Author: Alan Wass

  • Is Vince Gilligan is Writing a New Breaking Bad Movie?

    Is Vince Gilligan is Writing a New Breaking Bad Movie?

    When burying money in the desert is an occupational hazard, you have already made it big in the criminal world. If you were a fan of monumental TV-series anti-hero Walter White, you might be happy to learn that industry sources are claiming a Breaking Bad movie script is currently being written by the show’s creator Vince Gilligan.

    Rumors have been rife since the show’s epic final episode in 2013 that a prequel or a Breaking Bad movie might be written, but only now are we starting to hear something more concrete.

    Will We Get a Breaking Bad Movie?

    Many fans of the show thought the only link we now had to the Breaking Bad world was via the prequel series Better Call Saul, which is also written by Gilligan. And although Bob Odenkirk does a fantastic job as the happy-go-lucky ‘criminal’ lawyer Jimmy McGill, more commonly known as Saul Goodman, it’s not quite the same. How could it be?

    According to the entertainment news website, The Hollywood Reporter, a Breaking Bad movie could well be heading to a screen near you in the future.

    No one who watched the original AMC series will ever forget the Greek tragedy that was the Walter White story. From a lowly paid chemistry teacher with terminal cancer to makeshift meth-lab operator to badass druglord and kingpin knocking off bodies like Tony Montana. The story was one of the best told in television history.

    Completely Different Story?

    Sources close to Vince Gilligan told The Hollywood Reporter that the writer is already working on a two-hour script for the new Breaking Bad movie. Although AMC was the original broadcasters of the Breaking Bad series, it is not known as of yet whether they are involved in the project.

    At this point, no one is sure exactly how this will pan out or even if Walter White will be involved at all. It’s believed that the new Breaking Bad movie is currently going under the title “Greenbrier” and is apparently about a kidnapped man who escapes and is trying to find freedom.

    It sounds to me as if the Breaking Bad banner will be used but the story and characters will be completely different.

    Have the news outlets got this wrong and assumed that Greenbrier is a new Breaking Bad series because Vince Gilligan has written it and the filming will apparently be in New Mexico later this month? That’s definitely a possibility.

    We will have to hold tight, cross our fingers, spark up the Bunsen burners and hope that the rumors of this Breaking Bad movie are true.

    Featured image from Pixabay.

  • Is Floyd Mayweather Going Broke? 50-Cent Thinks so

    Is Floyd Mayweather Going Broke? 50-Cent Thinks so

    Outspoken hip-hop emcee turned businessman 50-Cent reckons Floyd Mayweather might be going broke or at least has some tax problems.

    Some might point to the rapper’s ongoing beef with his former friend as a reason for the claims. But there are some strange things happening around the Mayweather circus at this moment in time.

    The formally retired boxer had a reported net worth via Forbes of around $700 million at the turn of the year and was listed as making over $200 million in his 2015 fight against Manny Pacquiao alone.

    Is it possible that Floyd’s cash-flow is dwindling? It seems impossible. But not everything is always how it seems.

    Floyd Mayweather MMA Matchup Announcement

    Floyd Mayweather’s decision to fight UFC fighter extraordinaire Conor McGregor made total sense from a business point of view. But the boxer’s recent press conference to announce a New Year’s Eve fight against the 20-year-old Japanese kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan has left the boxing world scratching their heads.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y908HZOCjOk

    Former friend now turned enemy 50-Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, had some choice words in regards to the situation on his Instagram page:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BpzuCxmHotD/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Other boxing fans took to Twitter to claim that:

    “This screams that Mayweather is going broke.”

    We all knew a comeback was imminent but we naturally assumed it would be against a former foe and Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao. The choice to fight Tenshin Nasukawa, in a bout whose rules are yet to be confirmed, came out of left field.

    The fact that Mayweather turned up to the press conference in Tokyo on Sunday looking a bit disheveled without his usual Floyd Mayweather Promotions team members such as Laurence Ellerbe, has caused some controversy on internet boxing YouTube sites.

    Some believe Floyd has gone his own route with this decision. If you look at the logos behind Floyd during the press conference, you will see only the TMT banner. There is no mention of Mayweather Promotions or even his long-time American broadcaster Showtime.

