Money

Mayor Zohran Mamdani's rap career is all about the Benjamins ... about 16 of them -- because that's approximately what he made from royalties on his music last year.

The NYC mayor's tax filings are obviously public record ... and, he reported $1,643 in music royalties he made from songs he released as "Young Cardamom," which he called himself back in the day.

This is $376 more than he made from his music in 2024 ... almost certainly helped by his campaign for mayor -- though he probably shouldn't quit his day job to go after artistic pursuits again.

Kim Kardashian is unbothered by a man’s claim that he will be financially ruined if forced to pay her a six-figure sum in court, TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Kim scoffed at Ivan Cantu’s plea that he not be on the hook for $128K in legal fees she requested after his lawsuit was tossed out.

Ivan sued Kim for emotional distress after she posted his photo and mistook him for a death row inmate.

Kim quickly deleted the photo after realizing she had posted a photo of Ivan, who has the same name as the alleged murderer that Kim was advocating for not to be executed. She denied she did anything wrong. A judge sided with Kim and dismissed all claims.

Future’s ex-GF Brittni Mealy claims the rapper hasn't seen their 13-year-old son Prince for more than 16 months, amid their bitter court battle ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained the scathing letter Brittni wrote to Future’s legal team on April 7, 2026, which was included as an exhibit in the case. She denied Future’s claims she'd blocked his access to his son, insisting she has "not blocked access in any way, shape or form.”

Brittni claimed Future has “not seen his son in over sixteen months, has not called him, and has not meaningfully inquired” about Prince’s school, grades, medical needs, or overall well-being.

The woman who says she injured herself at 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Kathy Hilton’s L.A. mansion is looking for more than $50,000 a year in future medical expenses ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Kimberly Heffington, who filed suit against Kathy in 2025 claiming she injured her right knee at the $28 million pad, provided more details about where the case stands and what kind of damages she wants to collect.

Kimberly said she was at the home in August 2024, where she was walking on the outside staircase leading from the tennis court up to the pool area when her foot “was caught in between uneven pavers” right after coming off the top of the stairs, causing her to trip and fall.

4/18 -- 6:25 AM PT -- The GoFundMe has had an update ... the funds raised on the platform will now go to an account specifically created for the late singer's Walk of Fame induction honor.

Aaron Carter's mom is working to cement his legacy in Hollywood and she's calling on fans to help make it happen ... TMZ has learned.

Jane Carter tells TMZ ... she's raising $85K through GoFundMe so she can apply for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Aaron's honor. The process requires a formal application, a sponsorship fee and approval from the Walk of Fame selection committee ... and Jane says she plans to submit everything before the May 15 deadline.

She says her late son "would've loved" the idea, noting the two used to stroll along the Walk of Fame whenever they visited Los Angeles.

Rapper Ice Spice is fighting a wig company that claims she owes $20,000 for a series of customs wigs, plus much more for trashing the company ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Ice Spice is calling out the wig company Thee Bella Brand for dragging her to court over the contractual dispute. Ice Spice says the company has been “overly dramatic” and claims they are attempting to put “public pressure” on her.

In 2025, the company Thee Bella Brand sued Ice Spice over 25 custom-made wigs, claiming she agreed to purchase them for around $20K but never paid up for the goods. The company said the rapper also trashed them on social media and was seeking more than $400K in lost business opportunities and punitive damages.

Live Nation -- which owns Ticketmaster -- was dealt a massive blow Wednesday when a federal jury found the concert company operated an illegal monopoly over ticketing for live entertainment.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta applauded the verdict in a statement ... calling it "a historic and resounding victory for artists, fans, and the venues that support them," according to NBC News.

Remember ... Taylor Swift slammed Ticketmaster back in 2022, when fans were furious over issues getting tickets for her shows. There were difficulties and delays during the presale, leading TM to cancel the public sale.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos says she would have a baby tomorrow with billionaire husband Jeff Bezos ... but in the meantime, they're checking out the Galápagos Islands on their $500 million yacht.

Check out these new photos of Jeff and Lauren rocking some swimwear during a trip to the volcanic archipelago ... a pretty nice getaway after some backlash over a recent New York Times interview.

Jeff and Lauren left their $600 million flotilla -- the $500 million Kuru and its $100 million support vessel, Abeona -- and hit one of the islands ... with Jeff walking barefoot in the sand while holding some shoes.

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.”