: Rumors have begun to circulate that Joseph "The Reverend Run" Simmons may be close to financial disaster.
Since his decision to stop touring, the Reverend has reportedly been living off of the money from his MTV reality show Run's House and his savings. But a person familiar with the Reverend's MTV deal told MediaTakeOut.com, "the money Run's making from MTV definitely isn't enough for a celebrity to live on."
And Run may not have much money saved from his Run DMC days either. In 1993 the famous rap trio went bankrupt - telling a court that they went through nearly all of their money.
This hasn't stopped Run from spending extravagantly. Shortly after his decision to stop touring, Run purchased a monstrous Saddle River mansion. Instead of moving into the palace, the rapper shelled out another $2M for renovations - which included adding an indoor basketball court and 24-karat gold crown molding. The Reverend also purchased a $325,000 Rolls Royce and a $30,000 diamond watch.
And in what many would consider to be excessive tithing, the Reverend admits to giving as much as 30-50% of his income to his church and charities. In one example of Run's generosity, the rapper presented his minister, Bishop E. Bernard Jordan, with a $325,000 Rolls Royce Phantom (to match the one he owns).
All of the free spending seems to be taking its toll on the legendary rapper. In a move that many speculate was an effort to offset mounting expenses, Run put the family's Saddle River mansion up for sale last fall. And the news only gets worse. A source tells MediaTakeOut.com that the Reverend has yet to find a buyer for the home, even though he's reduced the asking price significantly.
But not everyone thinks that the Reverend Run is in trouble. One insider close to the Simmons family tells MediaTakeOut.com that Run is notoriously good with money. According to the insider, "I doubt he's in any real trouble, and besides if he was having problem - he'd just go to Russell [Simmons]."
Representatives for the Reverend Run were not available for comment.
Developing...
While i hope that this is not true, i can't see him going out buying all these things if he knew that it would put his family in jeopardy. I don't understand how his bishop could in good conscience accept such an extravagant gift.
You guys keep saying that Russell will bail him out, it was Russell that beat Run DMC, LL Cool J and some of his earlier artist out of a LOT of money. So I don't know if I would count on him
I don't know what his financial status is and reading about it on MTO doesn't make me any more informed. I know that RunDMC stopped touring YEARS ago. Long before Jay passed as a matter of fact. I know Jay still had to work for money and I know DMC is still scraping for money. I would have to believe Run was scraping for money too until MTV came along. I doubt Russell is going to keep him in a lavish lifestyle like Run is his child or something. Who knows.
BELIEVE NONE OF WHAT YOU HEAR AND HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE,ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES FROM MTO!!DO YOU THINK HIS BROTHER WILL LET HIM GO BROKE DUMMIES DO YOU *** REALLY BELIEVE HE WOULDNT INVEST STOCKS IN PHAT FARM AND ALL THE REST OF THE *** HE AND HIS BROTHER HAS ACCOMPLISHED IN OVER 20 YRS. WAKE UP PEOPLE STOP BELIEVING IN THIS *** GOSSIP-***!*** WE CAN COME UP WITH BETTER *** THEN THIS AND THEYRE ON MTO PAYROLL!HOLLA
I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING BROKE LIKE MTO IS SAYING HE IS. IF ANYTHING THOSE DAUGHTERS OF HIS WILL DEFINATELY LOOK OUT FOR HIM BECAUSE WORD HAS IT THAT HIS OLDEST DAUGHTER VANESSA SUPPOSE TO BE TRYING TO LAND A ROLL ON THE GUIDING LIGHT, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WENT BUT ANYWAY LIKE I SAID BEFORE THOSE GIRLS IS NOT GONE LET THEIR FATHER GO BROKE LIKE THAT. (AND DID YOU ALL KNOW THAT HIS WIFE USE TO BE PART OF A RAP GROUP HERSELF).
HE HAS STOCK IN ADIDAS AND OTHE STOCKS AS WELL.DMC AND JAY DIDNT INVEST THEIR MONIES LIKE HE AND RUSS DID.DO YOU THINK HE WOULDNT INVEST HIS MONEY IN DEF-JAM AFTER ALL THERE WOULDNT BE A DEF JAM OR A RUSSELL SIMMONS??AND HIS SHOW IS VERY GOOD ITS ON VH1 AND BET BROUGHT RIGHTS TO AIR THE RE-RUNS. COUNT IT UP.I CANT THINK OF ANY OTHER INVESTMENTS BUT HIS WIFE IS NO JOKE EITHER HER BOOKS ARE GREAT FOR CHILDREN.@STRAWCREAM,PLEASE BABY, DONT LISTEN TO THAT GOSSIP YOU HEAR ON POWER 99,THEY DONT KNOW *** JUST LIKE ME AND YOU. THEYRE JUST REPEATING *** WITHOUT GETTING THE FACTS.EVERYBODY LOVES DRAMA AND GOOSIP.THATS THE WAY OF THE WORLD!THEY LISTEN TO THAT DUMB-*** B/I/T/C/H WENDY WILLIAMS SOMEBODY GONNA BEAT HER DOWN ONE DAY!
