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'Celebrity Apprentice' Finale: Who Got Hired?
Shortly after everyone viewed the secret wedding photos of Swizz and Alicia marrying in Italy, we could barely get out our oohs and ahhhs before tax documents surfaced showing Dean owes $2.4 million in taxes. Accumulating since 2006-2008, the total is part of a larger seven-year debt due to 35 different tax liens from the IRS.
Keys certainly has money of her own -- as does Beatz, who, according to Forbes, made $8 million in 2008 alone -- but what is going on here? Should Alicia have dug a little deeper before walking down the aisle? Maybe money grows on trees in the Dean household, but with more than 30 tax liens, child support and tax debt in the millions, Keys might have benefited from taking a moment to think before walking down the aisle.
"Celebrity or not, when you are preparing to marry someone you should disclose any type of financial obligations that will impact the marriage," Dr. Taffy Wagner, owner of Money Talk Matters and author of 'Debt Dilemma,' told Black Voices. "Just because the person wasn't involved the financial decision at the time, doesn't mean they won't be affected by the financial consequences."
As Swizz is pictured on his honeymoon poppin' and literally showering his friends with bottles of champagne sans his new wife, what does this mean for the expectant mother Alicia?
"Because these are tax liens, Alicia has to be concerned what will happen to her husband. Look what happened to Wesley Snipes," Wagner warned. "The IRS doesn't discriminate based on celebrity. If you owe them money, you owe them money."
Stress will continue to ensue if the reports of the couple searching $14 million dollar homes are true.
Real Love
Recording artist John Legend (R) and Christine Teigen attend the Intermix Summer Rooftop concert at Skylight West on August 4, 2010 in New York City.
Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian attend Power Balance Goes "All-In For A Cure" at Drai's Hollywood on August 3, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Terry Crews and Rebecca Crews attend "The Expendables" Los Angeles Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on August 3, 2010 in Hollywood, California.
Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian attend the Casio "Shock the World" event at The Manhattan Center on August 2, 2010 in New York City.
(L-R) The Dream and Christina Millian attend Grey Goose Entertainment And BET's "Rising Icons" at 1OAK on July 27, 2009 in New York City.
Actors Will Smith (L) and wife Jada Pinkett Smith (R) attend "The Karate Kid" film premiere at Le Grand Rex on July 25, 2010 in Paris, France.
Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys attend the Art For Life East Hampton 11th Annual Benefit at Russell Simmons' East Hampton Estate on July 24, 2010 in East Hampton, New York.
Christine Teigen and John Legend attend the Art For Life East Hampton 11th Annual Benefit hosted by Anthony Anderson at Russell Simmons' East Hampton Estate on July 24, 2010 in East Hampton, New York.
Actor Terry Crews and wife Jessica attend the IGN Celebrates "The Expendables" Comic-Con party held at the Float at the Hard Rock San Diego on July 22, 2010 in San Diego, California.
Actress Gabrielle Union and Basketball Player Dwyane Wade attend Summer Groove All-Star Basketball Game at American Airlines Arena on July 18, 2010 in Miami, Florida.
"If they plan on buying a house together, both of their credit reports will be pulled," Wagner said. "With Swizz's credit being impaired, they would be required to pay higher interest on their home unless everything is put in her name, impacting the dynamic of the relationship. While this is not her debt or her obligation, it will affect what they can do in their household. His decisions in business, from other marriages and in fathering other children, all can put a strain on their marriage."
In order for men/women not to find themselves in a similar situation, Wagner urges couples to "look at your partner's credit report and know about your partner's student loans."
Wagner said that according to research, 20 percent of marriages fail due to financial problems in the first five years of the relationship. To avoid these problems, preparation for your financial future is key.
"We can be in love and not see some things," she said, "but ask yourself: Can you live with someone with financial issues? If you can, make sure the person has a game plan to get out of financial distress so it doesn't fall on your shoulders. If not how will you protect yourself? You prepare for a marriage during your engagement -- and not just the catering and the cake."
Follow writer Shirea L. Carroll on Twitter @InviteOnly
Comments: (67)
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By: Marvice on 8/13/2010 11:02PM
I doubt that 2.4 million is that big of a deal to either of them. It may be a lot of money, but it won't break them. They are involved in so many different projects that the money will be made. They just need to make sure they hire someone they can trust to handle the money situations, if he doesn't have the interest in doing it himself.
