In the wake of filing for bankruptcy, rapper Curtis Jackson, aka "50 Cent," has pulled back the curtain on his seemingly lavish lifestyle.

Before filing for bankruptcy, 50 Cent was hit with a court order to pay $5 million to Lastonia Leviston. The woman had won the payment in court after the rapper allegedly released a sex tape of her to embarrass the rapper's nemesis, Rick Ross, who had fathered one of her children. 

Leviston's lawyers believed 50 Cent's bankruptcy was a way to avoid paying Leviston, so they took him to court again. But on the stand, 50 Cent indicated his wealth was little more than an illusion. In other words, he merely led the public to believe he was a baller. Jackson says he did this because the whole music industry is about aspiring to something greater.

Here are six ways 50 Cent says he embellished his hip-hop lifestyle, according to a transcript of the testimony he gave in the Leviston lawsuit:

1. He recycled his gold chains.

50 Cent claims he could barely fill a jewelry drawer, let alone a whole jewelry chest. He said that he only actually owns "two or three chains" at "$30,000, $40,000" each. But, how does he make it seem as if he has more? The rapper says he takes those chains to a jeweler who can transform them into new, unrecognizable pieces of bling.

SEE ALSO: 50 Cent's comments on 'Conan' are coming back to haunt him in court

MORE: 'Bankrupt' rapper 50 Cent has a 24-bathroom house with a nightclub in it

Join the conversation about this story »

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While the celebrity lifestyle may appear to be filled with glitzy red carpets and A-list events, there's plenty that goes on behind-the-scenes that isn't quite as glamorous.

Behind most celebrities is a team of people working to make sure everything looks perfect and runs smoothly in the hectic life of a star. In addition to agents, managers, publicists, and a glam squad, many stars also have a personal assistant managing the logistics of their hectic lives.

From booking flights to planning meetings and anything in between, assistants are the backbone of the busy schedules of many stars and entrepreneurs..

In New York, assistants for many leading celebrities and business moguls participate in a professional group called New York Celebrity Assistants.

We spoke with seven assistants from the association and learned about what it's like to work for a high-profile employer in New York City.

SEE ALSO: The 11 assistants who run Hollywood

MORE: 9 things I learned working as a celebrity assistant

Meghan Herd helps handle the chaotic life of "Real Housewives" mogul Bethenny Frankel

"No two days are ever the same" when working for Skinnygirl Cocktails founder Bethenny Frankel, Frankel's executive assistant, Meghan Herd, tells Business Insider. 

Herd began working for the entrepreneur and star of Bravo's "The Real Houswives of New York" in 2013, after deciding that she "needed a change" from her job as an assistant to a number of leading musicians.

As Frankel's assistant, Herd says she now wears "many hats." 

"Whether I am trying to get a seat on a flight an hour before take-off, getting a table at the hottest new restaurant or making sure the office is running smoothly," Herd says, "I am proud of getting things done when somebody says it can’t be done." 

Herd occassionally appears alongside her employer on "Real Housewives," and in an interview with Hollywood Life, Herd describes the experience of handling Frankel's chaotic travel schedule as being "like that scene in 'Home Alone' — we're just running to the gate everytime."

Vanessa King has worked closely with Julianne Moore for nearly ten years

2014 was a busy year for actress Julianne Moore.

As the assistant to Moore and her husband, filmmaker Bart Freundlich, Vanessa King acted as a “sort of Mission Control” for the actress’s travel plans and schedules during the hectic award season that culminated in Moore’s Oscar win for Best Actress.

King started the job nearly a decade ago, after leaving another assistant gig with the family who lived across the street from Moore. “I ran into Julie on the street,” King says, “and she asked if I was interested in working with her.” 

Today, King works out of her employers’ luxurious West Village apartment, acting as a contact point for business matters and charities — such as The Children’s Health Fund and the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, in which Moore is actively involved.

Gail Abrahamsen is the right-hand woman to "Shark Tank" star and real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran

Gail Abrahamsen became the personal assitant to real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran in 2005, and her job has grown in responsibilty as Corcoran's star has risen in recent years with her recurring role as a judge on ABC's "Shark Tank."

Handling Corcoran's three email accounts, Abrahamsen responds to over 300 emails per day. "Many hours are spent managing her endless media/TV appearance requests and making sure all are on the calendar (our bible)," Abrahamsen says. 

When Corcoran requested a lavish launch party for her book, "Shark Tales," in 2011, Abrahamsen managed to come through with all of her employer's eclectic demands — including finding a model to dress up as a mermaid and two twin girls to greet her guests in swimsuits. 

Whether planning out her employer's many speaking events or tracking down a "lost heirloom pearl necklace at the XpresSpa in JFK airport," Abrahamsen admits that there's "never a dull moment" on the job.

"Every day is a new adventure at Barbara Corcoran Inc.," she says.

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Rapper Curtis Jackson, aka "50 Cent," claims that his assets are worth about $25 million, but that two separate court-ordered payments plus other high expenses have pushed him into bankruptcy.

He filed a statement of his financials in Connecticut bankruptcy court on Monday, and Business Insider has obtained a copy of it.

Here's how Jackson says he's drained his millions in just a few years' time.

The money going out: $108,000 per month in expenses and millions of dollars in lawsuits

Apparently, 50 Cent was primarily forced into filing for bankruptcy after two court judgments put him over the top. There's the $7 million owed to Lastonia Leviston, the woman had won the payment in court after the rapper allegedly released a sex tape of her to embarrass the rapper's nemesis, Rick Ross, who had fathered one of her children. 

