Justin Bieber may have sold his music catalog for a staggering $200 million in 2022 — but according to a new documentary, it was a desperate move to avoid financial collapse.

Justin Bieber’s Fortune “Vanished,” Says TMZ Documentary

In TMZ Investigates: What Happened to Justin Bieber?, now streaming on Hulu, insiders claim the pop star faced serious debt following the abrupt cancellation of his Justice World Tour. The documentary alleges that despite earning an estimated $500 million to $1 billion throughout his career, Bieber had essentially burned through his fortune.

“He was on the verge of financial collapse,” TMZ’s Harvey Levin says in the film. “He had to sell his music catalog because he was broke.”

Bieber Ignored Tax Advice, Sold Quickly

According to the documentary, Bieber’s longtime manager Scooter Braun reportedly advised him to wait until January 2023 to sell his catalog in order to secure a significant tax benefit. But Bieber allegedly insisted on finalizing the $200 million deal with Hipgnosis Songs Capital in December 2022, citing urgent financial need.

“Justin said, ‘I gotta sell it now,’” Levin claims. “That’s how broke he was.”

Lavish Spending and Tour Cancellation to Blame?

Though Bieber has not publicly commented on the claims, TMZ staffers in the documentary point to his lavish lifestyle as a possible reason for the financial downfall. These include:

• Eight tour buses, including a $2 million custom renovation

• Private jet travel

• Multiple luxury properties purchased outright in cash

TMZ’s Don Nash also noted that Bieber lost out on $90 million in potential income when he canceled the Justice World Tour in 2022 to prioritize his mental and physical health.

Representatives and Sources Push Back

A rep for Bieber declined to comment on the documentary’s claims. However, a separate source told PEOPLE in April that the singer is “facing a lot of different demons right now” and is making “poor decisions” that are affecting his personal and business relationships.

In a previous statement, a spokesperson slammed The Hollywood Reporter for publishing similar claims, calling them “clickbait stupidity” and “inaccurate assumptions.”

What’s Next for Bieber?

Bieber, 31, and wife Hailey Bieber recently welcomed their first child, a son named Jack Blues, in August 2024. Despite the controversy, fans are hopeful that fatherhood will mark a fresh chapter in the pop star’s life.