The post Bruno Mars Apparently Owes $50 Million in Gambling Debt appeared first on Consequence.
Bruno Mars recently entered the ninth year of his residency at Park MGM in Las Vegas, which he extended with 12 shows taking place throughout 2024.
But if you believe a report from News Nation, part of the reason Mars’ residency has lasted for so long is because he’s accrued a sizable gambling debt at the casino. “He owes millions to the MGM [from gambling],” an unnamed source told News Nation. “[MGM] basically own him.”
The source estimated that Mars owes as much as $50 millions to MGM. He reportedly takes in $90 million annually as part of his deal with the casino, but after taxes he’s just barely covering the money owed.
Mars has spoken about his affinity for gambling in past media interviews, revealing that he visited his first casino at 19 years old and, as a still unknown musician, covered his rent by playing cards.”
Phew, Bruno Mars Won’t Have to Scrub Dishes in Vegas
Lucky for him, that’s what he likes to hear: Bruno Mars is not $50 million in gambling debt with MGM in Las Vegas — according to the casino company itself. NewsNation previously reported the $50 million figure, citing an anonymous Las Vegas insider who claimed that the singer’s post-tax nightly income of $1.5 million from residencies with MGM was largely being used to pay off his debt. “MGM basically own him,” the source suggested. The report painted a picture so dire that it sounded like Mars could be one bad blackjack hand away from being asked to get sudsy working off his balance in an MGM kitchen. However, MGM Resorts International later issued a statement to People denying that Mars has any debt with its casino. “MGM and Bruno’s partnership is longstanding and rooted in mutual respect. Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM,” the statement said. “Together, we are excited to continue creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.”
The Mars-MGM business relationship has been going strong since 2016. And Mars can’t seem to get enough of Vegas — his ongoing residency at Park MGM, which was originally scheduled to end in August 2023, was extended by almost a full year to last until this September. He also recently launched his Pinky Ring cocktail bar and entertainment lounge in partnership with the Bellagio, another MGM hotel and casino. Is it possible that Mars at one point owed MGM some money and paid it off through some 24-karat magic onstage? We suppose that, technically, MGM saying that Mars isn’t in debt with the company doesn’t mean he never has been. But as long as Mars seems to be doing well enough to leave the door open for more performances, we will sexually decline to be too worried.
Bruno Mars doesn’t owe $50 million in gambling debts, MGM says
The Grammy-winning artist “has no debt with MGM,” according to a spokesperson.
It sounds like Bruno Mars can still afford to keep his 24-karat magic in the air.
Amid rumors that the Grammy-winning singer and songwriter owed $50 million in gambling debt at a Las Vegas casino, the establishment’s parent company has come to Mars’ defense and dismissed the chatter as “completely false.”
In a statement provided to EW on Tuesday, a spokesperson for MGM Resorts International said, “We’re proud of our relationship with Bruno Mars, one of the world’s most thrilling and dynamic performers. From his shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM to the new Pinky Ring lounge at Bellagio, Bruno’s brand of entertainment attracts visitors from around the globe.”
The statement added, “MGM and Bruno’s partnership is longstanding and rooted in mutual respect. Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM. Together, we are excited to continue creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.”
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The response came days after a NewsNation report quoted an unnamed source as saying that MGM “basically own[s]” Mars because of the millions in gambling debt he allegedly racked up. Claiming that the singer makes $90 million a year from his residencies at MGM, the source said Mars was using a large chunk to pay the company back.
Representatives for Mars didn’t immediately respond to EW’s request for comment Tuesday.
Known for such hits as “24K Magic,” “Just the Way You Are,” and “Uptown Funk,” Mars has been performing Las Vegas residencies for more than a decade and currently has a multiyear partnership with MGM. His residency at Park MGM was extended in December, and he recently partnered with the Bellagio Hotel and Casino (a fellow MGM property) to launch his Pinky Ring cocktail bar and entertainment lounge, a venue that features live performances curated by Mars.
Mars’ next string of Vegas performances will be at the Dolby Live at Park MGM, with dates spanning June through September.
Barron Trump, 18, Graduates High School with Parents in Attendance: Photos
The Associated Press caught a glimpse of the event on Friday, which saw Donald and Melania Trump sitting front row in the audience
Barron Trump has officially put high school in the rearview following an exclusive graduation ceremony on Friday, May 17.
Photographs captured by the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse on Friday morning show the 18-year-old receiving his diploma on stage, and reveal that his parents, Donald and Melania Trump, as well as his grandfather, Viktor Knavs, sat front row in the audience.
A spokesperson for Melania did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment about the celebration.
Donald was previously excused from appearing in court for his Manhattan criminal trial on Friday so that he could watch his son walk in the ceremony. He is scheduled to headline a Minnesota GOP event on Friday evening, likely cutting the family’s post-graduation plans short.
Barron enrolled at the elite Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, Fla., after his family left the White House in 2021. He has yet to publicly announce his next steps, though his father recently confirmed that he is weighing college options.
Ahead of the graduation, a social source told PEOPLE that Melania will continue to take an active role in Barron’s life as he decides his next moves.
“Melania will keep her hand on Barron’s future just as much going forward as she has throughout his early and current school years,” the source said. “He is her world. She is proud of him, and she is the primary decision maker on Barron and his future.”