And then, there's the electronics company Sleek Audio, which he owes an $18 million court-ordered payment after a partnership to produce headphones fell apart.

Those court orders total about $25 million, the amount 50 Cent claims in assets.

But, that's just the tip of the iceberg. The rapper claims another $7 million in liabilities.

50 Cent says he has about $108,000 in monthly expenses, which include his homes and personal expenses.

His lavish Connecticut house — the one with 21 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, and a nightclub — costs about $72,000 a month to maintain, he says. He spends about $5,000 per month on just the gardening.

See his housing costs below:

He also pays a monthly $5,745 Bentley car lease and $12,000 in child support for two children. Additionally, he supports a grandparent in the amount of $2,500 a month.

50 Cent keeps himself looking good with about $3,000 a month on clothes and $1,000 a month on grooming.

See his personal expenses below:

What money is coming in? He has about $10 million in cash and investments

As far as his income, 50 Cent claimed he made $3.3 million from his music so far this year. He also made about $372,000 from SMS, his company that makes headphones, in 2015. Additionally, he has made $771,000 from numerous films, touring, merchandising, and other pursuits with G-Unit, 50 Cent's record label.

The rapper has $10 million in cash and $500,000 in cars, including three Chevy Suburbans and a 2010 Rolls Royce.

There is no mention of the income he made from film and TV work. Previously, 50 Cent stated that he made $100,000 each on "Southpaw" and "Spy," according to the court transcript acquired by Business Insider. As for Starz drama "Power," which the rapper acts in and executive produces, 50 Cent testified that he has made $150,000.

Here's a look at his income, from the filing:

50 Cent's attorney provided a statement to BI.

“A filing for personal bankruptcy protection is a complex and often time-consuming process,” says William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. “Lost in the reporting about Mr. Jackson’s assets, liabilities and individual expenses is the reason for the filing – to pursue an orderly reorganization of his financial affairs.”

Brewer added, “It is important to remember the filing for protection permits Mr. Jackson to continue his active involvement in numerous business, entertainment and philanthropic interests.”

SEE ALSO: 6 ways 50 Cent says he tricked the world into believing he was rich

MORE: 50 Cent's comments on 'Conan' are coming back to haunt him in court

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 50 Cent testifies his lifestyle is an illusion

"Jackass" star Steve-O, whose real name is Stephen Glover, was arrested Sunday after climbing a 100-foot crane in Hollywood to display a blow-up whale with the writing: "SeaWorld Sucks."

Steve-O teased the stunt on Saturday on Instagram, writing: "This is Shammy. We're gonna do a big dangerous stunt tomorrow in Los Angeles that will probably get me in a lot of trouble, and you can watch it happen at 7pm PST via a live stream on my Facebook page. #SeeYouAt7pmTomorrow #yeahdude"

Steve-O, 41, documented the entire process with short videos on Facebook while wearing a "Blackfish" T-shirt, promoting the anti-SeaWorld documentary.

First, he explained how the stunt was going to work and the required tools in his "stunt pack":

 He updated fans via Facebook with photos as he climbed the crane:

Then things got a little scary:

"We definitely have their attention" Steve-O says from the top of the crane while pointing to police cars below:

As the sun set on Steve-O, tons of fire trucks surrounded the crane. "That is a lot, a lot of [expletive] firetrucks," he says in the below video, which he captioned: "Anyone wanna bail me out of jail?"

"More than 80 firemen were called to the scene after receiving calls about a possible suicide attempt," reports the New York Daily News. "Crews began preparing an air cushion rescue as increasingly more fire trucks appeared."

This was the last video Steve-O posted to his Facebook page. After climbing back down the crane about an hour after he climbed up, the MTV star was taken into police custody around 9 p.m.

LAPD Lt. Michael Ling confirmed to the LA Times that Steve-O was "arrested and is expected to be booked on suspicion of trespassing, setting a firework without a permit, and conspiracy to commit a crime. Investigators are still determining what charges apply."

According to the LA Times, this isn't the first time Steve-O has publicly spoken out about SeaWorld's alleged treatment of their animals:

Last year, he was charged with a traffic infraction for an anti-SeaWorld stunt in which he defaced a freeway sign in San Diego. He posted a YouTube video in August 2014 showing him climbing up the freeway sign to attach the word "sucks'' after the words "Sea World."

Steve-O's latest stunt comes just days after SeaWorld announced it has witnessed a major decline in attendance and 84%  drop in profits during its most recent quarter, largely in part due to the 2013 release of the "Blackfish" documentary.

According to the SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. Report as reported by The Wrap:

The theme park suffered an 84 percent drop in its net second-quarter income; after a $37.4 million haul in 2014, the park was only able to net $5.8 million in 2015. Total revenues for the quarter fell from $405.2 million in 2014 to $391.6 million, marking a 3 percent drop year over year.

The report also shows that Q2 attendance dropped by 100,000 visitors from 6.58 million in 2014 to 6.48 million.

SEE ALSO: Jimmy Kimmel gets choked up over the death of Cecil the Lion, slams dentist who killed him

Join the conversation about this story »

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Gigi Hadid is only 20-years-old, but she's already climbed her way to the top of the modeling industry.

Hadid's success is due largely in part to her relatable social media presence and the connection she has with her fans.

