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What did Erika Jayne do with the money? The lavish US$25 million splurges of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star revealed, following the fraud and embezzlement scandal

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne reportedly spent US$25 million she got from her ex-husband. Photo: @theprettymess/Instagram
From the moment that Erika Jayne joined the cast of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, audiences of the popular reality TV series became witnesses to her opulent and extravagant lifestyle. It was a glittery display of designer clothes, jewellery with eye-watering price tags and lavish trips. At one point, Jayne was even famously quoted as disclosing that her glam look (hair, make-up and clothes) cost US$40,000 every month.

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Nowadays, however, it has become apparent that the shiny surface might come with a darker underbelly. Jayne’s estranged husband, Tom Girardi, has been experiencing legal and financial woes as a result of embezzlement and fraud accusations, which allege that he stole millions of dollars of settlement money from his clients. Because of this, the Housewife’s finances are being called into question.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne with her lavish jewellery. Photo: @theprettymess/Instagram

Girardi’s firm reportedly transferred some US$25 million to Jayne’s company, EJ Global LLC. With speculation that these funds were funnelled from settlement payouts meant for Girardi’s clients, a major spotlight has been put on Jayne’s spending habits, with reports stating that she may be liable to pay back a large portion, if not all of it.

And now, after a legal demand letter was recently sent to Jayne’s lawyers, according to Page Six, a detailed breakdown of the star’s spending habits has been made public. So just where did all that money go? Let’s take a closer look.

The credit card bill

Reality star Erika Jayne spent millions of dollars on publicity and designer clothes. Photo: @theprettymess/Instagram

Taking up the largest chunk of her multimillion-dollar expenses was her American Express credit card bill. The whopping figure was US$14.3 million!

While some might wonder how anyone can rack up a credit card bill that high, RHOBH fans would easily be able to formulate a list of possibilities.

 
Whether her swanky studio space and office to the funding of her entertainment career and music videos, there is no shortage of expenses that she shared with TV audiences. She even released the song XXpen$ive, detailing how much it costs to be “Erika”.

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The dance agency

Erika Jayne racked up a multimillion-dollar credit card bill. Photo: @theprettymess/Instagram

During her years on the show, viewers have watched Jayne travel and perform in clubs and on stages around the world.

Alongside Jayne’s performances was always a squad of backup dancers. It has now been revealed that Jayne’s company paid US$1.5 million to McDonald Selznick Associates Agency, an agency for dancers and choreographers.

The style agency

Real Housewives star Erika Jayne reportedly gave Opus Agency, which represents influential stylists as well as hair and make-up artists, a sum of US$17,400. Photo: @theprettymess/Instagram

Then there’s Opus Agency, which represents “the most influential” hair and make-up artists, as well as stylists, and received a reported sum of US$17,400 from Jayne’s company. Considering the vast sums of money Jayne admitted to spending on her looks every month, this charge is unsurprising to say the least.

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The celebrity assistant

 

It was also revealed that Jayne paid Stephanie Shepherd an amount of US$102,600. Shepherd is famous for being the former assistant to Kim Kardashian.

Before her gig with the first family of reality TV, Shepherd worked for Jayne and her long-time confidant and choreographer, Mike Mideen.

The Xxpen$ive lifestyle and other unknown purchases

Erika Jayne all glammed up in designer clothes and make-up. Photo: @theprettymess/Instagram

Further expenses detailed in the letter include a US$1,000 payment to celebrated make-up artist Mario Dedivanovic, as well as a combined total of US$18,900 paid to media organisations, such as E5 Global Media (publishers of American music and entertainment magazine Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter and Los Angeles Times Magazine), possibly to promote and publicise her brand and entertainment career.

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A final incredible amount of US$1.4 million was reported as “unknown purchases”. While it could be anyone’s guess where this cash went, it’s likely that much of it went to fund and perpetuate Jayne’s expensive lifestyle.

According to Page Six, the letter stated that, “Mrs. Girardi signed under penalty of perjury the return and personally approved the charges allocated to the breakdown”. The reality star’s lawyers have addressed the allegations of her involvement with Girardi’s fraudulent activities. In an interview with Page Six, Erika’s legal representative said “[Erika] never had and does not have personal liability for any debts or obligations of EJ Global LLC, period.”

Clearly many questions remain unanswered. With time and the continued legal proceedings around this case, more details will surely be brought to light.

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  • Jayne’s ex-husband, Tom Girardi, was accused of stealing clients’ settlement money – and now the Bravo reality TV star’s extravagant spending habits are being scrutinised
  • A legal letter reports that Jayne paid US$100,000 to Kim Kardashian’s former assistant, and racked up a US$14.3 million American Express credit card bill