At 18, T-Pain signed a $40 million record deal, but later regretted it after reading the details.

We all know that our teenage years are filled with mistakes, and even celebrities like T-Pain are not immune to them. At the young age of 18, the talented singer signed with Jive Records after the success of his first single, "I'm Sprung." It seemed like a dream come true, especially with the added bonus of a $40 million advance. However, there was a major catch that came along with it.

In a recent interview, T-Pain revealed that his first deal with the label was a 15/85 split, meaning they would take 85% of his earnings. Despite this, he didn't seem to mind because of the crazy amount of money they were offering. He recalls the moment when the deal was finalized and he was handed a check, saying, "They straight-up said, 'Deal's done. Here you go.'" It was a huge moment for the young artist, but little did he know the consequences of signing that deal.

Years later, T-Pain discovered that he was not receiving the payouts he expected from his hit singles. It wasn't until he took a closer look at his contract that he realized the truth. "I had to go look at my deal and I was like, 'Oh, I'm about to get paid.' And they [were] like, 'No, the fu*k you not,'" he shared. He remembers feeling shocked and betrayed, as he had put his trust in the record label. "And I was like, 'Bro, there's no way.' And they were like, 'There's all the way, 'cause here's your signature, you stupid piece of sh*t.'"

In 2019, T-Pain appeared on The Breakfast Club and opened up about his financial struggles. He revealed that at one point, he had lost the entire $40 million and had to borrow money just to buy his children food from Burger King. It was a low point in his career, but he eventually bounced back. Reflecting on his journey, he said, "Now I know what the high end is and what the low end is. I've been mega-rich, I've been super broke, right in the middle of thinking I was mega-rich, and then got rich again." He also shared how this experience taught him the importance of valuing his hard-earned money and being more mindful of his finances.

Despite the difficulties he faced, T-Pain persevered and saw success once again. He credits this to changing his mindset and learning to prioritize his work that brings in the money. "Once you give a s— about the money you're making, then you feel much better about your accomplishments," he explained. It was a tough lesson to learn, but T-Pain came out stronger and wiser because of it.

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