Bankruptcy Looms in Leibovitz's Viewfinder

Lighting supplier claims photog has unpaid bills
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted May 24, 2009 12:27 PM CDT
Bankruptcy Looms in Leibovitz's Viewfinder
Barack Obama talks with photographer Annie Leibovitz at the airport in Charleston, W.Va., Thursday, March 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Annie Leibovitz pulls down $2 million a year from Vanity Fair to shoot Hollywood A-listers, but a lighting company that claims the shutterbug owes it about $200,000 may force her to file for involuntary bankruptcy. Leibovitz is already underwater—with other lawsuits over real estate and unpaid bills, she borrowed $15.5 million last year against rights to her photos to cover mounting debt.

"We haven't filed anything yet, but we are doing our due diligence," said a lawyer for the lighting company, which originally sought some $400,000. "We're in touch with Annie's people and they are cooperating, so hopefully it won't come to that." (More Annie Leibovitz stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X