Money

Drake's hopping on a trend to wrap up a pretty rough year -- his hometown showed out for a look-alike contest that had to boost his ego, while also putting $10,000 in one lucky fan's pocket.

The "Drake-alike Challenge" drew a huge crowd Saturday in Toronto ... and there were fans repping every variety of Drizzy -- including Ozempic Drake and girl Drake.

There was even one person, Anthony Po, decked out as Drake's son, Adonis. In a way, Anthony's responsible for the Drake-alike contest even happening.

Lamar Odom's certainly no Grinch ... 'cause he handed out toys to thousands of kids Saturday -- though the notorious Christmas villain did make an appearance.

The former basketball star cohosted a toy drive with Steve Pazmany -- star of "Fully Torqued" on History Channel -- with the help of LAPD Devonshire PALS Center, an org that helps fund after-school programs for kids.

After taking a pic with Pazmany and the Grinch, Lamar walked around the giant warehouse full of toys ... and, check it out 'cause it look like they've got enough to fill Santa's sleigh a few times over.

Donald Trump and ABC News have settled their defamation case ... with the media company agreeing to pay millions.

According to multiple reports -- including an article posted to ABC News' own website -- the two sides have agreed to settle the lawsuit for $15 million.

The money is reportedly going to the "Presidential foundation and museum to be established by or for [Trump], as Presidents of the United States of America have established in the past" rather than directly to the 47th POTUS.

The mysterious drones that invaded New Jersey and have the state on edge are driving up some gun sales ... in addition to being a major topic of conversation in firearm shops, TMZ has learned.

Here's the deal ... over the past month, there've been hundreds of sightings of drones in the Jersey sky -- with some said to be as big as a car -- and it seems no one knows where they are coming from or their purpose.

TMZ contacted several gun stores around the state ... we hear some people are getting strapped 'cause they are unnerved by the drones.

Jeff Bezos may have wanted his newspaper to stay out of politics when he killed a Washington Post endorsement for Kamala Harris ... but he sure opened his wallet fast for President-elect Donald Trump.

Here's the deal ... Amazon and Meta have each pledged $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration fund -- giving the impression they are kissing up to DT after a wishy-washy election season of support.

Trump has scorched both mega tech companies in the past for, among other things, not fawning over him enough during his campaign ... but it appears JB and Mark Zuckerberg are trying to make it right on Day 1 of the incoming administration.

Cardi B wants the millions Tasha K owes her, and she's not buying the blogger's claim she's flat broke -- and now she's offering a judge evidence Tasha's stashing money to avoid paying up.

Cardi's attorneys filed docs in Florida Bankruptcy court, calling out Tasha over the $3.4 million she still owes the rapper for losing the defamation case in 2022. Tasha declared bankruptcy, saying she didn't have assets to cover that judgment -- but Cardi's telling the court that's simply BS.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, Cardi's alleging Tasha fraudulently transferred assets and income out of her name, and into her husband's name and/or his business.

O.J. Simpson’s debts are about to get knocked down a notch, that is if someone steps up to buy some of his most prized, and X-rated, possessions.

Malcolm LaVergne, Simpson's longtime attorney and executor of his estate, tells TMZ his stash of prison pornography from his days in Nevada state prison is up for grabs.

Yep, O.J. and his fellow inmates were allowed to read mags like Penthouse, and turns out he had quite the collection.

Michael Jordan has officially parted ways with his Chicago mansion ... and the new owner got it for a bargain -- $9.5 million!!

The 56,000-square-foot property has been on and off the market since 2012 ... and was initially priced at $29,000,000 before it dropped to $14.8 million in 2015.

As we previously reported, a buyer was found earlier this year ... however, the deal was "contingent" on several unknown factors.

Hannah Kobayashi's family is ready to put this upsetting ordeal behind them ... and is offering to return funds they raised as part of the search for their previously missing relative.

TMZ broke the story ... Hannah -- the Hawaii woman who went missing last month -- recently got in contact with her family, confirming she's safe and sound after sparking nationwide concern.

During Hannah's MIA status, HK's loved ones launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to put toward the search for Hannah, with the money set to be used for supplies, temporary accommodations, and communications.

Luigi Mangione's grandmother left behind tens of millions of dollars to her family ... but now there's a strong chance Luigi will be iced out of the will after being charged with murder.

