The King of Pop's funeral cost $1,000,000

Michael Jackson's family wanted to give him a proper send off so they paid upwards of US$1 million for the private family funeral before his interment at Forest Lawn-Glendale Cemetery.

Costs included $855,730 for cemetery and funeral charges including the purchase of other plots within the same mausoleum where Jackson now rests; $35,000 for burial garments; $2,000 for usher uniforms; $1,975 for clothing for the family; $3,682 for framing of a photograph of Michael to display next to the casket; $959 for embroidery; $11,716 for invitations and programs; $16,000 for flowers; $30,000 for cars and security; and $15,000 for a funeral designer. There was also a charge of $21,455 for the "funeral repast" at a local Italian restaurant after the interment. The estate also paid $5,000 a month to store Michael's body in the months leading up to the funeral. Janet, Randy, and Katherine (and interestingly, NOT LaToya or Jermaine) were involved in the funeral arrangements and Janet paid a $49,000 to Forest Lawn-Glendale.

"Mrs. Jackson and her family wish to honor her son by a funeral that seeks to offer solace to his multitude of fans and by which the family also may be comforted," the Mrs. Jackson's attorneys said. [The costs were] "entirely commensurate with the decedent's worldwide status as an entertainer and the world's grief over his death."

Source: AP

A warrant might be issued for Dr. Conrad Murray

Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal physician, failed to show for a child support hearing this week. His babymama, Nenita Malibiran, claims he owes more than $13,000 in back child support. The Family Law court is seeking a bench warrant for his arrest and suspension of his medical license.

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Unsealed Court Documents Reveal Allowance From Michael Jackson's Estate to Mother and Children

Michael Jackson's mother is receiving $86,804 per month from her son's estate to support herself and her three grandchildren, according to court records released Thursday.

Katherine Jackson is one of the primary beneficiaries of her son's estate along with the late pop singer's three young children and unnamed charities.

Over the course of a year, Jackson's mother and children are slated to receive more than $1 million in support from the estate. Katherine Jackson's monthly allowance is $26,804; the children's allowance is $60,000 per month.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff approved a monthly stipend for Katherine Jackson and her three grandchildren in August. The amount of the payments had been sealed until Thursday.

Katherine Jackson has been named the children's permanent guardian. They are currently living at the Jackson family home, Hayvenhurst, located in the San Fernando Valley.

Katherine Jackson's $26,804 per month pays for an assistant, housekeeper, driver, utilities, clothing, grooming and other expenses.

I can afford that!

Representatives for Forest Lawn Cemetery say Michael Jackson's burial there has ended the real estate recession--at least for their line of work. Plots in the Great Mausoleum where Michael was buried are now going for upwards of $9,900 and the owner of one double unit is now asking $34,000.

Another ATL Housewife has lost her home

Lisa Wu Hartwell and husband Ed reportedly had difficulty paying the mortgage on their (previously) $2.9 million Georgia mansion. The couple was in negotiations for a loan modification, however they were unable to strike a satisfactory deal with the lender. Their home went into foreclosure and was sold this month for $1.9 million. Reportedly, Ed and Lisa have bought another home on a 10 acre lot. I thought Bravo paid better than that?

IRS Now After Diddy?

The IRS is focused on Sean "Diddy" Combs' Atlanta spot Justin's Restaurant, claiming it owes $7,373 in federal taxes, reports the Detroit News, citing public records. The restaurant, named in honor of his son, opened in 1998 and specializes in upscale Southern and Caribbean cuisine. An identically named restaurant in New York City closed a few years ago. The Internal Revenue Service filed the tax lien against Diddy's ATL joint on May 18. They must have gotten a bad meal there. A source close to the issue says, "The check is in the mail"....

Fat Joe has a new sneaker

I like these better than most of Kanye's designs. These are understated. I'm sure they are still overpriced.

Derek Jeter likes 'em big

Derek Jeter likes 'em big----his homes that is. Jeter has purchased three waterfront lots in Tampa, Florida for a whopping $7,666,000 (isn't that an unlucky number?) and plans to build a 31,000 square foot mansion. His home plans include 7 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, a 6 car garage, a billiard room, an entertainment room, and a room for all his trophies and memorabilia. Derek will only reside in the house during Spring Training.

