In December 2022, Justin Bieber sold the rights to his extensive music catalog to Hipgnosis Songs Capital for a reported $200 million. A recent TMZ documentary, TMZ Investigates: What Happened to Justin Bieber?, claims this sale was driven by severe financial distress. Despite reportedly earning between $500 million and $1 billion throughout his career, Bieber was allegedly close to financial collapse. TMZ executive producer Harvey Levin stated that debts from the canceled Justice World Tour contributed significantly to Bieber’s dire financial state.
Urgent Catalog Sale and Lavish Spending Habits Point to Bieber’s Financial Struggles
According to the documentary, when Bieber’s former manager Scooter Braun became aware of the potential sale, he advised Bieber to postpone the transaction until January 2023 for a possible tax benefit. However, Levin claims Bieber refused, saying, “I gotta sell it now,” indicating just how urgently he needed the funds. This urgency, Levin argues, was further evidence of the severity of Bieber’s financial predicament.
Justin Bieber’s $200M Catalog Sale Sparks Questions About Debt, Tour Losses, and Personal TurmoilWhile the exact cause of Bieber’s financial troubles remains unclear, the documentary highlights several examples of extravagant spending. One TMZ staffer revealed that Bieber operated eight tour buses during the Justice World Tour, spending $2 million to renovate just one. Additionally, Bieber reportedly traveled via private jets and made large cash purchases of luxury real estate, which may have strained his finances significantly.
Tour Losses, Doubts Over Claims, and Growing Concerns About Bieber’s Personal Well-Being
The cancellation of the Justice World Tour in 2022 also had major financial consequences. Don Nash, another TMZ executive producer, claims that Bieber stood to earn $90 million if he had completed the tour. This lost revenue appears to have compounded his financial difficulties, pushing him further toward the decision to sell his music catalog.
The documentary’s claims have been met with pushback. A representative for Bieber declined to comment, while another insider criticized the documentary’s sources, calling the allegations “clickbait stupidity.” Despite this, concerns remain about Bieber’s well-being. A source told PEOPLE that the singer is currently battling personal issues and making questionable decisions that are affecting his relationships and business. These developments come as he and his wife Hailey recently welcomed their first child, Jack Blues.