According to documents obtained by TMZ ... Mary C. Mangione -- a philanthropist and grandmother of the alleged murderer -- left behind an estate worth at least $30 million to be distributed among her 10 children.

The docs insinuate the number might be much higher than $30 million -- perhaps even north of $100 million, though it doesn't say exactly how much she left behind when she passed in 2023 ... it's all pretty technical.

Luigi Mangione’s online fan base is next-level, with the hype so wild that people are even offering to cover his legal bills after he was charged in the Brian Thompson murder case.

Thomas Dickey, the attorney for 26-year-old Mangione, admitted he hasn’t seen the emails himself, but his office staff filled him in on the wild offers to cover his fees.

When asked why fans were offering to pay, Dickey told CNN's The Source with Kaitlan Collins that they'e "exercising their right to free speech and they're saying that's the way they're supporting my client."

Shortly after Luigi Mangione was apprehended on Monday, admirers of his began setting up GoFundMe pages to help the CEO murder suspect ... but the company has officially shut down all the campaigns, TMZ has learned.

Here's the deal ... Luigi Mangione was apprehended Monday ... and hours later, the Manhattan D.A. charged him with murder in the brazen December 4 fatal shooting of Brian Thompson.

What seems like mere minutes after his name and pictures were out there ... twisted admirers of his began setting up several pages on the community-funding site to help Mangione with legal bills.

The man accused of fatally shooting the UnitedHealthcare CEO is being celebrated by a portion of the country ... and now some are trying to make a buck off that twisted admiration.

Here's the deal ... Luigi Mangione was apprehended Monday ... and hours later, the Manhattan D.A. charged him with murder in the brazen December 4 fatal shooting of Brian Thompson.

Ever since the cold-blooded murder ... Mangione cultivated a large fan following of those who hate the health insurance industry -- so, it is not that big of a surprise that there's now merchandise celebrating the suspect.

12/10/24 2:55 PM PT -- Tony Buzbee has now specifically addressed Matthew Thompson's allegations, telling TMZ ... "Mr. Thompson was solicited and paid to bring this case. It has no merit. The lawyers who brought it would have seen that had they bothered to do any due diligence at all. In his suit, Thompson claims our firm failed to forward to him payments made by his former employer. That’s patently untrue. His employer refused to make any such payments to him. He claims the fees weren’t explained. That’s also patently false. He signed a contract that clearly sets forth the fees.  He claims that the expenses weren’t explained. Again, patently false. He signed an affidavit at settlement agreeing to the expenses and acknowledging they were explained. Finally, Thompson’s claim that the firm took more than the contractual fee is patently false. He signed an affidavit stating that all was done correctly. The bottom line is that the investigators who manufactured this case and the lawyers who filed it were reckless and foolish. The case is junk and the effort behind it will be exposed."

12/10/24 1:40 PM PT -- Tony Buzbee tells TMZ … "Jay-Z’s investigators contacted more than forty former clients they apparently found on Venmo. They each were offered $1000 to sue me. We have the investigators caught on tape admitting they gave this 'client' money to bring this case. We will be seeking state bar action against the lawyers involved because such conduct is a state law crime and also violates the ethical rules that govern lawyers. The case itself is frivolous and will be dismissed as such."

Jay-Z isn't the only one targeting attorney Tony Buzbee in court -- a former client claims Buzbee acted more like his loan shark than his lawyer in a personal injury case.

Anthony Edwards' potty mouth just cost him some dough -- the NBA just fined the Minnesota Timberwolves star $25K for using "profane language" during a postgame interview.

Joe Dumars, the NBA's Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, announced the punishment on Monday ... three days after AE dropped the f-bomb while analyzing the Wolves' 107-90 win over the Golden State Warriors.

Even though the words were complimentary of his teammates, Dumars said the two-time All-Star's comments wouldn't fly ... resulting in the hefty fine.

How does one celebrate becoming the richest player in baseball?? For Juan Soto, he soaked in the milestone by getting a beer shower!!

Soto's younger brother and member of the Nationals organization, Elian, showed off the $765 million party on his Instagram story ... with the new New York Met chilling in a hot tub as booze was poured all over his head.

While the star hitter is excited about his new $50 million annual salary, Mets fans are just as pumped for him to switch boroughs -- shortly after the news broke, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell posted himself on a FaceTime call with Soto -- with both giving wide grins.