50 Cent testifies his lifestyle is an illusion: 'I take the jewelry and cars back to the stores'
After filing for bankruptcy last week, 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, appeared in a Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday morning to testify that he is not as wealthy as his flashy lifestyle makes him appear to be.
While Forbes estimated the rapper's fortune to be about $155 million in May, Jackson's lawyer said in court Tuesday that his client's worth is $4.4 million, which presents a problem after he was hit last week with a $5 million verdict for publishing a sex tape starring rival Rick Ross' ex-girlfriend.
Jackson explained in court that while his social-media accounts may be filled with flashy photos, "I take the jewelry and the cars back to the stores," according to the New York Daily News.
When the judge asked the rapper about his 38 million record sales, Jackson said, "I make 10 cents a record."
Jackson also said he made $100,000 for the two movies he's currently in, "Spy" and "Southpaw." For his current role on Starz's hit series "Power," which he also executive-produces, Jackson said he's pocketed only $150,000 from each of its first two seasons.
Starz50 Cent on season 1 of Starz's "Power."
Despite the filing, Jackson did admit that he recently threw cash around at a Florida strip club and bought a Rolls Royce on July 4, but added "I took two others back" to buy it, according to NYDN.
During his testimony, Jackson said he was worried that his "brand" had been tarnished since the bankruptcy filing last week, saying, "Now that I filed for bankruptcy, I’m not as cool as I was last week."
Jackson did manage to say a minor apology to Lastonia Leviston, who was awarded $5 million after he allegedly published a sex tape in which she is featured without her consent: "I'm sorry if you feel like I hurt you."
50 Cent arrives in court on Tuesday.
Since the bankruptcy filing last week, 50 Cent has been vocal about trying to get out of paying Leviston.
"I need protection," 50 Cent explained while appearing on TBS' "Conan." "You get a bull's-eye painted on your back when you’re successful, and it’s public. You become the ideal person for lawsuits.
50 Cent is testifying in a New York City courtroom about his finances, his business deals and the media attention surrounding his recent bankruptcy filing.
The artist behind the album Get Rich or Die Tryin' appeared Tuesday (July 21) in Manhattan state Supreme Court in a proceeding to decide possible additional punitive damages in an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit. A jury already ordered the multiplatinum-selling rapper to pay $5 million in damages.
Lastonia Leviston's lawsuit says 50 Cent didn't have her permission but released a sex tape that she made with a boyfriend. She says the rapper added crude comments to taunt rival Rick Ross, who fathered one of her daughters.
The rapper, born Curtis Jackson III, filed for bankruptcy protection in Connecticut after the judgment.
Forbes has listed him as one of hip-hop's five wealthiest artists.
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