Image via Complex Original
It's almost a universal knee-jerk reaction. People see a rapper driving an extremely expensive luxury or supercar, and the people of the public shake their heads, wave their hands in dismissal, and go, "pshh, rented. He doesn't own that." They do it like they actually know, with 100 percent certainty, that they can tell, based on how many "Likes" somebody gets on the blogs, how much money an artist has. Hell, we've even done it. But the truth is that nobody knows other people's financial situations ... until stories like the following come out about houses and cars getting repossessed. We did a little digging and found a few examples. See who's actually been faking it with A Recent History of Repossessed Celebrity Cars.
RELATED: 25 Rappers Spitting About Cars They Probably Can't Afford
Lil Kim/Scott Storch
Car: Bentley Continental GT
When: May 2008
Base Msrp: $250,000
Yes, the original Queen B has even been caught up in some financial issues. According to CW11, Lil Kim, or Kimberly Denise Jones', Bentley Contiental GT was reposessed. Lil Kim says the car was a gift from Scott Storch circa 2003, and that he didn't pay in full, defaulting on the payments.
Bow Wow
Car: Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari F430
When: Oct 2012
Base Msrp: $354,000 (Lamborghini Murcielago) $186,925 (Ferrari F430)
Just because it looks like they have money doesnt mean they actually do. And just because you've been "Like Mike" doesn't mean you have untouchable Jordan status. "Bow Wow" aka "Mr. 106" has not had just one but two reposessions in recent years. According to TMZ, on Oct. 2012 Bow Wow defaulted on his $300,000 business loan for his 2012 Lamborghini Murcielago. After SunTrust Bank repoed the vehicle, they sold it and still sued him for the approx. $21,000 of fees they paid. Bow Wow also owes a whopping $283,000 for a 2005 Ferrari F430 he defaulted on back in February 2009.
Jennifer Williams
Car: Bentley Continental
When: June 2012
Base Msrp: $250,000
People are interested in Reality stars because of their extremely weird, unusual lives and the roller coasters that are their financial situations. "Basketball Wives" plays to a different side of particularly affluent women, but after Jennifer Williams' recent divorce, it seems like she just fell off. According to Jen, during thier divorce, Eric defaulted on payments on her Bentley Contienental GT, and the Bentley was repoed, immediatley going up for auction. Without Jen even having a chance to get it back.
Young Dro
Car: Maserati Quattroporte
When: June 2012
Base Msrp: $135,200
The most common themes of rapper speak are money, cars, drugs and alcohol and women they get. For Atlanta rapper Young Dro aka D'Juan Hart, it was all a dream (RIP Biggie). TMZ reported on June 4, 2012 that Dro's 2007 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT was repoed, because he defaulted on his lease payments and owes the lease company $61,220.
Diamond
Car: Chevrolet Camaro
When: Oct 2010
Base Msrp: $23,345
This was one of the most embarasing moments in Hip-Hop. Just imagine you're in the middle of your moment, shooting your music video, when out of nowhere, the car you're dancing on is seized. That's exactly what happened to Diamond. Back in 2010 the "Lotta Money" rapper's 2010 Chevy Camaro was repoed on the set of her video shoot. Diamond later released a track for her haters, "Shots Fired."
Terrell Owens
Car: Jeep Grand Cherokee
When: May 2012
Base Msrp: $27,695
As we learned with Chad Ochocinco, when it rains, it pours. According to TMZ, back in May of last year, T.O. was fired from his minor league indoor team, the Allen Wranglers. They then proceeded to snatch away everything they gave him, including the housing they provided and the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee they gave him.
Young Buck
Car: BMW X5
When: Jan. 2011
Base Msrp: $38,900
Hailing from Nashville, David Darnell Brown aka Rapper Young Buck is no stranger to run-ins with the law. Brown has been indicted for allegedly having illegal weapons and was caught up in a stabbing at the 2004 Vibe Awards. On Jan. 10, 2011 The Wall Street Journal reported that Wells Fargo Financial Tennessee seized Young Buck's 2002 BMW X5 because he failed to make his payments for seven months, accumulating to about $5,000.
Jermaine Dupri
Car: Lamborghini Murcielago
When: Dec 2011/July 2013
Base Msrp: $354,000
I guess this is where Bow Wow got it from. Bow Wow's mentor and Atlanta superproducer, Jermanine Dupri had his Lamborghini Murcielago reposessed two years ago in 2011. But unfortunately for him, he still wasn't in the clear. Premier Financial Services is still looking for its $80,000. Where's Dog when you need him?
T-Boz
Car: Honda Odyssey
When: May 2012
Base Msrp: $25,195
Bankruptcy has its perks, if you follow the directions. T-Boz aka Tionne Watkins filed for bankruptcy in 2011, however she didn't get the full protection for Chapter 11, because the singer didn't finish the process. Last year she was sued by Honda for defaulting on payments and her 2005 Honda Odessey was repossesed. Female scrubs apparently do exist.