Money

Shohei Ohtani had no idea his translator was gambling millions of dollars, and the feds have concluded not only was the Dodger star NOT involved in the scheme, he was a victim of fraud ... law enforcement sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Sports.

The feds have been investigating Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani's longtime translator, close friend, and functionally his manager. Mizuhara gambled away millions, reportedly at least $4.5 million, and after the story broke he said Ohtani had covered the debt.

Our sources say the feds, who launched an investigation last month, have concluded Mizuhara was lying -- that Ohtani was completely in the dark over the gambling debt, and Mizuhara embezzled from one of Ohtani's accounts without the pitcher's knowledge.

Families looking to buy huge packs of toilet paper and dirt cheap hot dogs at Costco can now make out like old-timey prospectors, 'cause the retailer's got gold to spare, which is flying off their digital shelves ... to the tune of potentially hundreds of millions.

The store known for selling everything in bulk is in the precious metals game these days ... selling 1-oz, 24-karat gold bars in their stores for around $2,400 a pop. This has been going on for about 6 months or so now, and at this point ... it's apparently a money-maker.

Analysts at Wells Fargo reportedly told its clients earlier this week that Costco might be bringing in between $100 million and $200 million on gold sales each month. Wowza!

Todd Chrisley is gonna have a hard time paying the 3 quarters-of-a-million dollar judgment against him while behind bars -- so says his attorney, who tells us TC's got bigger fish to fry.

The reality star's attorney, Jay Surgent, tells TMZ ... he spoke with Todd Tuesday, and it's been made clear Todd doesn't have an income right now while he's doing time in prison -- so it'll be an uphill battle figuring out a way to pay off the $755k he just got hit with.

Surgent says Todd's been deprived of his ability to work while in lock-up -- and not just that ... but there's an even bigger tab he owes somebody right now to the tune of millions.

Van Cleef & Arpels is about to see if "take backs" are allowed in court ... 'cause the luxury brand wants $150k back from a mystery person it accidentally blessed with that dough!

According to legal documents obtained by TMZ ... the jewelry company -- with a famous Rodeo Drive storefront -- is suing unknown defendants for the money it says it mistakenly sent.

As one famous Rodeo Drive shopper once put it, "Big mistake! Big. Huge."

A super-rare Shohei Ohtani jersey, worn by the (then) Angels superstar on Jackie Robinson Day in 2023, signed and inscribed by the slugger/ace, is on the auction block where it's expected to rake in six figures!

Shohei, before signing his historic, $700 million contract with the Dodgers this offseason, rocked the jersey on April 15, 2023 for the Angels vs. Red Sox game at Fenway Park ... the day all MLB players honored the achievements of the great Jackie Robinson by wearing his number 42.

Of course, all Major League Baseball retired the number across the entire sport ... so that's the only day anyone wears 42.

The Angels lost the game, 9-7 ... but to no one's surprise, Ohtani, who served as designated hitter, went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

As if just being worn by Shohei wasn't cool enough, in February, months after the game, he also signed the jersey ... writing "GU 4.15.23" and "2023 AL MVP".

It's also the only game-worn jersey from the entire '23 season (that's hot the open market) ... making it even more special.

Now, the jersey is up for grabs at SCP Auctions ... where it's expected to sell for around $100k!

The item already has 7 bids -- $39k being the biggest. But, with 3 days remaining, you can bet that number will rise faster than Ohtani's home run total.

It's not the only Ohtani item on the SCP block. They're also offering Shohei's 200th home run ball (combining his NPB and MLB stats) ... which he blasted on June 23, 2023, at Coors Field against the Rockies.

The ball, launched 423 feet in the 5th inning, is, like the jersey, expected to bring in a pretty penny.

Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter could be booted from the NBA for LIFE if the league finds the gambling allegations made against him are true ... with commissioner Adam Silver calling the bombshell accusations a "cardinal sin."

Porter -- who hasn't played since the claims were made public last month -- has been under fire over two games in particular this season ... when sportsbooks noticed some head-scratching activity on prop bets involving the big man.

The 24-year-old left both games early due to either injury or illness ... meaning folks who hammered the under on any Porter bets would be in for a big payday.

Porter could be in a world of trouble if the NBA determines he had anything to do with the betting activity ... 'cause Silver made it crystal clear he's not taking the claims lightly.

"I have enormous range of discipline available to me," Silver said at the league's board of governors meetings this week. "It's cardinal sin what he’s accused of in the NBA."

"The ultimate extreme option I have is to ban him from the game. That’s the level of authority I have here because there’s nothing more serious."

Donald Trump está tratando de cortejar a los votantes de Atlanta con unos buenos pollos y helado, y fue a uno de los lugares más famosos para hacerlo, ordenando una tonelada de comida chatarra para todos.

El ex-Prez fue a un Chick-fil-A en Atlanta el miércoles y se detuvo a conversar con algunos trabajadores detrás del mostrador y hacer bromas y fotos para la prensa del lugar.

