Money

You've probably heard it a million times -- this is the most important election of our lives -- and it's probably the most expensive too ... based on the millions it's costing to try to keep voters safe.

Get this ... the estimated cost in L.A. County for this year's general election is $91.7 million -- $33 MILLION more than 2016's price tag of $58.5 mil.

We're told the added cost is the result of the massive amounts of products needed to clean and sanitize voting devices after each voter ... along with all the soap, sanitizer and PPE provided for voters and workers.

There are also added operational costs in making voting locations socially-distant compliant ... and special care for disabled voters or those with health vulnerabilities.

Houston's experiencing a similar surge in general election costs this year compared to 2016 -- $33.2 million up from just $4.06 mil ... according to a spokesperson for Harris County.

Among the new expenses -- providing PPE including masks, gloves, and a "finger condom" to all voters ... because all the voting stations have electronic touch screens.

Joe Biden got an assist from a huge movie star during the World Series game ... none other than Brad Pitt.

Pitt voiced a pricey, 60-second campaign ad during the game, with the central theme Biden's been pushing ... that he'll be a President for all Americans and not just those who support him.

You hear Pitt say ... "America is a place for everyone," Pitt says as pre-pandemic footage plays of Biden hugging, high-fiving and shaking hands with voters. "Those who chose this country, those who fought for it, some Republicans, some Democrats, and most just somewhere in between."

Pitt never ID's himself, but the voice is unmistakable.

For those under-prepared voters waiting in long lines at the polls without lawn chairs or snacks, major restaurant chains are making sure they don't go hungry ... and they won't lose their spot in line.

Grubhub is partnering with big chains like 7-Eleven and Burger King to make sure voters stay fed and hydrated while waiting to cast their ballots on Election Day.

It's an idea as American as voting for president -- fast food delivered at the touch of a button, and at a discount.

Grubhub's Election Day deals include ... free delivery on 7-Eleven and BurgerFi orders of at least $15 and a $3 discount on Burger King orders of at least $18.

Hungry voters can also save $10 on California Pizza Kitchen orders of at least $30, pocket $5 on Pret A Manger orders of at least $15 and take $5 off Wow Bao orders of at least $20.

If those options don't make your mouth water, Grubhub's also working on Election Day deals with Red Lobster, P.F. Chang's and Boston Market -- although eating a lobster tail in line sounds gnarly.

Or, you can be like Belinda Varnado and come to the polls prepared for a long day of waiting in line ... remember, she showed us how it's done with her chair full of quick bites.

Voters dropping off ballots or mailing them in can also take advantage of the Election Day deals ... they're still good even after you've voted.

The delivery service is also partnering with nonpartisan org HeadCount to help people register and find polling locations.

Bottom line ... VOTE!!!

Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal have a lot in common -- they both blew a FORTUNE when they were young ... and are hoping young people can learn from their stupid, expensive mistakes.

The NBA legends sat down with "Shark Tank" star Daymond John for Black Entrepreneurs Day -- to talk to young people about the importance of financial intelligence.

And man, if these stories don't get the point across ...

Shaq says he was so uneducated about finances when he signed his first endorsement deal after turning pro, he blew $1 MILLION in an HOUR -- splurging on expensive cars, jewelry and a trip to Vegas.

In fact, he went through so much cash, his bank manager pulled him aside and warned him that he was gonna go broke if he continued to spend like a maniac ... because he wasn't accounting for things like income tax, etc.

Dwyane Wade tells a very similar story -- saying he got tangled up in some bad investments because he had no idea what he was doing.

"I blew through a lot of money," Wade said ... "I got into bad relationships with people from ... ventures outside of basketball, restaurant ventures, etc."

Wade says he simply wasn't educated when it came to finances -- and had to learn the hard way after being taken advantage of.

But now, both superstars are hoping their loss can be your gain -- stressing the importance of financial intelligence so young people spend their money wisely and make it last a very long time.

A family in New Mexico just got a helping hand after their young son was spotted using his closed school's WiFi ... since there was none available to him at home.

Roswell resident Angel Endecott says a good Samaritan stepped up and volunteered to pay for her family's Internet service for a year after a photo of her 10-year-old, Jonathon, sitting outside of his shuttered elementary school went viral, depicting him lying on the floor outside his school while using a computer for class time. The reason ... he needed access to WiFi.