    Floyd Is Sending Out Strange Signals

    Instead of his usual braggadocios attitude and incessant money talk, Floyd didn’t once mention how much he was getting paid for the Tenshin Nasukawa gig.

    Is it possible that Floyd has gone rogue with this announcement and seriously needs to replenish his funds? One Twitter commenter speculated that a man who buys an $18 million watch will always need to keep the cash coming thick and fast.

    Other commenters on Twitter also chipped in with their opinions such as:

    “I wouldn’t be surprised if Mayweather isn’t doing as well financially as he would like everyone to believe. He has looked desperate in recent months, trying to set up fights with a number of fighters. Even a $300 million dollar payday can go fast if you spend the way he does.”

    Something doesn’t quite add up with these recent happenings. Is Floyd Mayweather just looking to take advantage of his fame while he still can, or are there some underlying problems in regards to his cash flow and the IRS? It will all come out in the wash and 50-Cent will be there to tell everyone about it on Instagram.

    Featured image from Pixabay.

  • David Beckham Owns London Mansion Worth Over $40m

    David Beckham Owns London Mansion Worth Over $40m

    In a recent Hello article about the 10 most expensive celebrity houses in the UK, it came as no surprise that David Beckham was in the top spot. The dashing former footballer owns a house in London that is worth over $40 million.

    In the late-1990s and early 2000s, David Beckham was simply the most famous footballer on the planet. Not the best, although pretty good, but definitely the most famous.

    David Beckham Hits Top Spot

    The $40 million house that should perhaps be called ‘Beckingham Palace,” is located in the luxurious and high-end Holland Park in West London. David and his wife Victoria purchased the mansion back in 2013 and spent a further $10 million on renovations and customizations.

    The home enjoys a very stately design features with an elegant monochrome color scheme. Although not much is known about the interior, only from a few Instagram posts from the Beckhams, the house is home to a coffee machine worth more than $3,000.

    The mansion fits in nicely with some of the Beckham’s other real estate purchases such as their $30 million Los Angeles house and their barn-conversion in the Cotswolds.

    David and Victoria Beckham Are Loaded

    His model-like chiseled looks, his football ability, and vast marketing appeal amassed David Beckham a jaw-dropping $750 million in career earnings just for kicking a pig’s bladder about a green field and looking good in a few photoshoots.

    During his football career, he played for some of the most famous football clubs in the world such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris SG, AC Milan, and LA Galaxy.

    David Beckham is also famously married to Victoria Beckham, more commonly known as former Spice Girl “Posh Spice.” Living up to her ‘posh’ moniker, it is said that Victoria’s net worth is also around the $450 million mark, which is impressive in its own rights.

    Also making the Hello list was megalomaniac music industry mogul Simon Cowell in second place. Former Take That pop star Robbie Williams came in third, while footballer Wayne Rooney and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver came in fourth and fifth respectively.

    Featured image from Shutterstock.

  • How Mike Tyson Spectacularly Lost His $400 Million Fortune

    How Mike Tyson Spectacularly Lost His $400 Million Fortune

    When it came to knocking out chumps in rapid succession, not many could match legendary heavyweight boxer “Iron” Mike Tyson. When it came to knocking out checks, he was just as prolific. At one point in time, Mike had $300 million in the bank and is said to have earned $400 million in total. But he blew it all in spectacular fashion.

    From fleets of luxury vehicles and entourages larger than the population of Luxembourg to Siberian tigers running around the garden and harems of hookers chillin’ back in the 21-bedroom crib, there are not many things Mike didn’t sample at the peak of his prowess.

    From Humble Beginnings to the Top of the World

    Flamboyant soul music singer Rick James once said: “Cocaine is one hell of a drug.” The same could be said of money and fame. What normal person goes from having $300 million in the bank to almost $50 million in debt in just over 10-years? The answer? No normal person.

    Mike Tyson is arguably ranked in the top-15 heavyweight boxers to ever step foot into the gladiatorial arena, but he’s ranked much higher in the pound-for-pound spectacular spending stakes.

