Lady Gaga sure seems to be living large. Perhaps a bit too large. The flamboyant singer is reportedly flying around on not one, or even two, but
three private jets during her current tour.
I know celebrities like to get around in style, but my goodness. You can really only be in one place at a time. And even if you are flying the friendly skies in a manner that most people can only dream about, you can still only physically be in ONE private jet at a time. I suppose, of course, that Lady Gaga has the usual multi-person entourage. So perhaps she wants her whole crew to enjoy luxury travel too.
But here's a free tip for Lady Gaga from
The Money Coach: Beware of the perils of over-spending and of supporting a great big entourage. You don't want to wind up in bankruptcy court, like
MC Hammer did, or even struggle with massive credit card debt, like
Lindsay Lohan, who reportedly owes $600,000 on plastic.
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The Eccentrics
Grace Jones
As one of the definitive icons of the 1980's, Grace Jones' androgynous style helped define a decade. The 5'10 " actress, model, and singer was a willing muse for many an artist. This 1983 photo of her in this Japanese-inspired outfit is true to her edgy and frankly scary style.
Pete Souza, Official White House Photo
BlackVoices.com
The Eccentrics
Andre Leon Talley
With no fear of color or ostentatious design, the 6'8" mammoth editor-at-large of 'Vogue' proudly and unabashedly wears whatever he desires. In this picture, his large and intricate silk kimono is upstaged only by his equally large patent-leather "pilgrim" shoes.
The Eccentrics
Lil' Kim
One of the first females to push the envelope of sexuality in hip-hop, Queen B has had an equally boisterous presence on the fashion scene. Whether it be revealing chain-link bustiers or painted-on outfits with breasts covered only by a pasty, she has done it all. Pictured here is a more modern (and decidedly less brazen) Kim as she sports this metallic green getup.
The Eccentrics
T-Pain
T-Pain has established himself as the king of cameos with his signature "autotune" vocals. And with a sound so unique, it would only make sense that his style be just as flagrant, leading the blonde-tipped, dread-locked singer to wear interesting variations of his signature top hot. Only a true ringmaster (as he likes to refer to himself ) could conceive of such a brilliant outfit.
The Eccentrics
Grace Jones
As one of the definitive icons of the 1980's, Grace Jones' androgynous style helped define a decade. The 5'10 " actress, model, and singer was a willing muse for many an artist. This 1983 photo of her in this Japanese-inspired outfit is true to her edgy and frankly scary style.
The Eccentrics
Janelle Monae
With a distinctive style and excellent vocals to match, this Kansas City singer and recent P. Diddy protege is slowly but surely creating her own niche in music. Waist-high pants, knee-high socks, a Colonel Sanders tie, a top heavy hair style and two-tone leather bowling shoes can be quite an unusual combination.
The Eccentrics
Zoe Kravitz
The offspring of two of the most eccentric people in Hollywood, parents Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet, Zoe was seemingly destined to come into her own eccentricity at some point. A fan of the whole grungy, hole-in-the shoe vibe, she rarely disappointments with her simple yet intriguing fashion derelict sense.
The Eccentrics
Teyana Taylor
This young Harlem rapstress and singer has been making noise since 2007 when she appeared on MTV's Super Sweet 16. Now a Pharrell protege and a new signee to his label Star Trak Entertainment, she has been making her rounds as a fashionista with her punk-meets-hip-hop style and exceedingly large Afro.
The Eccentrics
Michael Jackson
No this not a picture of a Muslim woman in Saudi Arabia. It is actually none other than the King of Pop himself. Perhaps more than anyone else, MJ is the embodiment of an eccentric. Evolving from his more traditional garb of admiral jackets and white silk shirts, Michael has taken to wearing pajama bottoms and full-body coverings such as the one pictured here.
The Eccentrics
Andre J
Defining himself as unconfined by gender and social conventions, NYC muse Andre J is making an indelible mark in fashion. He can often be seen with a wig, a fashionable dress and... a beard. Here he poses at event with blond wig and his grizzly facial curtain in full effect.
The Eccentrics
Andre 3000
Perhaps hip-hop's most refreshingly different innovators, Andre 3000 veers far from convention as he favors a variety of digs, from space boots to orange slacks to even this unexplainable, possibly native American-inspired design. Coupled with his eccentric taste is his uncanny ability to look impeccably fashionable in any situation.
The Eccentrics
Needless to say, private jet travel isn't cheap. One private charter company flying around singers and other wealthy clients is
JetSelect Aviation, LLC, which has a fleet of 20 Bombadier aircraft. The company's CEO, Robert Austin, told me that the private travel arena has recently been booming and that his business was up 45% in the first quarter of 2010 -- thanks to increased action from Wall Street and entertainers. "We do musicians. They go on tour and we fly them to their destinations. Then there might be five days in between their gigs," Austin said. The CEO also related that his company has flown Lady Gaga three times.
