Posted Nov 22nd 2009 9:00AM by TMZ Staff
Michael Phelps' estimated worth is around $50 million -- so, by our math, he should be able to afford the $20K he owes the State of California. But alas, like a Michael Jackson legal bill, the debt remains unpaid.
According to a tax lien filed last year -- which is still active -- the Golden Boy owes the State of California $23,289.16 for tax returns back in 2005 and 2006.
If you want to make a donation to help Michael Phelps, just buy a Speedo swimsuit, Omega watch, a PowerBar, use your Visa card, switch your long distance to AT&T, ... hell, just do anything -- Phelps probably endorses it.
Click below to see more stars who've had tax liens!
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 8:30AM by TMZ Staff
O.J. Simpson has a lot of time on his hands and he's putting it to good use -- he's in the best shape of his post-murder football life.
The Juice is dropping the lbs, lifting weights, and, for good measure, preaching racial harmony and anger management to other inmates at Nevada's Lovelock Correctional Center, a good friend of his tells the NY Post.
Norman Pardo claims, "He says that's one of the benefits of not being able to go out and party all the time like he used to."
Because idle hands are the devil's workshop.
Filed under: Hot Bodies, O.J.
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 8:10AM by TMZ Staff
Jon and Kate Gosselin's divorce is heading to a conclusion, after a contentious day Saturday at the arbitration table. We've learned even Jon isn't contesting that Kate should get primary custody and a decision on who gets what in the money department will be handed down within 30 days.
Sources tell us the two issues on the battlefield are the distribution of assets and child support. In Pennsylvania, the courts award "equitable" distribution when it comes to property, but that doesn't necessarily mean 50/50.
Sources tell us neither party asked for spousal support.
We're told Jon and Kate actually agreed to the amounts certain items were worth, but they were far apart on issues relating to how the assets should be distributed.
The arbitration was supposed to last two days -- today and Monday -- but it all got handled on Saturday.
Both Jon and Kate testified in the arbitration. The decision of the arbitration is binding on both of them.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Jon & Kate
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 7:50AM by TMZ Staff
Five days after fighting Manny Pacquaio, former welterweight champ Miguel Cotto was still feeling the effects.
Miguel took time out from recovering from his butt whooping to pose with a few fans at a local club in Puerto Rico this past Thursday.
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 6:55AM by TMZ Staff
Jon Bon Jovi and Gwen Stefani are following in Taylor Swift's sports-bar-crushing footsteps -- because the two pop stars are also suing a hometown drinking establishment for allegedly jacking their music.
According to a lawsuit filed in Minnesota last month, several of Gwen and Bon Jovi's compositions were publicly performed at Sally's Salloon & Eatery -- and they claim the bar never got the licensing it needed. Now Bon Jovi, Gwen, and all the other people who own copyrights to their music want the bar to pay damages ... and stop playing their songs.
This could be a crushing blow to the local watering hole -- because as we all know, a bar without Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" is like a bird without wings.
Calls to Universal Music Group weren't returned. A rep at Sally's wasn't even aware of the lawsuit.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 5:50AM by TMZ Staff
These pictures aren't quite what they seem -- so spot the subtle differences in these tricky pics!
** Hint -- there are THREE differences in the above photo!**
Filed under: Photo Galleries
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 4:45AM by TMZ Staff
Sophia Loren is an Italian goddess.
Here's the 31-year-old Oscar-winner back in 1965 (left) -- and 44 years later, the 75-year-old version at some event in London this week (right).
Ciao bella.
Filed under: Beauty
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 3:40AM by TMZ Staff
The upside to buying "Dallas" star Larry Hagman's home: If you want it, you only have to pay $13 a year for the electric bill. Downside: The rest of the house costs a whopping $11 mil.
Hagman, who struck it big by playing an oil magnate on TV, just put his solar powered, 9 bedroom, 14.5 bathroom, 18,000 square foot estate in Ojai, California on the market -- and the palatial pad would make J.R. Ewing proud.
For some reason, Larry and his wife are looking to downsize.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 2:30AM by TMZ Staff
Debbe Dunning became famous for replacing Pam Anderson as the Tool Time girl on teh '90's TV series "Home Improvement." Guess what she looks like now!
Filed under: TV, Beauty, 'Memba Them?!
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 12:00AM by TMZ Staff
Check out some of the imperfect pictures that slipped through the cracks of the TMZ newsroom!
Filed under: Photo Galleries
Posted Nov 21st 2009 11:09AM by TMZ Staff
Howard K. Stern has settled his $60 million defamation suit against Rita Cosby ... TMZ has learned.
A dismissal was filed late yesterday. We know the case settled and the terms of settlement are confidential.
Cosby -- in her book "Blonde Ambition" -- said, among many other things, Stern and Larry Birkhead had a sexual encounter that was caught on video. Both Birkhead and Stern said Cosby made it up.
Birkhead did not file suit.
Thus another chapter in the Anna Nicole Smith saga comes to an end.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Anna Nicole Smith
Posted Nov 21st 2009 9:30AM by TMZ Staff
Carrie Prejean didn't wanna use her own noggin' when it came to filling out a very personal contestant questionnaire for the Miss California pageant back in '07 -- so she went to the guy who knew her inside and out ... her solo sex tape recipient.
TMZ has learned Prejean's former cross-country booty call received an email from Carrie on 11/7/07 -- when she was 20 -- in which Carrie asked for help answering several brain-busting questions such as:
If you could have lunch with any one (1) person, who would it be and why?
What is your career ambition?
Name one personal achievement that makes you especially proud.
What is your most treasured possession (tangible object) and why?
What is the most interesting or surprising thing about you or that has happened to you?
After all those "special" tapes she made, you'd think she'd know herself better.
Filed under: Pageantry, Carrie Prejean
Posted Nov 21st 2009 9:15AM by TMZ Staff
Jon Gosselin awoke from a day in the tanning bed to sign an autograph for a little kid outside LAX yesterday.
Stay classy, d-bag.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Jon & Kate
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