Jonathon's mom says she and her husband had lost their jobs during the pandemic, and as a result ... had to cut off their Internet provider, among other things. Jonathon's still doing online learning, so they suggested he hit up the nearby campus to get a signal.

Luckily, the story had already gotten picked up after a few weeks of this ... so Endecott and co. don't have to worry about WiFi anymore. She says she's got other problems though, and has opened a GoFundMe account to solicit donations. Another GoFundMe to help other kids at the school who might not have WiFi has also been created. Both have raised thousands of dollars.

Jonathon's predicament is reminiscent of another one in California, where two little girls had to resort to hitting up a local Taco Bell for Internet. Just goes to show ... this isn't an isolated problem, and that schools offer a lot more than a basic education to a lot of families.

Elon Musk has said he's moving shop -- as in Tesla shop -- to the Lonestar State, but he said something Friday night that made us wonder if the plan's still a go.

We got the Tesla/SpaceX honcho in WeHo Friday night at Boa, and asked about a couple of things. Our photog wanted the lowdown on Elon's plan to divest himself of his worldly possessions, ala John Lennon's "Imagine."  We specifically asked about the legendary home he sold that was once owned by Gene Wilder.

Elon told us he sold it to Gene's nephew, on condition -- that he retains its character. Elon sold it under market, possibly because he's a big Wilder fan -- we're guessing "Willy Wonka."

As we reported, Elon's shedding 2 massive homes in California ... Gene's home which was listed at $9.5 million and another estate listed at $30 million.

As for the move ... it seemed Elon was moving to Austin, and he said a few days ago he planned to open a Tesla giga-factory in Texas.

But, Friday night we ask Elon, "Is that why you sold the house because you're taking Tesla out of California. Are You Leaving?" He replies, "No, I'm not."

Larissa Lima's landed another entertainment gig ... and just like magic, she's already back in the spotlight after splitting from the '90 Day Fiance' universe.

The Brazilian reality star's the leading woman in magician Jack Alexander's new edgy reality TV show, "Jack Alexander: Magician Exposed" ... and we got a little sneak peek.

Larissa appears out of thin air in a metal cage and walks out on stage to strut her stuff and show off her expensive Kylie-esque makeover with some sexy dance moves.

Larissa eventually gets back into another cage and disappears ... and we're told she was legitimately nervous Jack would make her vanish forever!!!

As we reported ... Larissa announced last month TLC released her from her '90 Day Fiance' contract, and she indicated her CamSoda performance was the last straw.

Didn't take her much time to find a new paying gig ... we're told Larissa trained for the part for several weeks and her only request -- no tricks with fire, after learning Jack was originally planning on having her appear from a box engulfed in flames.

The magic show's launching today and streaming through Jacks' YouTube channel ... and we're told he's interested in bringing Larissa on the road with him when he starts touring the world again.

LeBron James was back at Nobu in Malibu on Thursday night for a fancy dinner with Anthony Davis and their agent Rich Paul.

Normally, not that big of a deal for 2 teammates to dine with their agent -- but it seems like they're making a statement in the wake of some criticism about their professional relationship.

Earlier Thursday, an anonymous NBA agent went after LeBron and Rich Paul to The Athletic -- essentially saying that Paul is just a puppet for LeBron.

The agent essentially claims LeBron is running the show at the Klutch Sports Group and Paul is just doing his bidding -- which, if true, would be illegal in California since a player is not also allowed to represent talent.

Here's a quote from the article ...

"The worst thing that LeBron is doing is forcing this power with Rich Paul and what that is, in terms of, he’s a player, but he has prowess in the media space. His company Spring Hill, that’s awesome. Doing the movies and all of the projects. That’s so commendable. I love that. But now that they’ve jumped into the agent game, which the reality is, it’s illegal for a player, particularly if you’re in the state of California, to be licensed to represent talent."

The agent suggests several young players have been "seduced" by LeBron to sign with Klutch because they idolized him growing up ... only to end up signing bad deals.

But, neither Bron nor Anthony Davis or Paul seemed to be bothered by the criticism Thursday night -- rolling up to Nobu in fancy cars and enjoying a night at one of the hottest restaurants in town.