JetSelect's cost for a typical mid-size private jet: "About $3,000 per hour," Austin said.
Perhaps that's why, during the economic downturn and amid rising fuel prices in 2008, even P. Diddy cooled it for a while with his private jet.
Diddy famously created a YouTube video, saying that he'd grounded his private mega-jet, in favor of getting around -- more economically -- via American Airlines (first class, of course). According to Diddy, he was paying about $200,000, just to take two round trip flights a month between Los Angeles and New York. I think (and hope, for his sake) that Diddy was jokingly exaggerating his actual bill to make a point that private travel costs a small fortune.
Still, let's hope Lady Gaga learns a serious lesson from Diddy about how to control costs and manage those dollars -- even while she appears to have lots of them. Otherwise, Lady Gaga will wind up as another broke celebrity, owing the tax man, and regretting that she's become a member of the
formerly rich and famous.
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has also been featured in top newspapers including the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times bestseller,
'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'
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Comments: (11)
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By: udo on 4/24/2010 5:42PM
It seems the story is a bit twisted out of context. Lady Gaga does use 3 jets - actually three 747's - but those are cargo carriers, needed to fly her stage across the ocean. Those are NOT personal jets for her own use.
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By: TheNCMan on 4/26/2010 6:37AM
@ UDO ... now that would certainly make a no brainer perfect sense that those would be jets for cargo carriers since her stage show is so extreme ...thanks for that insite ... now Lady Ga Ga is a lot of things but a lack of a business mind is one I don't think so ... do not let the get-up fool you that she is just as surface as her costumes ... thats a true entertainer / business women behind all that fluff fluff ... one better believe that ... she is the new generation x Modanna and Mondanna certainly did not make it all these decades not being a true entertainer / business women as well. The media gets on my f#cking nerve ... they twist readers minds to believe the story they paint ... and most times if we chip away at the bad surface paint job they do we would see the real picture / art behind all the fluff fluff ... just like Lady GaGa going into character the media does the same ... its all to sell but we decide what we are going to buy into
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By: Ann on 4/26/2010 7:53AM
Hmm
Diddy is known for not paying his people that could have something to do with why he has so much..ya think? When he had making the band on tv those kids werent being paid on time or at all. Their families were depending on them to be sending monies home and apparently there was known to be sent. Yeah so if your making your money off he little guy and not payin them their fair share yeah you can make it big. I cant stand Diddy and I will never buy or watch anything to support his arrogant ass.
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By: LaTosha Stanfield on 4/26/2010 4:34PM
As usual a crappy reporter finds a fluff article to pull in readers by name dropping. Laddy GAGA is beyond Wealthy. The writer sounds to me like a big ol' hater. So what the woman has 3 jets, 3 trailer tractors, or what ever... it is her BUSINESS. If she does go broke, your ass isn't going to give her one thin dime to help her. So stop hating. It's illegal to hate where I come from. I appreciate everyone answering back to this topic. Because indusrty insiders know best. Not some bougie, half-assed, fluff, mud-raker. NO offense, but she could have written a financial column without talking up or down on a favorite celebs. You don't have to name drop to get readers honey. All you have to do is be factual.
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By: meanvee on 4/26/2010 10:31AM
I don't think that will happen to Lady Gaga, for some reason female celebrities seem to handle their money better than male celebrities, they don't put themselfs in a position to get taken advantage of, when you think of celebs who blew their fortunes, first names that come up is Hammer, Tyson and so on, no females.
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By: ooozzzzz on 4/26/2010 10:39AM
Lada Gaga will probably go down in financial flames not too long from now and this article has it right; she needs to seek some serious financial advice and understand the complete dymanics of her current financial status and pay attention to the current state of America's economics, the recession that were in, fans with no jobs and saving their money and how it will affect her.
What looks good on the outside does not mean that it's good on the inside and the average super star musician/entertainer konws music, they don't, themselves, understand money and financial responsibility and if you don't understand and have others you hire to manage your money, outside of your daily expenses and what you pay them, they are probably ripping you off.
Diddy probably got his wake up call when at the beginning of this severe recession in 2008, that he stated that he could no longer afford on a regular basis, the luxuries for himself & his crew(s) flying first class and using private jets for travel & all expenses involved and Diddy is a long term seasoned mega superstar whereas Lady Gaga is an upstart; new artist, just getting into the game and making money.
And Diddy, just like other artists, are not producing, selling and making the millions the hits today that made him those multi-millions earlier in his career. Downloading, file sharing, ITunes, the lack od positive CD sales, the closing of music stores franchises all across the nation, fan changing taste in music has changed (coupled with this recession) has seriously cut ino the revenues of the overall music business.