    Mike went from an impoverished upbringing in late-1970s brutal Brownsville, New York, to becoming the youngest heavyweight champion of all-time, a household name and the most feared man on Planet Earth. He did all this before his 22nd birthday. He simply didn’t have the tools or coping mechanisms to deal with such attention, fame or money.

    Spending Millions the Mike Tyson Way

    From his professional boxing debut in 1985 until shockingly losing his title to Buster Douglas in 1990, life for Mike Tyson was going well by his own standards. Then it all started to go downhill.

    Less than a year after losing his world title, Mike was accused of raping Desiree Washington and sentenced to six years’ prison time. He still denies the charges today.

    When Mike was released from prison in 1995, after serving four years, he had a reported $300 million dollars in the bank to smoothen his transition back into normal life. As normal as Tyson could have. Here is a list of Mike’s spending habits in the first 33-months after being released from prison:

    • $4.5 million on cars and motorbikes (19 vehicles he bought for friends)
    • $100,000 per month on jewelry and clothes
    • $400,000 on pigeons and a variety of big cats such as Siberian tigers
    • $125,000 per year for an animal trainer to take care of the big cats
    • $240,000 per month for walking around money that he spent in daily life flexing
    • $300,000 on lawn care and garden maintenance alone
    • $230,000 on cell phones, pagers, and phone bills

    Houses, Vehicles, and Madness

    During this time period, Mike also bought a 21-bedroom/24-bathroom mansion in Connecticut with an on-site casino and a nightclub. He also purchased estates in Maryland, Las Vegas, and Ohio, where he had gold-plated furnishings and a basketball court.

    He is said to have purchased 111 cars in his lifetime. At his peak, he owned a limited edition Bentley Continental SC that cost $500,000 and was one of only 73 ever made.

    He owned several Ferraris, Lamborghinis, a Range Rover, a Mercedes-Benz 500 and a 1995 Rolls Royce which he later totaled in an accident and left at Tops-Auto garage and told them to keep it.

    He routinely lent friends his cars and forgot where he’d put them. He would send his employees out to find the estranged automobiles he borrowed to people that he couldn’t remember. It was like bounty hunting for vehicles.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsLE9vE1kpY

    Other Notable Purchases

    In his autobiography, Mike told the story of how he once found tens of thousands of dollars he had stashed two years previous in his laundry basket. Apparently, his crew would scramble to take Mike’s clothes to the launderette after that episode.

    Perhaps the most ridiculous purchase Mike ever made was a Christmas gift for his first wife Robin Givens. He bought her a golden bathtub for $2 million. Thank god it wasn’t a golden shower!

    The spending sprees and stories are endless. Devilish promoters such as Don King also had their pound of flesh from Tyson, alongside lots of other bloodsuckers. But he is adamant that it was all his fault. And that he had a great time regardless.

    Mike Tyson filed for bankruptcy in 2007, but he will never be truly broke or homeless. Even today he’s still known the world over and never fails to pique the interest of people young and old alike in a brutal, barbaric, sometimes beautiful, yet always compelling way.

    Featured image from Celebrity Pet-Worth

  • Pop Star Rihanna Separates from Saudi Billionaire Boyfriend

    Pop Star Rihanna Separates from Saudi Billionaire Boyfriend

    Did you know that renowned pop singer Rihanna has been dating a Saudi billionaire for the past year or so? Well, whether you did or no, it seems that the relationship has finally come to an end.

    The news is circulating that Rhianna has separated from her Saudi billionaire boyfriend Hassan Jameel in sources revealed by the entertainment website Hollywood Life.

    Rihanna and Her Relationship Woes

    Rihanna has been in the news over the past few days in regards to her sentiments toward US president Donald Trump using her music at a rally. However, this time she’s making the news again due to her relationship matters.

    Rihanna’s relationships sometimes get more hits than her music. Everyone can remember the Chris Brown domestic violence debacle in 2013. But thankfully, news reports suggest that her latest split is on much more amicable terms.

    Hassan Jameel is the deputy president of his family-owned business Abdul Latif Jameel. The company was once described in Forbes Middle East as the “world’s largest independent distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles.” The company has transportation and engineering operations in over 30 countries.