"I have more than 4 million followers on Instagram. All the companies I work for want me to guarantee how much I’ll post for them, but I’m not going to force my career onto the people who follow me," Hadid said earlier this month in a W magazine cover interview (she has gained over 1.2 million followers since the issue came out on August 3). "I refuse to do 40 Instagram posts about any campaign."

Hadid embraces the business side of the modeling industry, and understands the importance of seamlessly moving between mass and class.

"I have always been aware of the business side of this industry. I’ve always seen it as a career that required work and planning," she tells W magazine. "My Pirelli calendar is hanging on the wall of my friend’s frat house, and he doesn’t know anything about fashion. That balance is what leads to big campaigns outside of fashion. But I never want to choose one or the other. Both commercial and high fashion are what make my job so interesting."

Hadid has had quite the year.

From being one of 16 top models featured in the annual swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated...

... to being named the newest face of Maybelline, the number one cosmetics brand in the world, which counts models like Christy Turlington and Jourdan Dunn among other spokeswomen.

She walked countless runways.

And was named Model of the Year at the Daily Front Row’s Fashion Awards.

Starred in the "Bad Blood" music video alongside her bestie Taylor Swift.

And has appeared on many magazine covers.

After starting her career as a Guess model at age two...

... she is still modeling for the brand 18 years later.

But modeling is in Hadid's blood.

Her mother, Yolanda Foster, was a succesful model in the 80s and rejoined the spotlight as a cast member on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Gigi entering the modeling world was an early storyline on the show.

Gigi's mother, Yolanda, is married to mega music producer David Foster.

Her biological father is Mohamed Hadid, a real estate entrepreneur who is estimated to be worth around $200 million.

Gigi's younger sister, Bella, is also a model.

In June, the two appeared on the cover of V magazine.

And while this year saw the break up of Gigi Hadid and singer Cody Simpson...

It has also seen the new relationship between Hadid and Joe Jonas, together dubbed "G.I. Joe."

And judging by her Instagram account, it's good to be Gigi Hadid.

SEE ALSO: This 19-year-old model is the new face of Victoria's Secret

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model reveals her diet and exercise routine

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux tied the knot last weekend in a super secret ceremony at their home in Los Angeles.

While tons of celebrities like Howard Stern, Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen DeGeneres, Jason Bateman, Lisa Kudrow, Orlando Bloom, Chelsea Handler, Whitney Cummings, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, and more were in attendance, few details have been revealed about the star-studded ceremony — until now.

On Monday’s "The Howard Stern Show," the shock jock spilled the beans.

"Jimmy [Kimmel] was the preacher. He did a beautiful job," said Stern, adding, "I didn’t think he’d get through it. Jimmy’s still depressed about that lion getting killed over in Africa… Ellen [DeGeneres] was mad that I made fun of Jimmy for crying."

Stern explained to co-host Robin Quivers that the couple had asked him ahead of time to speak during the reception.

"I’m very friendly with Justin [Theroux]. I like him very much. I like him, I really admire him," said Stern. "I even said in my speech to them that if one of my daughters brought home a guy like Justin, I’d be very pleased. Except for the sh---y tattoos. Cause he’s got some f------ weird ones. And except for the fact that I gave him a journal to draw in and he draws pictures of dead zombie babies with blood dripping out their head on every almost page. I said, those two things might disturb me."

"I talked about some personal stuff, too," added Stern. "I complimented Justin’s mother on raising such a wonderful son. I told Jennifer that she deserved a guy like this."

Stern also told listeners that weddimg-goers thought his speech was especially funny because he complained about the ceremony.

"They had these little tiny chairs. There was a table, and then you sit down and the chairs were like poufs, like little pillow poufs," explained Stern, adding, "I’m 6-foot-f-----g-5! I’m a grown man!"

Stern said he was also annoyed by the couple's no-cell-phone policy, revealing that Theroux's good friend, photographer Terry Richardson, was the only person allowed to have a camera.

"I don’t want to take a picture of you two! I really don’t," Stern joked. "I want my cell phone so after I make this speech I can call my car and get the f--- outta here! People were laughing at my misery."

SEE ALSO: Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux got married in a secret ceremony this weekend

MORE: Jimmy Kimmel gets choked up over the death of Cecil the Lion, slams dentist who killed him

Join the conversation about this story »

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Today marks one year since beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams died at the age of 63.

From the exuberant Genie in "Aladdin," to the iconic Teddy Roosevelt in "Night at the Museum," the many rousing characters he created over his decades-long career have not been forgotten. We created this graphic to celebrate some of his most memorable faces.
 

View some of Robin Williams' greatest scenes as these unforgettable characters.

SEE ALSO: Robin Williams died one year ago today — here are 10 of his best moments on film

Join the conversation about this story »

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One of Hollywood's most beloved couples, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, are getting divorced after 10 years of marriage.

The root of their issues seems to be the couple's 28-year-old former nanny, Christine Ouzounian. US Weekly reported last month that Affleck had been dating the ex-nanny, who was first hired when he and Garner were on a "secret 10-month trial separation."

Affleck has denied any romantic relationship with Ouzounian and said he was merely friendly with her.

A representative of Affleck's went so far as to say the actor-director was "exploring legal options" about the "garbage" affair story. But on Tuesday, the New York Post obtained a photo of Ouzounian that suggests Affleck at the very least pampered her.

In the photo, Ouzounian is reportedly on a private jet with Affleck and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, wearing a bunch of Brady's Super Bowl rings.