En términos de comida, Trump compró suficientes batidos y pollos para alimentar a más de 2 de docenas de personas y se aseguró de hacerles saber que estaba cubriendo la cuenta.

Donald Trump's trying to woo voters in Atlanta with poultry and ice cream -- and he went to one of the most famous chicken joints to do it ... ordering a crap ton of grub for everyone.

The ex-Prez went to a Chick-fil-A in the ATL Wednesday, where his campaign rages on ... and where he popped into the restaurant to chop it up with some of the workers behind the counter ... cracking jokes with them and schmoozing as photogs and press stood around.

In terms of food, DT bought enough milkshakes and chickens to feed upwards of a couple dozen people -- and he made sure to let 'em know he was covering the tab.

The Colorado home where Chris Watts killed his wife has hit the market anew, and it's pretty expensive compared to other homes on the block ... TMZ has learned.

The 5-bedroom residence in Frederick, Colo. -- which was heavily featured in the 2020 Netflix doc "American Murder: The Family Next Door" -- is up for sale right now ... this after it went into bankruptcy following the grisly events of 2018.

As we all know ... Chris confessed to killing his spouse, Shanann, and their 2 little girls Bella and Celeste -- and he's now serving five life sentences behind bars.

La casa de Colorado donde Chris Watts mató a su esposa y a sus hijas ha salido al mercado nuevamente y es bastante cara en comparación con otras del barrio, según ha averiguado TMZ.

La residencia de 5 dormitorios en Frederick, Colorado, que fue muy destacada en el documental de Netflixt "American Murder: The Family Next Door" en 2020, está a la venta después de que entrara en bancarrota tras los trágicos acontecimientos de 2018.

Como todos sabemos, Chris confesó haber matado a su cónyuge Shanann y a sus 2 hijas pequeñas Bella y Celeste, y ahora está cumpliendo cinco cadenas perpetuas tras las rejas.

Todd Chrisley is facing another legal and financial setback while behind bars -- this time a federal jury ruling he defamed a Georgia Department of Revenue investigator.

According to court docs, a Georgia judge has ordered Todd to cough up $755,000 in compensatory and punitive damages and legal fees to Amy Doherty-Heinze after concluding the reality star launched a vicious social media crusade against her.

Doherty-Heinze decided to take Chrisley to court back in July 2021 ... claiming he falsely accused her of illegally snooping on a government program to pull info on his family. It was also claimed he "began a social media campaign against the GDOR and certain of its employees, contending that the investigation was illegal and improperly motivated."

Gypsy Rose Blanchard recently put pen to paper to make her divorce from Ryan Anderson official -- but there's no prenup in place ... although the consequences of that are a bit hazy.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Gypsy and her now-estranged husband didn't hash out a prenup before they got hitched -- while Gypsy was still incarcerated -- because they thought their marriage was the real deal.

Best laid plans!

A woman who appeared on "The Howard Stern Show" once upon a time got into an ugly tussle with her boyfriend while driving ... something she live streamed and got arrested for.

Elisa Jordana -- a singer/model/writer who appeared with Howard Stern and co. back in the early 2010s -- had a live video of herself up and running Monday ... which showed her in the car with a guy who went on to tell police he was her boyfriend.

In the video, which was live-streamed for several minutes, Elisa and this dude in the passenger seat could be seen bickering back and forth ... and eventually, things turned violent.

La legendaria finca de Merv Griffin en La Quinta ha salido al mercado, según ha averiguado TMZ.

Y parece que el listado es tan emblemático como la estrella del difunto "Merv Griffin Show", ya que la casa cuenta con 7 residencias separadas, distribuidas a lo largo de 40 acres en la ciudad turística del desierto. Un afortunado comprador podría llamar a la inmensa propiedad su hogar si está dispuesto a desembolsar $36 millones por el inmueble.

Merv, que alguna vez fue el artista más rico de Hollywood después de vender su compañía de producción por $250m, al parecer transformó su morada fuera de Los Ángeles para parecerse a la famosa residencia de Yves St. Laurent en Marrakech.

Merv Griffin's legendary La Quinta estate has hit the market ... TMZ has learned.

And it appears the listing is as iconic as the late 'Merv Griffin Show' star ... as the home boasts 7 separate residences across 40 acres in the desert resort city. One lucky buyer can call the estate home ... if they're willing to shell out $36 million first.

Merv -- who was once Hollywood's richest performer after selling his production company for $250 mil -- reportedly transformed his abode outside L.A. to resemble Yves St. Laurent’s famed Marrakesh residence.

There might not have been anyone happier to see UConn win on Monday night than Dave Portnoy ... 'cause the Barstool Sports founder made over TWO MILLION DOLLARS betting on the Huskies to take home the national championship.

The 47-year-old put down $600K on Dan Hurley's squad to win the NCAA tourney just before March Madness kicked off last month ... and at the time, he said he was a bit worried -- as Connecticut was nearly everyone's pick to win it all.

But as UConn boat raced Purdue in the title game in Glendale, AZ ... those nerves melted away -- and his wallet got a whole lot fatter.