    Rihanna Is Single Again

    If you’re a self-respecting billionaire or business mogul, the news that Rihanna is single again must be music to your ears. She will have no shortage of suitors.

    The 30-year-old ‘Umbrella’ singer and multiple Grammy winner supposedly split with her Saudi billionaire boyfriend as the romance fizzled out of their relationship some time ago and the two are busy working on other projects. Sources close to Hollywood Life and Rihanna said that:

    “Rihanna is totally single again. Things kinda fizzled between her and Hassan a while ago. Their lives were really busy and it was hard for her because she often didn’t feel like a priority to him.”

    The pair hadn’t been seen in public together since July, so the entertainment media carousel had been speculating on the split for some time.

    Sources close to the pair also said that there might be a time in the future when the Saudi billionaire and Rihanna romantically reunite–but don’t hold your breath on that one.

    Featured image from Pixabay.

  • Danish Billionaire Anders Povlsen Buys a Slice of the Scottish Highlands

    Danish Billionaire Anders Povlsen Buys a Slice of the Scottish Highlands

    Did you know that Scotland’s biggest landowner is a Danish billionaire fashion mogul? Anders Povlsen owns a vast swathe of land in Scotland that totals 222,000 acres. And he’s not stopping there as he recently purchased the 1,100-acre Kinrara Estate.

    Known as the land of Braveheart, the home of Billy Connolly, James Bond, and legendary alcohol consumption rates, Scotland is not just historic, but also immensely beautiful.

    Anders Povlsen Buys Estate with 12-Bed Mansion

    Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen is not new to beautiful things. Indeed, the fashion mogul has built a vast empire and is now worth a reported $6.5 billion by Forbes.

    The clothing tycoon recently acquired the 1,100-acre Kinrara Estate and its 12-bedroom mansion that is located near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands. The reported sale price is $4.3 million. He recently became Scotland’s largest landowner overtaking the Duke of Buccleuch who owns an estimated 217,000 acres.

    The Danish billionaire basically owns more land in Scotland than the British Royal Family members such as Prince Charles and the Duke of Westminster.

    The estate is now owned by Povlsen’s Wildland Ltd. company, which is interested in maintaining and re-establishing native woodlands in the area. A statement on their official website says:

    “Over the coming years, we plan to re-establish native woodlands to their natural limits, including high-altitude mountain woodland. To restore peatlands, wetlands, and rivers and at the same time build support and understanding locally, nationally and internationally.”

    Getting to Know Mr. Povlsen

    Anders Povlsen is 46-years old, has four children, and is known for being a family man. He is regarded as the richest person in Denmark and was ranked #207 on the 2018 Forbes billionaire rich-list.

    The vast majority of his fortune is said to stem from sales from his retailer Bestseller, which was originally formed via his parents’ first stall in the Danish town of Ringkobing in 1975. He took over the family business when just 28-years-old and is now the sole owner of Bestseller.

    Mr. Povlsen is now the largest landowner in Scotland, and with his ecologically sound ethos to restoring the surrounding nature, it is refreshing to hear that someone is dedicated to preserving the stunning Scotish Highlands.

    Featured image by BT.

  • Remember Vanilla Ice? Still Making $800K a Year and Worth $9 Million

    Remember Vanilla Ice? Still Making $800K a Year and Worth $9 Million

    Did you know that contrary to popular belief, 1990s pop-rapper Vanilla Ice isn’t broke? The word is on the streets, or should I say in the divorce courts, that the Ice Ice Baby star is still turning over $800,000 per annum and is worth around $9 million.

    Contemporary rivals of Vanilla Ice such as MC Hammer are long broke and bankrupt, but the former flat-top wearer is still blinged-up to the max and doing quite well for himself.

    Vanilla Ice Gets a Bad Rap

    Vanilla Ice gets a bad rap (excuse the pun). People naturally assume that Ice, real name Rob Van Winkle, was some kind of fake middle-class suburban rapper that was used by the record industry because of his snow-like complexion and his appeal to the white American mainstream. Like the Elvis Presley of modern times, but without the hip-gyrations and talent. Not true on all accounts.