The Post says Ouzounian was invited to fly on the jet by her then-employer, Affleck, and it also suggests Affleck's wife didn't know about the trip or invitation that was extended to Ouzounian. The three reportedly were headed to Vegas for a poker tournament.

The Post says Garner "flipped out" when she found out, and the couple split just a few days after the photo was taken.

Here's the controversial nanny photo on the Post:

SEE ALSO: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announce divorce after 10 years of marriage

Join the conversation about this story »

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Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are being sued by a former intern, Shahista Lalani, who claims she was overworked with no pay while working for the twins' licensing and manufacturing company, Dualstar Entertainment Group, in 2012.

"The class-action suit, which alleges wage theft, says the 29-year-old celebs failed to pay about 40 past and present interns who have worked for them," according to the New York Post.

Lalani claims she worked 50 hours a week with no pay, nor did she receive college credit for her time as an intern.

In the suit, Lalani said she reported to the head technical designer for the Olsens' high fashion label, The Row, for five months. The former intern called her boss "very demanding."

"I was doing the work of three interns. I was talking to her all day, all night. E-mails at nighttime for the next day, like 10 p.m. at night," notes Lalani. "It was like 100 degrees outside. I’d just be sweating to death. I probably carried like 50 pounds worth of trench coats."

According to court papers obtained by the Post, Lalani says her other work included "inputting data into spreadsheets, making tech sheets, running personal errands for paid employees, organizing materials, photocopying, sewing, pattern cutting, among other related duties."

"When we weren’t doing something, they’d be like, 'Organize the buttons in the back by color code.' You’re cleaning. You don’t get a set 15-minute break. You just go with their crazy flow. You just [got] caught up in the pressure," added Lalani, who says at one point she was hospitalized for dehydration during her internship.

"You’re like an employee, except you’re not getting paid," she added. "They’re kind of mean to you. Other interns have cried. I’d see a lot of kids crying doing coffee runs, photocopying stuff."

Lalani does, however, admit that she never worked directly for the Olsens, but when she saw them occasionally at meetings they were nothing but pleasant towards her.

"They’re really nice people," said Lalani. "They were never mean to anyone. They’re business people."

Lalani's suit hopes to see other interns paid minimum wage plus overtime because she says they are doing the same duties as paid employees without receiving academic credit.

A spokeswoman for the Olsens’ company told The Post, "Dualstar is not aware of this [the lawsuit]," but declined to comment on the company’s intern policy.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen founded Dualstar Entertainment when they were just six-years-old.

"In 2004, on their 18th birthday, the sisters took over as copresidents (they are now co-chief executive officers) of the privately held firm, which has produced movies, TV shows, magazines and video games," according to Women's Wear Daily.

Later, the twins' business efforts also included "clothes, shoes, purses, hats, books, CDs and cassette tapes, fragrances and makeup, magazines, video and board games, dolls, posters, calendars, telephones and CD players."

"We were always hard workers as kids,” Mary-Kate told WWD in 2013. "It’s just the way we are, the way we were raised. Our work ethic was everything, and that never left us. We like to work hard, and we like to try to do everything 100 percent. In fact, it’s actually almost impossible for us not to. Sometimes you succeed and sometimes not so much, but it’s learning."

"I always looked at myself, even as a kid, as a businesswoman," added Ashley.

Today, Mary-Kate and Ashley also have their own couture fashion label, "The Row," and a contemporary collection called "Elizabeth & James."

In June, the Olsens were named Womenswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) for their brand The Row.

SEE ALSO: Celebrity gatekeepers: 7 personal assistants to Hollywood stars explain what their days are like

Join the conversation about this story »

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Singer Ciara appears on this month's cover of Shape magazine looking super fit.

But the 29-year-old wasn't always so in shape.

During her pregnancy last year, the "Goodies" singer gained 60 pounds.

"When I was pregnant with [son] Future, one thing I learned quickly was, don't ever let a pregnant lady be hungry, because when I was, I was like the Tasmanian Devil!" she tells Shape magazine. "I indulged in all the good food the world has to offer. After he was born — when I couldn't exercise yet — I kept eating, and I gained 60 pounds."

"But as soon as the doctor said I could start training again, I was on the treadmill the very next day," Ciara told the magazine in her cover story. "Once I got back into it, I worked out two or three times daily. I would go to [trainer] Gunnar Peterson first for my one-hour training session, then I'd have two more cardio sessions later in the day."

"That, along with a really clean eating plan, was how I lost 60 pounds in four months. It was a very intense program, and I was extremely focused on it."

During her intense workouts with a trainer, Ciara especially enjoyed "an hour-long plyometric cardio circuit that always includes boxing elements."

But the singer says her diet was just as important as her workout regimen — especially one thing in particular — water.

I believe that drinking tons of water and flushing out your system is crucial for training. It really helped me drop the weight. I tell myself that water is my medicine and that to stay well, I have to drink a gallon of it every day. 

And while Ciara says she also put herself "on a strict eating regimen," she does admit to needing cheat days.

"I give myself a break," Ciara tells Shape. "At some point I have to have French fries, a cheeseburger, and some pizza. And Oreos and vanilla ice cream!"

Ciara's hard work has paid off.

In the year since she gave birth, Ciara released her sixth studio album, starred on the NBC reality competition series "I Can Do That," and went on tour.

