A new TMZ documentary reveals that the pop superstar parted with his prized music rights amid claims of debt, lavish spending, and a collapsing fortune following the abrupt end of his Justice World Tour.
Justin Bieber’s $200 million sale of his music catalog in December 2022 was more than a high-profile business move—it was, according to a new documentary, a desperate financial decision made at the brink of collapse.
In TMZ Investigates: What Happened to Justin Bieber?, now streaming on Hulu, the pop star’s financial spiral is explored in detail, with revelations that the 31-year-old hitmaker was “broke” and “on the verge of financial collapse” after canceling his Justice World Tour in 2022. The nearly 300-song catalog was sold to Hipgnosis Songs Capital, but not without controversy—and concern.
TMZ executive producer Harvey Levin claims in the documentary that Bieber, who had amassed a fortune estimated between $500 million and $1 billion during his career, was forced to sell due to mounting debt. “I was on a call with multiple people — Justin’s side acknowledges that in 2022, he was on the verge of… the words were ‘financial collapse.’ And that’s why he had to sell his catalog,” Levin alleges.
Attempts to reach Bieber’s representatives resulted in a “no comment,” though the star’s team has previously denied similar reports. In early 2025, a spokesperson criticized a Hollywood Reporter article that also suggested financial distress, calling it “clickbait stupidity” fueled by “unnamed — and clearly ill-informed — ‘sources.’”
Despite the denials, the documentary paints a troubling portrait of Bieber’s financial behavior. Lavish spending habits reportedly included maintaining eight tour buses—one of which was renovated for $2 million—frequent use of private jets, and purchasing multiple luxury homes in cash. TMZ staff also noted that Bieber could have earned $90 million had he completed the canceled leg of the Justice World Tour.
Levin further reveals that longtime manager Scooter Braun advised Bieber to delay the catalog sale until January 2023 to benefit from a tax break. However, Bieber was adamant: “Justin said, ‘I gotta sell it now.’ And he sold it in December. That’s how broke he was.”
Health concerns were cited as the official reason for the abrupt halt to the tour in September 2022. However, according to insiders in the new documentary, the financial ramifications were swift and severe.
At the time, Bieber was also navigating personal struggles. “He is making some really poor decisions lately, further impacting friendships, money and business. People are worried about him,” a source told PEOPLE. The documentary echoes those sentiments, suggesting the star is “facing a lot of different demons.”
In August 2024, Bieber and wife Hailey Baldwin Bieber welcomed their first child, son Jack Blues—a joyous milestone amidst a challenging chapter in the singer’s life. The couple was seen attending events together, including the premiere of Justin Bieber: Seasons, but behind the scenes, the pressure was reportedly mounting.
While Bieber’s current financial standing remains private, the sale of his catalog—one of the most significant deals of its kind—remains a symbolic moment: a young star who once dominated global charts, now at a crossroads, possibly rebuilding both personally and professionally.
The Hulu documentary is the latest in a series of narratives exploring the complexities of fame, fortune, and the fragile line between public success and private turmoil. For Bieber, the story of what really happened is still unfolding—but his music, and the choices surrounding it, continue to make headlines.