    Rob was actually a street kid who grew up in Southern Texas, and also had some skills by all accounts. However, the lure of pop fame encouraged Ice to water down his sound in favor of a more palatable and marketable approach that saw the rapper sell more than 160 million units since in his career.

    Rumors of Rob being broke or being dangled off a building by Death Row Records Suge Knight to sign over publishing rights might well be legendary music industry stories, but it seems that the former is definitely not true. The latter? Sounds about right!

    Divorce Settlement Reveals Vanilla Ice’s Worth

    It has recently come to the surface that Rob Van Winkle is doing pretty well. The details of his divorce settlement with former wife Laura Van Winkle were recently unearthed by the Daily Mail newspaper and hold some interesting facts in regards to Vanilla Ice’s financial situation.

    Rob is still raking in a fortune even 30-years after first hitting the scene. An official affidavit revealed that Ice is still making $68,000 per month income and has liquid assets, which are mostly cash, of nearly $3 million.

    The ‘Play That Funky Music White Boy’ white boy owns 15 properties, a boat and a load of other assets that total just over $5 million.

    Although Ice is still wealthy, he can expect his funds to drop a couple of decimals as he is now ordered to pay his former wife $10,000 a month, plus a further $110,000 to make up for failed payments over the past 11 months.

    Featured image by D Magazine.

  • Mariah Carey Paid $50m Million Inconvenience Fee by Ex-Fiancé

    Mariah Carey Paid $50m Million Inconvenience Fee by Ex-Fiancé

    Is being paid $50 million to “go away” embarrassing or a damn fine paycheck? It depends who you are. World-famous pop songstress Mariah Carey was paid the “inconvenience fee” by ex-fiancé James Packer when the couple separated in 2016.

    Mariah Carey is a multiple Grammy Award winner and had 18 number-1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in her illustrious singing career. And although she is good at choosing a magical melody, she doesn’t seem so great at choosing a man. Or does she?

    Golden Handshake for Mariah Carey

    The revelation that Mariah Carey was paid $50 million as an ‘inconvenience fee’ to go away has come to light in her ex-fiancé’s new book, The Price of Fortune: The Untold Story of Being James Packer.

    The Australian billionaire investor has a net worth of $3.6 billion and he wasn’t shy in relinquishing $50 million to get Mariah out of the picture.

    Carey and Packer were together for approximately 18-months, which is quite a long time for a Hollywood relationship. The 51-year-old Packer called off their engagement in 2016 and amidst the breakup. Packer has confirmed he became very toxic at this time. According to the book, he paid Carey a cold $50 million as an inconvenience fee for breaking up with her.

    Relationship Ended Due to Depression

    Packer proposed to Carey in January 2016 and gave her a stunning 35-carat diamond ring that was worth $10 million. However, within a month Packing was having issues and was in his own words “struggling” and “in a bad, bad way” with depression and mental illness. It dramatically affected his relationship with Carey and he called off their engagement just a month later.

    In a way, the news from the book shed Mariah in a good light. At the time, the entertainment media thought the famous songstress was to blame for the split, but they couldn’t have been further from the truth. Rumors were rife that Carey’s spending habits were affecting her relationship with the billionaire investor, but it was all bluster.

    Mariah might not be so fortunate with men, but in terms of money, she has done well. The inconvenience fee is not the first time Mariah has been given a lump sum to get out of the picture.

    Back in 2001, she signed a new 5-year record deal with Virgin Records worth $100 million. She was given a signing fee upfront of $21 million. She only went on to make one album on that deal and was paid a further $28 million by Virgin to eventually get her off the label.

    In essence, Mariah Carey was paid $49 million for one album that only sold 3 million copies. That’s nearly as impressive as $50 million for an 18-month relationship. Good for you Mariah!

    Featured image from Biography.

  • Queen Biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” Expects to Make $35 Million in First Weekend

    Queen Biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” Expects to Make $35 Million in First Weekend

    No-one could strut their funky stuff quite like Queen lead singer and rock music icon Freddie Mercury. The new Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” starring actor Rami Malek trying to fill Mercury’s gargantuan shoes, is expected to make $35 million in its first weekend.

