50 Cent Forced to Admit His Stacks of Cash on Instagram Were Fake

Benjamin SnyderBy Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor
Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor

Benjamin Snyder is Fortune's managing editor, leading operations for the newsroom.

Prior to rejoining Fortune, he was a managing editor at Business Insider and has worked as an editor for Bloomberg, LinkedIn and CNBC, covering leadership stories, sports business, careers and business news. He started his career as a breaking news reporter at Fortune in 2014.

"Escape Plan" New York Premiere - Inside Arrivals
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 15: Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson attends "Escape Plan" New York Premiere at Regal E-Walk on October 15, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)
Photograph by Dave Kotinsky — Getty Images

50 Cent, who is in bankruptcy court defending himself before a judge, said stacks of cash used in some of his Instagram photos were fake.

The rapper, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, had posted the photos in recent months after declaring bankruptcy. The move prompted Judge Ann Nevins to grow suspicious of his financial claims.

“I’m concerned about allegations of nondisclosure and a lack of transparency in the case,” Judge Nevins said, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Here are the photos:
https://www.instagram.com/p/-j4dt2sLyj/

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/80Hm94sL2w/

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/8zy-nCsLyL/

 

50 Cent, however, submitted a written declaration to the court saying that it was actually part of the allure of his personal brand as a celebrity. “Hip-hop culture is widely recognized as aspirational in nature,” according to the statement. “The standard by which artists and fans engage is commonly tied to money, jewelry, products and advertising over social media.”

“Products and brands are now marketed through social media as an effective way to engage with consumers,” he added.

50 Cent explained that he’s trying to protect his image. “Just because I am sensitive to the needs of maintaining my brand does not mean that I am hiding assets or that I have lied on my filings in this Bankruptcy Case,” he wrote, “neither of which is true.”

Jackson filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in July after losing a $7 million sex-tape dispute to Lastonia Leviston. He is said to owe $30 million total to other creditors as well, including Leviston.