She also started dating Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, and documenting their fabulous life on Instagram:

SEE ALSO: How 20-year-old Gigi Hadid became the world's hottest fashion model

Join the conversation about this story »

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Ariel Winter, 17, has grown up in the public eye. When she was 11, she was cast as Alex Dunphy on ABC's "Modern Family." At the time, she looked like an ordinary pre-teen:

But a few years later, she matured and suddenly looked much older than her age. "I was 15 years old with [size] F [breasts], Winter told Glamour's Jessica Radloff. "How do you navigate that?"

"I remember being in my sister's wedding and being so flat and thinking, 'I just wish I could grow boobs!' And then overnight I did,” Winter said in the interview. "But then they kept growing and growing and growing, and it didn't seem like they were going to stop."

Winter says her new image attracted a lot of unwanted attention from the media.  Instead of focusing on her career, press outlets started commenting on her outfits and chest size.

"It made me feel really uncomfortable because as women in the industry, we are totally over sexualized and treated like objects.

As women in the industry, we are totally over sexualized and treated like objects

Every article that has to do with me on a red carpet always had to do with ‘Ariel Winter’s Crazy Cleavage!’ Or ‘Ariel Winter Shows Huge Boobs At An Event!’ That’s all people would recognize me by, not, “Oh, she does great work on 'Modern Family.'"

Even though she appeared confident on the red carpet, Winter says finding good-fitting clothes was always a struggle, her image kept her from being cast in age-appropriate roles, and she felt self-conscious.

"I'm an actress, [acting confident is] what we do,” she told the magazine. "But on the inside, I wasn't feeling so happy."

In June, Winter decided to do something about her body image and got breast reduction surgery.

Now that Winter has gone down a few sizes, she says she feels like she looks the way she was always "supposed to." And she hopes her decision will influence other young girls with similar confidence issues.

"It’s something that I did to better my life and better my health and I think that that can benefit a lot of young girls," she tells Glamour. "I have felt more happy with myself than I ever have."

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: More trouble for Subway's Jared Fogle...

Singer Ciara appears on this month's cover of Shape magazine looking super fit.

But the 29-year-old wasn't always so in shape.

During her pregnancy last year, the "Goodies" singer gained 60 pounds.

"When I was pregnant with [son] Future, one thing I learned quickly was, don't ever let a pregnant lady be hungry, because when I was, I was like the Tasmanian Devil!" she tells Shape magazine. "I indulged in all the good food the world has to offer. After he was born — when I couldn't exercise yet — I kept eating, and I gained 60 pounds."

"But as soon as the doctor said I could start training again, I was on the treadmill the very next day," Ciara told the magazine in her cover story. "Once I got back into it, I worked out two or three times daily. I would go to [trainer] Gunnar Peterson first for my one-hour training session, then I'd have two more cardio sessions later in the day."

"That, along with a really clean eating plan, was how I lost 60 pounds in four months. It was a very intense program, and I was extremely focused on it."

During her intense workouts with a trainer, Ciara especially enjoyed "an hour-long plyometric cardio circuit that always includes boxing elements."

But the singer says her diet was just as important as her workout regimen — especially one thing in particular — water.

I believe that drinking tons of water and flushing out your system is crucial for training. It really helped me drop the weight. I tell myself that water is my medicine and that to stay well, I have to drink a gallon of it every day. 

And while Ciara says she also put herself "on a strict eating regimen," she does admit to needing cheat days.

"I give myself a break," Ciara tells Shape. "At some point I have to have French fries, a cheeseburger, and some pizza. And Oreos and vanilla ice cream!"

Ciara's hard work has paid off.

In the year since she gave birth, Ciara released her sixth studio album, starred on the NBC reality competition series "I Can Do That," and went on tour.

She also started dating Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, and documenting their fabulous life on Instagram:

SEE ALSO: How 20-year-old Gigi Hadid became the world's hottest fashion model

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The first trailer for the new 'Walking Dead' season just dropped and looks as terrifying as ever

Gigi Hadid is only 20 years old, but she's already climbed her way to the top of the modeling industry. Hadid's success is due in part to her relatable social-media presence and the connection she has with her fans.

"I have more than 4 million followers on Instagram. All the companies I work for want me to guarantee how much I’ll post for them, but I’m not going to force my career onto the people who follow me," Hadid said this month in a W magazine cover interview (she has gained over 1.2 million followers since the issue came out on August 3). "I refuse to do 40 Instagram posts about any campaign."

Hadid embraces the business side of the modeling industry and understands the importance of seamlessly moving between mass and class.

"I have always been aware of the business side of this industry. I’ve always seen it as a career that required work and planning," she tells W magazine.

"My Pirelli calendar is hanging on the wall of my friend’s frat house, and he doesn’t know anything about fashion. That balance is what leads to big campaigns outside of fashion. But I never want to choose one or the other. Both commercial and high fashion are what make my job so interesting."

Hadid has had quite the year.

From being one of 16 top models featured in the annual swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated ...

... to being named the newest face of Maybelline, the No. 1 cosmetics brand in the world, which counts models like Christy Turlington and Jourdan Dunn among its spokeswomen.

She walked countless runways.

And was named Model of the Year at the Daily Front Row's Fashion Awards.

She starred in the "Bad Blood" music video alongside bestie Taylor Swift.

And has appeared on many magazine covers.

After starting her career as a Guess model at age 2 ...

... she is still modeling for the brand 18 years later.

But modeling is in Hadid's blood.

Her mother, Yolanda Foster, was a successful model in the '80s and rejoined the spotlight as a cast member on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Gigi entering the modeling world was an early storyline on the show.