    From We Will Rock You and Radio Gaga to Killer Queen and the movie’s title Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen was not just a band but an entire musical genre. Glitzy and glamorous but with real substance, has there ever been a more charismatic frontman than the mercurial Mercury? Probably not.

    Bohemian Rhapsody Movie Launch

    Bohemian Rhapsody the movie, not the song, is a Fox production and will debut this weekend in 4,000 theaters across America. The movie is expected to gross $35 million in the first weekend alone, which will cover most of the $50 million costs of filming and producing the musical.

    The biopic is set in the early-1970s and follows the meteoric rise of Freddie Mercury and Queen. There has been some mixed response from critics, although one of the constants is the praise for Malek’s portrayal of the genius that was Freddie.

    Let’s hope that the turmoil behind the scenes has not had a negative impact in regards to what we see on the big screen. Hollywood bigwig Bryan Singer was originally tasked with the job of directing the film, but constant absences on set saw Fox put a halt to the production. David Fletcher was then hired to replace Singer as let the show much go on!

    Performing Well in the United Kingdom

    The biographical musical opened across the United Kingdom last weekend, grossing $12.2, which is massive for a single weekend in the UK market. The high numbers make Bohemian Rhapsody one of the best debuts in British history.

    It’s hardly surprising that a film about the life and trials of Freddie Mercury and Queen is going down well in the band’s homeland.

    Queen was worshipped like gods back in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s in Great Britain. If you ever get the chance to catch Queen’s live performances on YouTube at Wembley Stadium back in 1986, you will be witness to one of the greatest performances in music history.

    Let’s hope Bohemian Rhapsody does Freddie Mercury the justice he deserves as one of music’s all-time greats.

    Featured image from Variety.

  • Red Dead Redemption 2 Makes Historic $750 Million in First Weekend

    Red Dead Redemption 2 Makes Historic $750 Million in First Weekend

    Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) made a record-breaking $750 million in its opening weekend and is being touted as one of the best video games of all-time.

    The buzz surrounding the game has been off the charts, and rightly so. If you’ve not already jumped in the saddle to become Arthur Morgan and the ragtag Dutch Van Der Linde Gang, what are you waiting for?

    Record-Breaking Figures for Red Dead Redemption 2

    Rockstar Games’ epic wild west open-world cowboy extravaganza was launched on October 26 to a chorus of ‘yeehaws’ and gunfire. It seems the commotion and hype are well deserved.

    In the first three days of its weekend launch, Red Dead Redemption 2 has already made a record-breaking $725 million in worldwide sales and is a runaway horse-drawn carriage that is out of control. The sales are the largest ever in the opening weekend in the history of the entertainment industry.

    The previous highest earning game during an opening weekend was earlier this year as ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ made a massive $640 million. Red Dead Redemption 2 has careered by that figure.

    However, RDR2 is not the highest-grossing entertainment launch ever. That title goes to Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V that amassed over $1 billion in sales in their first three days. The GTA V game was released on a Tuesday so its opening weekend was not as successful as RDR2.

    From Street Crime to the Wild West

    Rockstar Games has taken the best elements from their Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series,
    and evolved them into a fully-immersive wild west world on the final frontier set in the late-1800s.

    Gunslinger extraordinaire and all-around tough guy Arthur Morgan is the main character of the game. He is currently on the run with the Dutch Van Der Linde Gang after a bodged robbery attempt in Blackwater. The gang are looking for a place to make a new home in the West but need to keep a low-profile until the heat goes subsides.

    Alongside a story mode that is over 65 hours long, you can enjoy all manner of cowboy activities such as robbing a train, playing poker and dominoes, getting drunk and fighting in a local saloon, gun-drawing contests, prison breaks, bank robbing and much more.

    You can catch grizzly bears, set up camp in the middle of nowhere, bond with your horse, and hunt for a vast array of creatures which you can then skin and eat. The activities are endless.

    The game has only been available for a week and is already receiving much critical acclaim from the gaming world.

    As sales of Red Dead Redemption 2 continue to soar, it’s time to strap on your holster, spit out the chewing tobacco and to round up a posse of cutthroats and ruffians. Sounds like a normal night out in Northern England!

    Featured image from Windows Central.