Marc Ecko Low on Cash Flow

The large bronze rhinoceros statues grazing inside hip-hop clothing designer Marc Ecko's massive 275,000 square foot headquarters on West 23rd Street may soon be out of a home. The entire space, which costs more than $9 million a year and includes a half-size basketball court, is now on the market. The clock is ticking for Mr. Ecko, who is desperately trying to raise enough capital to pay off Marc Ecko Enterprises' debts. In June, Ecko sold its watch trademarks to Timex Group and subsequently unloaded its Avirex young men's brand to Kids Headquarters.

Mr. Ecko is the latest casualty of the once-booming $4 billion urban wear business. The sector is morphing away from its baggy, logo-threaded beginnings into a cleaner, more mainstream look available at stores like Aéropostale and Abercrombie and Fitch. Add in the fact that the Ecko brand is not as “cool” as it once was and you have the potential for near financial disaster.

Toni and Foxy don't pay their taxes

Rapper Foxy Brown and R&B singer Toni Braxton are reportedly in tax trouble. AllHipHop.com reports that both performers have had liens filed against them this year for failing to pay their taxes. Brown reportedly owes the Internal Revenue Service 641-thousand-588-dollars in federal taxes that were to be paid to the state of New York. In June, a tax lien was placed against the New York rapper for missing tax payments in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Allhiphop.com says the state of California issued a lien against Braxton and her husband, Mint Condition keyboard player Keri Lewis, for 79-thousand-315-dollars in back taxes in March. The lien isn’t the first time that Braxton has been in financial trouble. The singer filed for bankruptcy protection in 1998 after she amassed more than one-million-dollars in debt.

Michael's mother Katherine may be disinherited

Michael Jackson's mother Katherine Jackson wants to have the two executors of Michael's estate, attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain, removed as executors of her late son's lucrative estate valued at more than $500 million. Michael's 2002 will names the two as executors of the trust established from his estate at his death. Katherine would like control of the estate and does not believe Branca and McClain are who Michael really wanted to administer his estate; both Branca and McClain have report

Regardless of the executorship, Katherine remains an heir to 40% of the estate. Michael's three children share the other 40% and unspecified charities would share in the remaining 20%. The executors would decide which charities would benefit from the 20% share.

Katherine's dilemma comes from a clause in Michael's will that states anyone who challenges the terms of the will will be disinherited from the trust. Is is better for Katherine to risk losing all in pursuing a more control of the investments of the estate or should she be content with what she has even though her son's legacy might not be preserved in the manner she would choose?

Pimpin Ain't Easy

Pimpin may not be easy but it ain't that damn hard. Katt Williams has denied rumors he filed for bankruptcy. Still, I can see how the father of 7 adopted children might have to use a coupon or two. It's a recession y'all.

Creflo as in "Cash Flow"

TV mega-preacher Creflo Dollar, one of several high-profile ministers being accused of fleecing their flocks to finance their lavish lifestyles, is being sued by a California businessman, Devone Lawson who says the pastor stole his business idea of charging followers a monthly fee for devotional text messages.

The already very-rich Creflo and son Jeremy are raking in $50 million a year through the $4.99-per-month "Word on the Go" subscriptions, which the preacher recently hiked to $5.99, James Evangelista, Lawson’s Atlanta-based attorney, claims. “The word from the preacher ain’t cheap.”

Dollar reportedly has 30,000 congregants at his World Changer Church International in the Atlanta suburb of College Park. He also has another church in New York City and an international TV ministry. He along with other notable TV ministers are currently under investigation by the Senate Finance Committee, who contends that several televangelists, including Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn and Dollar have unscrupulously gained wealth by skirting tax laws and soaking their congregations for millions.

Michael Jackson's Memorial Will be Olympian

LAPD is gearing up for tomorrow's memorial to Michael Jackson at the same level they did for the 1984 Olympics. The city has reached out to the Jackson family for assistance in defraying the cost of holding the memorial for almost 18,000 fans, stars, and members of the media.