Foster is married to mega music producer David Foster.

Her biological father is Mohamed Hadid, a real-estate entrepreneur, whose estimated worth is about $200 million.

Gigi's younger sister, Bella, is also a model.

In June, the two appeared on the cover of V magazine.

And while this year saw the breakup of Gigi and singer Cody Simpson ...

It has also seen the new relationship between Hadid and Joe Jonas, together dubbed "G.I. Joe."

And judging by her Instagram account, it's good to be Gigi Hadid.

SEE ALSO: This 19-year-old model is the new face of Victoria's Secret

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There's a lot of money to be made on the internet, and Josh Ostrovsky is cashing in. If you don't recognize his name, you might recognize his social media persona: The Fat Jew(ish).

Ostrovsky has become a full-fledged brand after amassing millions of followers posting jokes and memes from around the internet. He launched "White Girl Rosé" this summer, he has a book coming out this fall, he's in talks for a television show, and he was just signed with top Hollywood talent agency CAA.

There's just one problem: The jokes he's posting to Instagram aren't his. Now the people who made up those jokes — mostly comedians on Twitter — have finally had enough of Ostrovsky getting rich and famous off of their material. 

But one Twitter and Instagram comedian — who asked to remain anonymous — told Tech Insider The Fat Jew has helped boost his online presence, despite initially lifting his jokes without credit.

Before we get into that, here's a basic rundown of why people are complaining about Ostrovsky.

BuzzFeed's Stephanie McNeal pointed out one recent instance of Ostrovsky lifting a comedian's joke. This joke (below) was posted on July 30 by Davon Magwood. It ended up getting a few thousand retweets.

Several weeks later, Ostrovsky posted Magwood's joke without credit to the tune of 195,000 likes on his Instagram account. "After Magwood's friends criticized Ostrovsky," McNeal reported, "Ostrovsky changed [the joke's caption] to include a credit [to Magwood.]"

But the after-the-fact sourcing isn't good enough for many of the comedians who are fighting against Ostrovsky's business model. 

A writer named Maura Quint openly criticized Ostrovsky in a Facebook post this past Saturday, linking to the Hollywood Reporter's post regarding his new contract with CAA.

Quint writes:

For those of you who don't know, this guy, The Fat Jew is someone whose entire career is simply stealing jokes from tumblr, twitter, etc. He is making a living off of the hard work of other people. The people he steals from are struggling writers, comedians, etc. They would love to be able to profit from THEIR OWN WORK but can't because this complete waste of a person is monetizing their words before they even have a chance to. When called out on his continued theft he either ignores it, says "whoops" or says "geez I guess an intern stole it!" This man makes nothing, contributes nothing, originates nothing, he is a leech, he is a virus, he is what is wrong with the world. Please please please do not support him. He is pure trash.

If you follow him on instagram, unfollow. If you follow him on twitter, unfollow. If you're saying "but I like the stuff he puts out, it's funny!" then just ask me and I'll give you lists and lists of the originators of that content who are funny all the time with their own original words. You won't miss this piece of shit, I promise.

This Google doc with 200 or so names of joke creators to follow instead of Ostrovsky has been floating around the internet. Ostrovsky has allegedly lifted material from all of them. 

Our source, a New York-based comedy writer whom we'll call Jake, tells us Ostrovsky actually helped boost his career by lifting and posting his jokes to millions of people. Well, at least it helped once Ostrovsky started to give him credit, which he didn't do the first, second, fifth, or ninth time he stole Jake's material.

"When you see your image, or your joke, being ripped off," Jake explained to Tech Insider, "it's a mix of validation and anger. I was like, 'great, my stuff is funny because all of these people are liking it on this guy's page.' At the same time, none of those people know that joke is mine."

Over the course of a year, Jake watched Ostrovsky (and a handful of Ostrovsky's interns) lift a dozen or so of his jokes without credit. Then one night several months ago, Ostrovsky had finally tagged Jake's handle in one of his jokes Ostrovsky posted to his account. 

"I got 7,000 followers in 2 minutes," Jake remembers. "It was great for me, and great for my career." 

Jake says he understands comedians getting frustrated by having their stuff stolen but defends Ostrovsky — albeit anonymously — arguing that the Instagrammer "does go out of his way to credit people now."

Taking a look at the last few dozen Instagram posts from The Fat Jewish, it does seem most all of the photos are credited to a user's handle. It's unclear if the credit was included after the post had been up for awhile, as was done with Magwood's lion joke. And either way, it's too little, too late for many of the angry comedians who had their material taken by Ostrovsky without a link to their account pages.

"This is not the same for F--- Jerry," Jake adds, recalling a time when a friend of his had his joke stolen by a similar account with millions of followers.

F--- Jerry skipped out on having to give credit when he claimed to not remember how to spell the original creator's handle when posting the joke.

To the left is a screenshot of a direct Instagram message between LloydChristmas94 (with 11,000 followers) and F--- Jerry with 5.7 million followers.

"F--- Jerry is much more deplorable in my opinion," Jake says.

The idea of social media plagiarism is one that people have been discussing for awhile now.

A year ago, I dove into the topic with a guy named Chris Scott who tweeted a joke and then saw it, sans credit to him, all over the internet for months. A writer named Luke O'Neil has written about joke stealing several times. Twitter recently announced it would be cracking down on accounts that post other people's jokes on the grounds of copyright infringement. 