And for Lady Gaga, Diddy should be an example for scaling back but also look at Toni Braxton and TLC, who both went broke and had to file for bankruptcy protection, thereby losing their careers while they were at their peak. And if she really wants to revisit musical history, just look back at "P=Funk" George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic. They lost multi-millions with lawsuits, bad business decisions, drugs, taxes, bankruptcy, lawyer/legal fees, paying hundred of thousands in salaries and expenses monthly with their large multi-persons entourage, extremely large stage shows and all the expenses that come with it. We fans certainly had fun (the same today for Lady Gaga fans) but in the end, "P-Funk" lost and just recently, George Clinton's mother died and he could not even afford to buy a casket and pay for her funeral.
Now George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic have been and now are completely broke, They perform now to pay off millions in old debt and in order to just stay afloat. Toni Braxton? Filed for bankruptcy just recently for the second time. TLC? A member loss and never recovered their careers.
Plus many who read this don't realize that all expenses: those 3+ private jets, roadies, hotels, meals, jet fuel, huge stage show/staging equipment, promotions, advertising, crew salaries, insurance etc all come out of her pocket and not directly from the record company. The record company makes money from sales of her music in both CD sales and concerts. The stage shows, her choice of clothes/costumes, stage shows, videos, her celebrity persona, body guards, entrouage etc are all her personal choices and decisions to represent herself and her celebrity and if she stops making those mega dollar selling hits? Just like the ones I mentioned earlier, she will also be broke and be in bankruptcy court.
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By: LJ on 4/26/2010 2:08PM
not true at all look at Toni Braxton she owes everybody and their mama money including IRS
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By: droz652aol.com on 4/26/2010 3:13PM
You know your stuff, Ooozzzzz!! You are so on point!! Celebrity status, nowadays, especially, has gone crazy. Trying to maintain this "image" of being an "Idol/Superstar persona. Living up to that IMAGE/PERSONA has come to being waaaay more previlant as a lifestyle in pop music culture. The more "mega" you are supposedly gives this impression to the media or the public that they're "doing big". Yet, in actuality, only leading over 50% of the so-called "rich and famous" celebrities broke. Recouplable extreme costs incurred by the musician/artists are the fault of the management and the artist themselves. It's simple math. Don't spend what you don't have or haven't yet made. Fans make you "Superstars/Megastars"...First, allow the fan base to accumulate becoming CONSUMERS of your product and merchandise, attend your fully capacity venues and build you up to the mega status, before "flossing" to try living up to the expectation of something you've not really become financially. People on the Internet with youtube videos get millions of hits part of being a "famous person" is what partially defines being a "celebrity". And, having the tangible financial status of a millionare or billionare lifestyle doesn"t necessarily put you as a celebrity. There are MANY wealthy unknown people. And, a clear difference. It's all twisted now and thanks to the hardheaded artists, thier labels, managements, and CPA's, which most honest CPA's do go crazy over handling and warning their frivolous spending clients while other dishonest ones just let them go buckwild and rip them off, allow these artists to over spend beyond their realistic projected return of profit. (SMH)
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By: droz65 on 4/26/2010 3:18PM
You know your stuff, Ooozzzzz!! You are so on point!! Celebrity status, nowadays, especially, has gone crazy. Trying to maintain this "image" of being an "Idol/Superstar persona. Living up to that IMAGE/PERSONA has come to being waaaay more previlant as a lifestyle in pop music culture. The more "mega" you are supposedly gives this impression to the media or the public that they're "doing big". Yet, in actuality, only leading over 50% of the so-called "rich and famous" celebrities broke. Recouplable extreme costs incurred by the musician/artists are the fault of the management and the artist themselves. It's simple math. Don't spend what you don't have or haven't yet made. Fans make you "Superstars/Megastars"...First, allow the fan base to accumulate becoming CONSUMERS of your product and merchandise, attend your fully capacity venues and build you up to the mega status, before "flossing" to try living up to the expectation of something you've not really become financially. People on the Internet with youtube videos get millions of hits part of being a "famous person" is what partially defines being a "celebrity". And, having the tangible financial status of a millionare or billionare lifestyle doesn"t necessarily put you as a celebrity. There are MANY wealthy unknown people. And, a clear difference. It's all twisted now and thanks to the hardheaded artists, thier labels, managements, and CPA's, which most honest CPA's do go crazy over handling and warning their frivolous spending clients while other dishonest ones just let them go buckwild and rip them off, allow these artists to over spend beyond their realistic projected return of profit. (SMH)
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By: Oatmealius Cornealius Vanderbilt on 5/13/2010 1:52PM
Lady GaGa has it together, she's Hot right now, the money she is making on Tour Pays for the Jets, Trucks, Lifestyle with no problem. As long as she is Touring she can spend. It's part of the Game.
Remember when the Best Rock And Roll Band of All Time
back in 1973 put their name on the Side of a Huge Boing 720 Jet and called it, "The StarShip or StarShip One"? That's right, it was Led Zeppelin.
They set the Standard for Rock And Roll Travel and it's only getting better.
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