Rihanna is rich as shit and is worth about $45 million these days – certainly enough to ensure that she’s well set for life. However, this wasn’t always the case, and in fact she was apparently close to bankruptcy back in 2009 when some shitty accountant at Berdon LLP lost $9 million of her money. She’s not taking things lying down, either – she’s suing!
From the New York Daily News:
The 25-year-old pop star, whose real name is Robyn Fenty, says accountant Peter Gounis of Berdon LLP recommended she purchase a $7.5 million Beverly Hills mansion in 2009 — so she went ahead and bought it.
“Mr. Gounis advised Ms. Fenty that she could afford to purchase [the home] at a time when Ms. Fenty was in financial dismay,” her court documents say.
“In 2009, Ms. Fenty was ‘running out of cash’ and Mr. Gounis knew this,” the papers say, quoting a deposition in Rihanna’s federal breach of contract and negligence lawsuit.
“Ms. Fenty’s accounts were so diminished that requested wire transfers would not go through. In fact, Ms. Fenty was effectively bankrupt at the end of 2009.”
“Mr. Gounis was fully apprised of Ms. Fenty’s financial condition, yet, nonetheless, failed to advise her that the purchase would be unwise,” her new court papers say. “In fact, in or around March 2009, defendants advised Ms. Fenty by email that purchasing a home in Los Angeles ‘would be a good investment.’ ”
That’s not all, either – apparently the accountant knew that her Last Girl On Earth Tour was going to lose money and yet failed to advise her on this, as well.
Some people might say that Rihanna should have known better, etc, but when you’re not super on the ball with money and you’ve got so much of it, this is why you hire someone who IS good at it and who can help you manage it in a smart way. If this dude was a good accountant, he’d have paid more attention to these things and helped his client more effectively manage her investments.
Of course, Gounis isn’t taking any responsibility for his negligence, saying only:
“These allegations are false,” Thomas Manisero, a lawyer for Berdon LLP, said Wednesday. “Berdon acted properly concerning Ms. Fenty’s affairs.”
LOL, kay. He was fired in 2010.