While it is not a secret that the content on The Fat Jewish does not belong to Ostrovsky, Ostrovsky is still the one benefitting from taking other people's jokes and putting them in one easy-to-access place. Because of that, he's the one getting brand deals, book deals, and television shows while other comedians trying to use social media in order to leverage their careers feel they're getting screwed.   

"In politics and journalism, plagiarism remains a serious, even career-killing charge," O'Neil wrote back in January for The Washington Post."So why is it any different when it comes to jokes online, especially considering how grave a sin joke theft is in stand-up comedy?"

Most don't think it should be any different. A comedian named Brian Redban is currently posting screenshots of The Fat Jewish jokes next to screenshots of original jokes, and Davon Magwood, the guy who posted that joke about the lion, recently wrote an open letter to the F--- Jerrys and the Fat Jews of the internet.

Thefatjewish posted my stuff and originally did not credit me. The post has over 100k likes, after bunch of my friends and followers called him out, I was credited, my followers went up about 100 followers. Had he maybe credited me originally it could’ve been more and here is why that matters.

BECAUSE THAT’S HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS SUPPOSED TO WORK!

If it’s my stuff you’re posting, and if you give me credit, then I get traffic to my site, maybe that traffic goes to my comedy album and then I get paid for my work! You make money from the traffic you generate and guess what, I’d also would like to be paid and credited for the traffic that I’ve generated. I shouldn’t have to asked to be credit for my work, neither should other comedians or clever social media people.  You should assume that If I’m posting online that I want credit for whatever you share.

... I’m not producing shit so you can make more money off of my work.

But Jake argues that Ostrovsky has "brilliantly figured out a way to monetize Instagram" by being a one-stop source for people who want to see funny jokes and memes from all around the internet but — to go against what Quint offers above — do not want to follow hundreds of people to do so.

And BuzzFeed writer Grace Spelman tweeted similar sentiments about those who find value in Ostrovsky's content theft and curation this weekend.

She then tweeted: "In no way am I defending this turd of a human, I'm just saying unless Instagram yanks his account, I dont see anything changing."

"Getting a shoutout from The Fat Jew," Jake concludes, "is like getting Oprah to mention your book."

We've reached out to Ostrovsky for comment and will update if we hear back.

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Taylor Swift is currently at the center of a big Twitter feud, but she hasn't even tweeted once.

It all started when former One Direction boy bander Zayn Malik retweeted a post by popular Twitter account "Bitch Problems" that showed a side-by-side picture of Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift with the text "the difference is astounding," and featured quotes from each.

The post has since been deleted, but on Swift’s picture was a quote about why she removed her music from Spotify: "[People] can still listen to my music if they get it on iTunes. I’m always up for trying something. And I tried it and I didn’t like the way it felt. I think there should be an inherent value placed on art." 

On Cyrus' photo was a quote from the singer about her Happy Hippie Foundation: "I’ve made my money. If no one buys my album, cool. It’s fine. I’ve got a house, and I’ve got dogs that I love. I don’t need anything else."

Taylor Swift's boyfriend, DJ Calvin Harris, saw the tweet and immediately went after Zayn Malik for retweeting it, mockingly saying, "f--- the 99% of musicians who depend on these services to survive right?"

Malik, 22, defended himself by responding to Harris and insulting his 31 years of age.

Harris then backtracked a bit and apologized to Malik:

While Swift is no stranger to Twitter feuds these days, she has yet to respond to the latest exchange.

Swift has, however, been vocal in her distaste for Spotify but her appreciation of Apple. Earlier this month, the singer told Vanity Fair:

"Apple treated me like I was a voice of a creative community that they actually cared about," she said. "And I found it really ironic that the multibillion-dollar company reacted to criticism with humility, and the startup with no cash flow reacted to criticism like a corporate machine."

Zing!

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift slams Spotify and calls it a 'startup with no cash flow'

MORE: Taylor Swift's boyfriend Calvin Harris congratulates her on 'changing the entire music industry'

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With a hit summer movie, an Emmy nod for her show on Comedy Central, and an HBO special in the works, Amy Schumer's career is at an all-time high.

But all that success hasn't affected her spending habits. The 34-year-old comedian is still living in a small apartment in New York City.

Schumer recently told Radio 1’s Scott Mills, "I’m like the richest person I know and I have a one-bedroom and a walk-up. My bed folds up into the wall and I iron there."

As for why she hasn't upgraded, Schumer said, "Everyone says I’ll make money on the next thing, but they’ve been saying that for 11 years."

Schumer has quite the rocky history with New York City real estate.

She has lived on the Upper West Side, Chinatown, Murray Hill, Williamsburg, and reportedly now Chelsea.

In 2011, Schumer talked to BrickUnderground about her apartment woes:

I moved to NYC to become an actress in 2003 when I graduated from college. I found a small studio for the monthly rent of $1,275 in Chinatown via Craigslist where I dealt with a shady broker — again with my habit of gravitating towards abusive relationships — who tried to give me advice on how to hack it in this city. I thought I could afford the place but soon had to get a roommate — in a STUDIO. I placed an ad on Craigslist and found a student from Ohio willing to pay for half the rent to sleep on a loft bed. Luckily she was great and we’d sit around watching 'Sex and the City.' Neither of us had much of a social life as bringing someone home was really tricky.

From there, Schumer moved to "a huge 2BR duplex in Chelsea for only $1,600 a month" where she only had to pay $800 a month, but things didn't work out because "the only issue with the apartment was the roommate was a big slut."

