Money

Chef Croux Koplin isn’t just cooking up a storm at Coachella … he’s cashing in big time!

The private chef tells TMZ he and his tight-knit crew of six -- including another chef, an assistant and three helpers -- pulled in a sizzling $11K during the first weekend … all while bouncing between luxe desert estates and influencer-packed homes.

Croux says he locked down three separate gigs … starting with a marathon booking to cook for 15 to 17 German influencers from Wednesday through Monday across three different private homes.

Alix Earle and Alex Cooper's drama may be playing out loud now ... but TMZ has learned there's no single explosive moment behind the tension .... just a slow burn that's boiling over again.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the friction dates back to when Earle teamed up with Cooper to launch her "Hot Mess" podcast under The Unwell Network. At first, things were solid, but over time, their dynamic shifted, and the two stopped seeing eye to eye.

We're told as Earle's Unwell contract was coming to a close in February 2025, that's when the relationship really started to unravel. Our sources say Cooper and her network were not offering Earle what she felt she was worth. Our sources say it wasn't just one issue, but a combination of both business and personal disagreements that made it difficult for them to move forward together.

Richard Simmons' estate sale hit a snag after a buyer fell out of escrow -- but now his L.A. mansion is back on the market.

The late star’s home is now listed for $5,799,000 -- a dip from the $5.889M deal they had lined up in December.

The half-acre lot above the Sunset Strip is now being presented as a potential developmental opportunity by the new agents who hold the listing -- Rachelle Rosten and Kelly deLaat of Douglas Elliman.

Justin Bieber returned to Coachella, where he dazzled with a highly anticipated headlining performance ... and now some fans are paying for it -- literally.

Not long after JB's huge return to the festival stage this past weekend, his Coachella merch hit eBay -- and people are asking big bucks ... and fans are shelling out the Benjamins.

From tank tops to hoodies and hats to Skylark plastic bags ... the markup on Bieber swag is crazy, but clearly fans want a piece of the iconic Coachella comeback, because it's flying off the digital shelf.

For instance ... there's a tank top featuring a shirtless JB flipping the bird, which sold for $90 at the festival -- but is easily getting more than $200 on eBay. "Chelly Valley" Hoodies that were selling for $140 are now getting snapped up for as much as $400. Even the plastic Skylark (JB's label) bags are going for serious dough -- sold for $5 at Coachella and now going for $50 to $100.

Ashlee Jenae’s family is reeling after her sudden death ... and now they’re facing a whole new reality: the financial toll of bringing her home to the States.

Her father Harry Robinson has launched a GoFundMe with a $50K goal, saying the money will go toward travel, arrangements, and mounting costs as they deal with an ongoing investigation overseas.

As we reported, Ashlee -- whose real name is Ashly Robinson -- was found unconscious at a resort villa in Tanzania and rushed to a hospital ... where she died the following day on Friday, April 10.

Kanye West allegedly assaulted a guy at the famed Chateau Marmont in April 2024 ... and now the dude is taking the rapper to court over it.

Kanye is being sued for battery and infliction of emotional distress stemming from an incident 2 years ago during which a man claims Kanye sucker-punched him at the iconic L.A. hotel ... the man is suing as a John Doe.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Kanye approached the man at his table at the Chateau Marmont and, without warning, punched him in the face.

"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Drew Sidora's 5-figure monthly income was exposed as part of her ugly divorce battle ... this, according to docs from her messy divorce.

The court docs, obtained by TMZ, show the Bravo star pulls in an average of $12,066 per month in gross income while Ralph Pittman -- who reportedly works in technology -- earns $71,524 a month in gross income.

The finances being revealed come as Ralph was awarded temporary primary custody of their two kids after a recent hearing.

Rapper Swae Lee worked out a deal with a woman who claimed he was the father of her 3-year-old child ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Swae informed a Florida judge a confidential agreement was reached and all matters have been resolved. He said he neither admitted nor denied the allegations in her original complaint.

In 2023, Marla Naranjo filed court docs against Swae Lee seeking to establish the rapper is the biological father of her 3-year old son, Karter Naranjo.

Marla claimed Swae had not “been involved in the child’s life at all.”