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By: peddler on 8/16/2010 10:43PM
Maybe she knew of his debts and it wasn't such a big deal to her. Or, you could say love can make you do some silly things. Either way it's their business. None of us know what is really true as far as AK goes. I think she should be comnended for putting up with all the madness and still keeping her sanity. Just because she may have made some mistakes is no reason to take it so personal. We all make mistakes. She didn't do anything to you. She's not any of the bad stuff people have been calling her, she is just a human being who deserves respect like we all do. Just because of celebrity status that doesn't make it right to label her and continually beat her up. We only know what we read and God knows that's not always anywhere near true. We have no right to judge or criticize.
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By: cc on 8/15/2010 10:15AM
I tried to avoid commenting. Something about this whole situation is off.....This man's debt are real, it has been in the urban blog world for months, now mainstream media has picked up on it, and you know they have researched. So..why? Has this issue not been resolved, according to other sources he is like 7mill in personal debt along, what about other areas like business debt and all...Wow! It could be a hell of like more than Alicia bargained for. All Im saying is if this man is worth so much, he should have a team around him, that handles his issues quickly, especially news like this, it's been months and it is still spreading thru the news about his debts, what is going on....this should have cleared by now!!!! Where is his team of assistants and lawyers, reps, everbody where are they, why have they not nipped this in a bud? It's alot deeper than we know, meaning it cant be that easily handled....something is seriously wrong here!!! Just saying!!! Last I heard his other baby mothers are taking him to court for unpaid child-supports, he is like 31 years old right, ok.. why is his responsibilites all out of wack, then he just entered into a new marriage after bein devorced only a month and half....and his 4 or 5 child on the way by a different mother.....Not judging the man, but I will say he is too damn old for this mess, I expect this out of a 19 year old or someone younger!!!!
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By: Justifyed on 8/15/2010 3:18PM
CC... like my granny used to say "Something in the milk ain't clean, baby"
LOL
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By: MsSmith on 8/16/2010 1:28AM
My oppipnion would be,these are two people who are just like any one else, yes they have money but that doesnt mean they wont make mistakes, we are all gods children and will sin..im not sayin what she did was right thats if she even did anything wrong, bc um nobdy on this forum knows this couple personally to say anything, all youre going by are the sleazy tabloids which half the mess in that rag is untrue or overstated etc etc.....If she infact did mess around with a married man, yes she will be dealt with but by the (man) the (creator) let him be her judge not us, who are we to judge, let those without sin cast the first stone, are we without sin, are we perfect, nope far from it some more than others...as I was saying if adultery has been committed here well then god have mercy on her soul...Swizz beats and all parties involved!! I know this is place you all can give youre oppinions and let it out but really people should we, do we, must we be so judgemental? And as for his debt well im pretty sure Alicia is well aware of it and has went into this union with her eyes open, we dont know what theyve disscused or what they agreed too or anything. Reguardless if she did watever with whoever..I know that makes her seem stupid and a person who makes bad choices but I feel that love overcomes all the obstacles someone isnt nessacarily going to chose not to marry because a of a debt no matter the size, and money well it doesnt make the world evolve no matter how many people believes it does, it doesnt! This is my oppinion :)
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By: BJ Houston on 8/20/2010 1:24PM
I wish there could be a revolution among women to stop fooling around with another woman's husband or boyfriend. We can't depend on the men for this because they are never sober, since they're always on testosterone. Why hurt another female and get intimate with her husband? We have too many of our children growing up without their fathers. They need dad's daily protection! Fathers can provide from afar but they can't protect from afar. Only GOD is omnipresent! Society has shown that black children will not get the same preferential treament as white children. Again, Dad needs to be there! Stop having children from the brother who is not loyal, your children deserve better! They are our greatest assets not the money! We must teach our brothers to value their seed BEFORE conception. No one should get his seed if he is not going to be there for their protection. Our men & women should have the mind set that they will not leave until their children are old enough to protect themselves!
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By: kbn on 8/19/2010 12:45PM
If you really think about it, as much editing and damage control that Alica Keys does to google searches and their wiki pages, if people would read it it cleary states "a civil ceremony has to be held to make their marriage legal"; they are not legally married, this was a wedding celebration in another country... trust me if it was i'm sure they would be edit this entry on their wiki pages, so maybe they are waiting for some of those issues to be cleared up or maybe shes not as blinded by love as she seems.
The same with Queen Latifah; when the pictures surfaced of them on the yacht her and Jeannete Jenkins wiki pages stated they were lovers; it's not deleted from both of their pages...
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