I doubt if he's broke! Russy was sellin his stuff becaue Run said if he wanted money he was gonna have to earn it!!! Just like he made Vanessa& Angela earn that money for their apartment by teachin JoJo how to drive. Unlike some celebrity parents who just give their spoiled little brats money (cough cough the hiltons), run is trying to teach them that nothing in life is free. WORK FOR WHAT U WANT!!!
Pleeease, people are always speculating, and trying to figure out everyone else's financial status. This man is too smart to allow the media and public to know exactly how much money he actually has. And looking at his family's business history, I'm sure Rev has investments and security that no one knows about, because it's no one's business.
@ dltony
You probably don't see anybody with these sneakers cause they probably in selected stores only. If you watch they show, you'll notice that they are in a highly secluded and suburban area of NJ, where you mostly don't see "us"(if you know what I mean). So you won't see his sneakers in the average hood malls only probably the upscale ones that draw the attention to more uppity crowds.
Run is not broke, he's co-owner with Russell, but I did hear he wants to start fresh, thats why the home is for sale. That's a bunch of BS about him being broke, but if someone were to do a show where I currently live, you have to question your security. Time to move on, new beginnings are great and needed.
If he is, you sending out any donations to this legend of legends? I still give support to one of hip-hops finest! I doubt if he's broke, but we never know people's personal issues unless he files for bankruptcy himself. The Donald filed and is still on top of his game!!! Who's House? Runs House!!! The Rev got it together, no doubt! Stop hatin' and support him!
And another thing, did occur to anyone he and his wife may not need to live in this big house with the girls gone, his oldest is on his way to college. He is a practical man, definitely not a foolish one. Perhaps he's prefering to size down, pay for another house cash with the profit he's made off of this one. Run has a bigger picture in store. You can bet your last lyric on that one!!
I had one of the greatest experiences in my life when my boyfriend and I came across D.M.C in a mall in Raleigh, NC. He was soo nice and took a pic with my boyfriend on our camera phone. I felt bad though, because in I believe we were the only two people who recognized him in the whole mall. Apparently, he was doing a concert and he actually gave us some fliers for it. No one believes the pic because the man hasn't aged a bit. As for Rev Run, I could believe that he is having financial difficulty. I mean, what other reverend would be willing to show themselves to be a hypocrite on television to their entire church congregation. I can't respect him as a reverend when he is still so "worldly". I'm not throwing stones but the truth is the truth. He does not run his house like a reverend. Maybe he did it for the tax write-off, who knows. He's nice guy but he doesn't need to be calling himself a reverend.
I've seen the show, and on one episode i believe it was his Wife who was urging him to hire an expensive workout specialist for their daughter, much to his disgust because of the high price. Her asking price, i believe was in the 6 figures. He eventually gave out and they hired her.
Also, there was a recent episode where his Wife all of sudden wanted to get back into the singing game, and asked him to hook her up with rockwilder, a move which would have cost him potentially 50 grand. Again, he gave out.
I dont care how much money he makes...if he keeps spending money like this he will go broke and only God will be able to save him then. God will not save you from being broke if you CHOOSE to be broke, he'll warn you but in the end if you fall its your own *** fault. (Prayers help to prevent staying blind though)
For the record Mike Tyson had just as much if not moreso during his heyday and he ended up broke.
Furthermore, tithing is only supposed to be 10% and for him to give more is generous, but in the end that wont get you anymore into heaven than someone who only gives 10%. I dont think it was a good idea to give such lavish things to your pastor, thats just tempting your pastor to posssibly sin by presenting him with an extravagant and worldly possession.
Only by accepting Jesus as your savior and doing your best to be sinless will you gain access to heaven, charitable works are good but they will not absolutely get you into heaven, thats a common misconception.
HOW ABOUT I DONT BELIEVE THIS. THIS MAN IS A LEGEND AND HIS ROYALITIES ARE LOVELY. IF DMC AINT BROKE NEITHER IS RUN WHO HAS WAYYYYYYYY MORE THINGS GOING ON. HIS HAS A SNEAKER LINE THAT IS SUCCESSFUL(ODDLY AS IT SOUNDS) AND HE HAS A SUCCESSFUL TV SHOW AND GOD KNOWS WHAT ELSE. HE IS NOT BROKE PLEASE
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