Rapper will pay between 74% and 92% of his $36m in debts after settlement reached, including $6m to the woman whose sex tape he leaked

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A federal bankruptcy court judge in Connecticut has approved a plan for 50 Cent to reorganise his finances and pay back creditors.

The rapper, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, burst on to the music scene in 2003 with his debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin. He filed for bankruptcy a year ago, citing debts of $36m and assets of less than $20m.

He will make a $7.4m payment to begin the bankruptcy plan, which was approved on 6 July, the Hartford Courant reports.

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Under the plan approved by the judge, creditors holding unsecured claims will receive 74% to 92% of the money they are owed, depending on how quickly 50 Cent makes the payments.

Judge Ann Nevins noted that 50 Cent “has a significant ability to generate income”.

His bankruptcy filing in July 2015 came days after losing an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit filed by a woman who said he acquired a video she made with her boyfriend, added himself as a crude commentator and posted it online without her permission. A jury awarded $7m to the woman, Lastonia Leviston.

As part of the plan, Leviston agreed to take $6m.

Jackson took the stand on 6 July and the judge asked if he understood provisions of the plan, including a requirement to pay the $6m to Leviston, even if he seeks bankruptcy protection again.

“That’s not gonna happen,” Jackson said.

Jackson, 41, is an admitted former crack dealer who has built an empire beyond entertainment. He invested early in Vitamin Water and has expanded his business interests into clothing and audio equipment.

He has gone on to become an actor whose credits include the Starz network action series Power. He also was named by Forbes last year as one of hip-hop’s five wealthiest artists for 2015.

He bought his 17-acre home in Connecticut from boxer Mike Tyson in 2003 for $4.1m. The house, which is now up for sale, includes 19 bedrooms, more than two dozen bathrooms, a gym, billiard rooms, racquetball courts and a disco.