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Original poster

How do seemingly minor celebs afford lavish lifestyles?

202 replies

likemindedarseholes · 27/03/2022 23:24

Reading a Heat magazine and James (formally of Busted) mentioned living in the Hollywood hills. Also these 'Cribs' style programmes where someone who had one hit or was in one reality show has a great looking house... what's the secret?
Are they rented houses? Did James from Busted invest well? And how do people like Katie Price spend it all, she must have made loads with all the books, perfumes, tv shows? How??

OP posts:
TheyCallMeJune · 27/03/2022 23:27

Lots of ex singers do songwriting and get very wealthy from that.

I do wonder though how some of the ex TOWIE cast have got so rich when they weren't a huge part of the cast and aren't talented in any way.

VivienneDelacroix · 27/03/2022 23:28

Loads of the houses on Cribs weren't actually theirs. They were hired.

TheyCallMeJune · 27/03/2022 23:29

Also I think when celebs spend it all, they get used to a certain lavish lifestyle when they're at the height of the fame and earning potential. Their fame then dwindles and they're not earning anywhere near as much money yet they carry on living in a lavish, expensive way.

Anon778833 · 27/03/2022 23:29

Instagram / YouTube?

No matter how much money you have, if you’re bad with money you’ll lose it. Sarah Ferguson for example.

Andgettingcaughtintherain · 27/03/2022 23:30

It’s going to come up at some point it always does on threads about how that group of people make money, so I am warning you now DO NOT Google Dubai escort or portapotty. Just don’t.

Original poster
likemindedarseholes · 27/03/2022 23:30

Help me out with James from Busted then. Not mega famous, I don't think they were the songwriters. Hollywood hills is pretty exclusive, if selling sunset is to be believed.

OP posts:
ChatterMonkey · 27/03/2022 23:30

James from busted is a pretty successful songwriter, and it wasnt too long ago that busted were releasing an album and doing a tour that filled some pretty big stadiums so there will be quite a bit of recent money.

Not sure about houses etc but i know a lot of the designer clothes, holidays etc will be because they are gifted as long aas they post on social media about it.

Coronado2 · 27/03/2022 23:31

@VivienneDelacroix

Loads of the houses on Cribs weren't actually theirs. They were hired.
Someone told me this recently and I was genuinely shocked!
ChatterMonkey · 27/03/2022 23:31

And yes james from busted was the songwriter for all busteds songs.

Original poster
likemindedarseholes · 27/03/2022 23:32

I suppose I was under the impression that being a singer was not actually that lucrative. The Backstreet Boys famously made about 5k each per year in their first five years, because of terrible contracts.

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Original poster
likemindedarseholes · 27/03/2022 23:33

@ChatterMonkey genuinely didn't know that, what a bloke!

OP posts:
TheyCallMeJune · 27/03/2022 23:34

If James from Busted is living in the States now he's probably writing songs for American artists and making a mint from royalties

Original poster
likemindedarseholes · 27/03/2022 23:34

@TheyCallMeJune I agree! Someone like Diags or similar, someone I don't even know from Heat magazine, how are they living the life?

OP posts:
ChatterMonkey · 27/03/2022 23:36

www.allmusic.com/artist/james-bourne-mn0001069918/credits

(Can you tell im a massive busted fan and have adored James since i was about 13...? 😂)

HollowedOut · 27/03/2022 23:37

James from Busted is a really successful songwriter. Andi Peters is another one I always think of as being a minor celeb but he owns a load of TV competition companies and is minted.

It’s people like Love Islanders/ Towie stars that I get confused about. Sure, when they were on the show and shortly afterwards but loads of them seem to have properly lavish lifestyles when they haven’t been relevant for years and can’t have made that much from their original appearances and product placementsz

WhereIsMyBlind · 27/03/2022 23:42

Not related to James from Busted, but I know of someone totally unknown and unfamous who wrote a BeeGees song and literally lived off the very good royalties for the rest of their lives. Not in Hollywood Hills, but still had a comfortable existence and raised a family etc.

veevee04 · 27/03/2022 23:42

For towie/ love islanders it will be Instagram getting freebies and "influencing" James from busted I have no idea he might have invested his cash while he was at his peak. Not all celebs piss their money up the wall .

TheHoptimist · 28/03/2022 00:11

@veevee04

For towie/ love islanders it will be Instagram getting freebies and "influencing" James from busted I have no idea he might have invested his cash while he was at his peak. Not all celebs piss their money up the wall .
I saw them live when my children were young He was so drugged up he could hardly stand.
Couchbettato · 28/03/2022 00:16

Once you've got money, it's easier to make money through smart investments and once you've got fame, if you make yourself available you get connections and some of those are life long.

So for people like James it's a case of who you know, and making smart choices in between his busted career.

converseandjeans · 28/03/2022 00:42

Lots of TOWIE people get done for dodgy stuff. So it's either dodgy money or they do well on TikTok and insta with marketing stuff.

brokengoalposts · 28/03/2022 01:44

I know someone who was a finalist, I think they came third, on Pop Stars as did then pretty much disappeared out of the limelight straight away. This person is working non stop in productions in Las Vegas, Dubai etc. you probably don't remember them but they now own several properties around the world and are very wealthy. It's not a case of get to the top of the charts or you're not successful.

lickenchugget · 28/03/2022 02:00

There’s Towie ‘stars’ near me. They film in their in laws’ kitchens (they actually live in tiny, grotty flats), pretending it’s theirs. Their cars are leased, it’s all smoke and mirrors. Their designer gear is fake from North Weald market. Agree with PP, any money they do make is by dodgy means or instaflogging.

expat101 · 28/03/2022 02:15

they don't afford it, their Manager organises photo shoots and the like at better homes that belong to someone else as promotional material.

An example that I personally know of. There was a former UK personality who moved o/s for a period of time. Her photo appeared in a ''womens'' mag showing the beautiful coastal home she owned, the brand new very luxury car she was driving and how wonderful life was for her...

The reality is she doesn't drive, the car was on loan from brand name dealer, the house belonged to a relation of ours, and not long after she left for USA, but is now back in UK.

I just found an article about her and its skimmed over a lot of detail and esp. how she was earning a living before returning to the UK.

Kanaloa · 28/03/2022 03:11

I know he’s written for some other bands eg 5 seconds of summer. Maybe he’s invested well or bought a big load of flats and rented them out. You can never know can you?

BritWifeInUSA · 28/03/2022 04:20

James from Busted owns a skating/clothing brand over here in the US. I imagine there’s a considerable amount of money in that.