So Schumer, who grew up on the Upper East Side, packed up and headed to her own studio apartment on the Upper West Side.

"I found it through a broker and truly love it," she said at the time. "I continue to appreciate the neighborhood and am thrilled I have no bugs. What irritates me is the size. With my bike housed in my apartment, it is tiny. It has everything that a big house would but shoved into a ridiculously small area. The closets weren’t built correctly so to open one door I have maneuver myself in weird positions, like Indiana Jones."

One day she hopes to purchase her dream home — "a penthouse in the West Village by the water."

In the 2011 interview with BrickUnderground, Schumer, who has always rented, revealed that "I did think about buying but unfortunately the banker said I am far away from being able to afford it. Someday … someday."

With Schumer's latest movie, "Trainwreck," raking in over $111 million worldwide at the box office on just a $35 million budget, it looks like someday may be today.

SEE ALSO: Amy Schumer's unique road to becoming an A-list comedy star

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During a weekend interview with The New York Times, Donald Trump managed to work in a dis against Heidi Klum.

Trump, 69, declared that the 42-year-old supermodel was "no longer a 10."

"Sometimes I do go a little bit far — Heidi Klum. Sadly, she’s no longer a 10," the Republican presidential hopeful said when talking about how he "can survive dissing John McCain and rating Heidi Klum when that would be a death knell for someone like Scott Walker."

Klum heard the feedback loud and clear, and responded by posting a video shrugging off the dis.

In the video, a man wearing a Donald Trump mask rips off the "10" on Klum's shirt to reveal a "9.99" rating.

Klum posted the video on all of her social-media accounts with the caption:"#TrumpHasSpoken #sadly #9.99 #NoLongerA10 #IHadAGoodRun #donaldtrump #trumped #HeidiTrumpsTrump #BeautyIsInTheEyeOfTheBeheld"

The Facebook comments have been overwhelmingly in support of Klum and against "bully" Donald Trump:

After previously bashing Fox News' Megyn Kelly as "not very tough and not very sharp," Trump tried to defend his treatment of women in the same Times interview that he dissed Klum, saying: "I have many women executives and they are paid at least as much as the men. I find women to be amazing."

SEE ALSO: Calvin Harris defends girlfriend Taylor Swift in Twitter feud over Spotify profits

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What makes someone smart?

Scientists have been investigating that question for decades, and the research suggests that everything from your mother's breast milk to the size of your waistline can influence your intelligence. 

Additional reporting by Chelsea Harvey.

You don't smoke.

A 2010 Israeli study compared the IQ and smoking status of 20,000 young men. 

As the Daily Mail reported, the results were stark: 

• The average 18- to 21-year smoker had an IQ of 94, and the non-smoker had an IQ of 101.

• Those who smoked more than a pack a day had an average IQ of 90.

• In sibling sets, nonsmoking brothers were smarter than smokers. 

You took music lessons.

Research suggests that music helps kids' minds develop in a few ways: 

• A 2011 study found that the verbal intelligence of 4- to 6-year-olds rose after only a month of music lessons. 

• A 2004 study found that 6-year-olds who took nine months of piano lessons had an IQ boost compared with kids who took drama lessons or no classes at all.

But the researchers may be getting it backward: A 2013 study suggested high-achieving kids were the ones most likely to take music lessons. 

You're the oldest child.

Oldest siblings are usually smarter, but it's not because of genetics.

The New York Times reports, "The new findings, from a landmark study published [in June 2007], showed that eldest children had a slight but significant edge in IQ — an average of three points over the closest sibling. And it found that the difference was not because of biological factors but the psychological interplay of parents and children."

For this and other reasons, firstborns tend to be more successful than their siblings.

Rosie O'Donnell's daughter is missing, according to the comedian's official website.

Chelsea O'Donnell, 17, was last seen on Tuesday, August 11. Nyack, New York police authorities have been searching for her in the Rockland County area since Sunday, August 16.

These details may help in identifying Chelsea:

• Chelsea was was wearing a black sweatshirt hoodie, dark ripped blue jeans, women’s grey converse sneakers and a black backpack.
• She as a large tattoo on her right side of a dream catcher with the word "Breathe."
• She left her home with her six-month-old therapy dog. The dog's name is Bear, a terrier weighing 9 lbs, with brown and black fur.

Time is of the essence as "Chelsea stopped taking her medicine and is in need of medical attention."

O'Donnell tweeted the following, with a photo of Chelsea:

 If you have any information, please contact authorities at 845-358-0206 or 911.

SEE ALSO: Rosie O'Donnell Suffers A Heart Attack

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Rosie O'Donnell's daughter, Chelsea O'Donnell, has been found after her mother alerted the public on Tuesday that the teen had been missing for a week.

The comedian tweeted out an update later on Tuesday:

As Business Insider reported earlier on Tuesday, Chelsea had last been seen on Tuesday, August 11. Nyack, New York police authorities had been searching for her in the Rockland County area since Sunday, August 16.

It was also believed that she had somehow made it to New York City.

She left her home with her six-month-old therapy dog, Bear, a terrier weighing 9 lbs, with brown and black fur.

To add even more urgency to the situation, Chelsea had stopped taking her medicine and was in need of medical attention.

O'Donnell alerted her more than 800,000 followers that her daughter was missing with the following tweet:

SEE ALSO: Rosie O'Donnell Suffers A Heart Attack

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NOW WATCH: Watch the incredible rescue at sea of a man who was missing for 66 days