Wanna have as many rings as Michael Jordan?? Now's your chance ... 'cause a complete set of all 6 Chicago Bulls championship rings has hit the auction block!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the rings belonged to longtime Bulls security guard John Capps, who worked with the team from 1966 until he passed away in 2018.

Capps was an absolute legend in Chi-Town -- he developed a strong relationship with MJ and other Bulls greats over the years ... and was featured in ESPN's "The Last Dance" documentary.

Scottie Pippen also recently revealed Jordan and Capps would bet on jumbotron races during games, even though #23 already knew the outcome by asking the video team in advance.

The collection of 1991-93 and 1996-98 rings are up for grabs via Huggins & Scott Auctions individually ... and we're told they could fetch a huge chunk of change.

FYI -- coming across a complete set is hard to come by -- but it's happened before. H&A also listed official scorer Bob Rosenberg's 6 rings back in February ... and estimated the value to be $300k!!

So, why buy just one when you can have all 6?!

The auction runs through October 22 ... so ya still got a few more days to save up!!

The Reign Man ... is now the Strain Man -- because ex-NBA star Shawn Kemp is officially in the marijuana business.

The 50-year-old Seattle SuperSonics legend is opening Shawn Kemp's Cannabis in Seattle on Oct. 30 -- a shop poised to become the first Black-owned dispensary in the city.

In fact, Kemp's even hosting former Sonics teammate, Gary Payton, at next week's grand opening.

"I'm looking forward to welcoming Sonics fans on a regular basis, starting with opening day," Kemp said in a statement.

"I hope that Shawn Kemp’s Cannabis will be an inspiration for people to get involved with the legal cannabis industry, especially people of color."

Oh, and if you have trouble finding the store ... it's the one with the giant mural of Shawn Kemp on the side!

Kemp isn't going at this alone ... he's got 2 partners who have already had weed success co-founding a business called Main Street Marijuana, one of the top pot shops in the area since 2014.

Kemp -- a 6-time NBA All-Star -- played for Seattle from '89 to '97 and was known for being one of the exciting players in the league.

"My name is on this company and I have worked hard to bring Shawn Kemp’s Cannabis to fruition," Kemp said. "I want to provide nothing short of the best selection, customer experience and prices in Seattle."

Gene Simmons is ready to get the hell outta Beverly Hills after nearly 4 decades ... and he's looking to unload his mansion, which is primed for the rock star lifestyle.

The KISS frontman just listed his two-acre estate in beautiful Benedict Canyon for a cool $22 million ... which gets ya 7 bedrooms and 16,000-square-feet of pure luxury.

Gene's pad comes tricked out with a 60-foot water slide, parking for 35 cars, and a professional size tennis court. Yeah, rock star status. He's also got an incredible collection of KISS memorabilia ... but he's taking that with him.

The inside of Gene's custom mansion is super lavish too, complete with chandeliers, coffered ceilings and several balconies and decks overlooking the manicured grounds.

No money, Mo problems ...

Boris Becker appeared in a London courtroom Thursday to plead not guilty to allegations he's been hiding several tennis trophies from debt collectors.

... another bizarre twist in one of the weirdest falls from grace ever.

Remember, Becker -- a former tennis superstar who made more than $25 mil in his career -- was declared bankrupt in 2017 after racking up what court officials called a "historic debt."

52-year-old Becker was later ordered to surrender any possessions of value to a trustee -- who could in turn sell the items to help satisfy the debt. It's common practice in bankruptcy cases.

Among the items, Becker was ordered to hand over ... his Wimbledon trophies from 1985 and 1989 and his Australian Open trophies from 1991 and 1996.

FYI, Becker was only 17 when he won Wimbledon in '85 -- making him the youngest men's singles champ ever.

In other words, the trophy is probably super valuable to collectors.

But, Becker allegedly failed to hand over the trophies -- along with roughly $1.3 million in cash ... so prosecutors have pushed forward with criminal charges in a new 28-count indictment.

If convicted, Becker reportedly faces several years behind bars. This is a big deal.

Becker's attorney, Jonathan Caplan, says the tennis star is "determined to face and contest these charges and restore his reputation in relation to the allegations made against him."

Yeah, good luck with that.

By the way, Becker has allegedly tried to run from his debt in the past -- back in 2018, he claimed to have a diplomatic passport from the Central African Republic that would give him immunity in his bankruptcy case in the UK.