Jessi Draper and Jordan Ngatikaura's split comes with a wild real estate twist ... 'cause TMZ has learned they bought a brand new home just months before everything fell apart.

According to real estate records, obtained by TMZ, "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" stars purchased a home in Lehi, Utah in November 2025 ... only for Jordan to file for divorce a few months later.

The luxury property, which costs more than $2 million, boasts six bedrooms, multiple bathrooms and nearly 7,000 square feet of high-end living space on over half an acre.

'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Pinky Cole is pleading with a judge to allow her to file financial paperwork under seal in her ongoing bankruptcy case ... fearing it will spread around the internet, TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ ... Pinky -- who calls herself a “celebrity” best known for creating the Slutty Vegan restaurant chain -- said her Chapter 11 filings have already been used by content creators and written about by media outlets, including TMZ.

The man who lost his lawsuit against Kim Kardashian -- after he said her misidentification caused him emotional distress -- is begging a judge not to force him to pay the billionaire’s legal bills ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Ivan Cantu -- who was shut down in his battle with Kim over an Instagram post she made -- is fighting her request that he pay the legal fees she racked up fighting him in court.

Ivan sued Kim after she made a post on social media about a man with the same name who was convicted of murder and was sitting on death row. Kardashian was pushing for the man's execution to be put on pause.

Jennie Garth is getting real about life after "Beverly Hills, 90210" ... and the money mistakes she still regrets.

On Dax Shepard’s "Armchair Expert," Jennie admitted she never really thought about finances back in the day -- cash was flowing in, she was spending, and she figured it would just keep coming ... until it didn’t.

When the show ended, reality hit hard -- Jennie says it was a serious adjustment once the paychecks stopped rolling in.

Watch the video ... she says it got worse -- she revealed her business manager basically scared her into selling the home and ranch she’d just bought for her kids ... a move she made, and now deeply regrets.

Blake Lively does NOT want the jury to know she's rolling in dough ... so she wants ANY info about her or her hubby's wealth barred from the trial.

Blake filed legal docs just weeks before her case against Justin Baldoni goes to trial, asking the judge to bar all evidence about her and Ryan Reynolds' "net worth and financial status."

As we reported, Blake claims she's lost $161 million as a result of Baldoni's smear campaign. What's interesting ... the judge threw out her defamation claim, so it's unclear if that amount is even relevant. Nonetheless, she's still allowed to present her claim that Justin retaliated against her after she blew the whistle and claimed the "It Ends with Us" set was a hostile work environment.

President Trump's $10 billion legal battle with the Wall Street Journal -- over its reporting on his alleged birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein -- just took a major hit, with a judge throwing it out of court ... for now.

In Monday morning's dismissal, the federal judge said Trump's defamation lawsuit failed to plausibly allege WSJ reported with "actual malice" or reckless disregard for the truth when it published a story claiming Trump wrote a racy letter celebrating Epstein's 50th birthday.

The letter, allegedly handwritten by Trump and framed in the image of a naked woman, included a creepy convo between Trump and Epstein, and Trump's closing line ... "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy birthday -- and may every day be another wonderful secret."

As Eric Swalwell's political career continues to crumble at lightning-fast speed ... a big-time benefactor has pretty much told him to go to hell.

Billionaire Stephen Cloobeck went scorched earth in an interview with the California Post, saying he's booted the embattled Swalwell from his Beverly Hills mansion ... and he's looking to recoup $1 million he forked over for the politician's now-defunct gubernatorial run.

The backlash comes on the heels of the Democratic Congressman from California being accused by multiple women -- some who worked for him -- of sexual assault and other alleged sexual misconduct. Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing ... but is now the target of a criminal probe.

Swalwell has been staying at the mansion as a guest ... it's where he filmed his video denial prior to dropping out of the race for California governor over the weekend. We're told Swalwell had been staying there for a few days before he was kicked out Sunday morning.

Jason Oppenheim says he's not sold on driving another Rolls-Royce down Sunset ... he's considering something more low-key after his last one was stolen.

We caught up with the reality star and real estate mogul outside the Selling Sunset office on Friday ... and we had to ask for an update on the theft which took place last month in the business' lot.

Oppenheim says the cops haven't made a ton of progress yet ... but they're on the case -- and he hopes to get the car back eventually.