FL Monday to begin serving his 42-month sentence.

As we reported, Singer was the man behind countless parents spending big bucks to grease the wheels for their kids to get into high-end colleges ... including big names like Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman.

He was given his 3.5-year sentence at the beginning of the year, although prosecutors had been gunning for 6 years in prison -- saying he profited off the scheme more than anyone else involved and should get hit with a heavier sentence.

Regardless, his sentence was nothing like what it could've been ... because he initially was looking at a max sentence of 65 years, although it's clear his cooperation with the feds helped shave some time off.