The insane mansion Wayne Gretzky sold to Lenny Dykstra back in the day -- only to buy back years later -- is back on the market ... with the NHL legend asking a cool $23 mil!

The property is legendary ... Wayne built the 13,300-square-foot estate in Thousand Oaks, CA back in 2002 and sold it to Dykstra in 2007 for $18.5 million.

Remember, at the time Dykstra was being hailed as some sort of financial genius ... when in reality, he wasn't.

The ex-MLB star filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and the bank foreclosed on the home soon after.

The home was bought at a foreclosure auction in 2010 -- only to hit the market again years later. Gretzky swooped in and picked it up in 2018 for $13.5 mil.

Now, Gretzky is selling it again -- asking $22.9 ... which (if he gets full asking) would put a cool $9.4 mil in his pocket.

NO WONDER THEY CALL HIM THE GREAT ONE!!

As for the house ... it's pretty rad. 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms -- plus 2 guest houses.

It's got a screening room, gym, game room, office, championship tennis court, outdoor entertainment area, wood-burning pizza oven, wood and gas barbecue, and formal gardens, according to the listing from Arvin Haddadzadeh of The Agency.

Rick Ross seems to be following Kanye West's Wyoming blueprint, because he just scooped up a huge chunk of property ... to expand his Promise Land in Georgia.

The rapper dropped $1 million to become the proud new owner of 87 acres in Fayetteville, GA ... not far from the multi-million dollar mansion he calls home.

Da Boss's large plot of land -- located about 20 miles outside of Atlanta -- comes with 2 houses on the property that could be renovated for Rick to live in, or could be used as rentals.

Mitt Conerly of Metro West Realty brokered the sale. We're told Ross made the purchase as a property investment ... it's adjacent to his estate.

Rick's 87-acre purchase is a BIG deal, and reminiscent of Kayne's Wyoming land grab just over a year ago -- although Ye's plot covered several thousand acres.

And, if you're wondering ... yes, the compound Ross owns nearby is what you'd expect from the "Hustlin'" hip hop artist. That compound features an astonishing 109 rooms, including 12 bedrooms and 21 bathrooms.

It used to belong to Evander Holyfield, but Rick scored it in 2014 for $5.8 mil after a bank had foreclosed on it.

Eddie Van Halen's sadly gone, but this one-of-a-kind piece of rock 'n' roll history helps his legend live on ... and it's going up for grabs soon.

The iconic guitarist had the red, white and black Charvel guitar -- similar to his famed Frankenstrat, AKA "Frankenstein," he played for decades -- custom-built for Van Halen's 2007-2008 North American Tour.

The tour's known for reuniting original lead singer, David Lee Roth, with the band -- along with the debut of Eddie's son, Wolfgang, on the bass -- and for being their most profitable tour ever.

We're told this particular guitar was the only one personally crafted by EVH for the tour, making it truly unique, and was played by the rocker during Van Halen's concert at Seattle's KeyArena on December 3, 2007.

After the show, Eddie signed and dated the body of the guitar with a thick silver marker, so a protective clear strip's been added to protect his John Hancock and inscription.

The piece comes with a custom EVH case, a signed certificate of authenticity and a great photo of the legend doing what he did best ... shredding on stage.

According to Heritage Auctions, it's expected to go for more than $20,000, but we're thinking it could go a lot higher given he was one of the greatest guitarists in music history. Bidding opens next week for its Nov. 14-15 Entertainment Auction, so if you want it ... might as well jump.

Joe Exotic's still managing to piss off Carole Baskin even from behind bars ... she's got beef over her old nemesis' new underwear line.

Here's the deal ... Joe's selling limited-edition "Casket Baskin Briefs" as part of the men's underwear line of his "REVENGE" fashion collection with Odaingerous streetwear ... but Carole's not feeling it.

Carole's legal team fired off a cease and desist letter to Joe and the folks at Odaingerous, obtained by TMZ, claiming Joe and the brand have no right to make money off her name.

She's threatening legal action if Odaingerous doesn't pull the merch. Carole is also demanding a full accounting of any sales they've made off merch featuring or referring to her name or likeness.

As we first told you ... Joe's underwear line is selling like hotcakes, and the top seller is the 'Casket Baskin' boxer briefs, which are going for $29 a pop. So, there could be a lot of money at stake here.