How rich musicians billed American taxpayers for luxury hotels, shopping sprees, and million-dollar bonuses
Briefly

Lil Wayne, also known as Dwayne Carter Jr., navigated the pandemic uniquely by profiting from master recordings sales totaling over $100 million, while simultaneously obtaining a staggering $8.9 million through a pandemic-relief program. This grant seemingly funded an extravagant lifestyle, covering luxury hotel stays, private jet flights, and high-end fashion purchases that appeared unrelated to his music career, raising questions about accountability in government assistance.
The investigation revealed that Lil Wayne misappropriated nearly $175,000 of taxpayer money for a music festival related to his marijuana brand, GKUA, including extravagant expenses like clothing for artists. Further scrutiny was drawn towards his spending habits, which included covering flights and accommodations for women with unclear connections to his tour, blurring the line between business use and personal indulgence.
Despite earning substantial profits and living lavishly, Lil Wayne's decision to tap into government relief funds, particularly during a time when many artists struggled financially, painted a controversial picture of exploiting pandemic aid, highlighting ongoing issues of fairness and oversight within relief programs that were designed to assist those truly in need.
Read at Business Insider
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