Fueled by millions from celebrity backers - how BLM race activists created $12m ... trends now

Black Lives Matter has plunged into a battle to stay afloat despite millions in donations from celebrities – and a $73million handout from Silicon Valley Bank before its collapse.

Co-founder Patrisse Cullors splashed out more than $12million on luxury properties for the foundation before her resignation in 2021.

But the group defended the ever-expanding portfolio, saying they would 'increase transparency' but would not give much more detail over a sprawling $6million 6,500-square-foot Studio City compound in Southern California.

At the height of the protests over the death of George Floyd in May 2020, celebrities were quick to donate millions to the cause, as well as the now-collapsed SVB.

Since the financial disclosure obtained by The Washington Free Beacon, showing the perilous state of BLM's Global Network Foundation, there has been a rise in pressure for the charity to reveal where the funding was spent.

Financial records show they are risking going bankrupt after running a $8.5million deficit and saw the value of its investment accounts drop by nearly $10 million, with fundraising down 88% year-on-year.

DailyMail.com looks into the millions donated by celebrities and other good causes – and details of Cullors $12million luxury property portfolio:

Who were the celebrities who donated millions to BLM? 

Dozens of famous faces, including Ariana Grande, Halsey and Cole Sprouse, attended protests, with Watermelon Sugar singer Harry Styles marching and donating thousands to BLM.

Chrissy Teigen was amongst the first to donate to people who took to the streets, pledging $200k as her husband John Legend, announced that he would also be giving money to the charity.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds pledged $200k, with comedian and director Jordan Peele announcing he would give $1million to them.

Actress Jennifer Anniston handed over $1million, with former WWE star John Cena giving $1million and Canadian singer The Weeknd gave $200k.

Angelina Jolie also donated $200,000, while Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen DeGeneres all pledged donations to the foundation but did not disclose the full amounts.

Beauty mogul Kylie Jenner announced that her cosmetics brand had donated to several organizations, and encouraged others to do the same.

The Korean pop band BTS donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter organization, saying they 'stand against racial discrimination'.

Rock band Paramore announced that they would pledge a total of $25,000 across Black Lives Matter Nashville, Campaign Zero and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Rihanna's beauty brand Fenty announced it was pledging money to three organizations and encouraged its followers to stand up and fight back against racism – though it didn't state how much she donated.

Mayim Bialik and Jim Parsons joined together with the cast, crew and producers of Call Me Kat, to donate to the city of Louisville, Kentucky's Community Bail Fund to help those arrested in recent protests.

Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby and his wife Brandi gave $5,000 to Black Lives Matter DC.

Chris Evans, who plays Marvel's Captain America, said he had donated and retweeted a video of police mistreating protestors, but did not specify the amount.

Basketball star Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand pledged to give $100 million over the next ten years to 'organizations dedicated to ensuring racial equality, social justice and greater access to education.'

The organization in February 2021 said it had taken in more than $90 million in 2020 and still had $60 million on hand.

Last year, it was down to $42 million, while the Free Beacon reports BLM has now spent two-thirds of the $90 million cash it had to hand.

In May last year BLM told AP that they had invested in stocks about a third of the $90 million it received as donations amid racial justice protests in 2020. 

Inside BLM's $12million luxury property portfolio 

Cullors established Black Lives Matter with co-founders Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi in 2013, and describes herself as a Marxist.

Last year the foundation was hit with increasing federal pressure after Cullors was accused of misusing donated funds.

Cullors was also hit with widespread criticism for spending her millions on the slew of lavish homes – after documents and internal communications revealed that some of the properties were handled in ways that 'blur boundaries'.

There were questions raised as to if there was a crossing of the line between charitable use and those that would benefit some of the organization's leaders.

It was revealed that Cullors owns four residential properties in upscale - and predominantly white - California and Georgia neighborhoods 

Cullors shared a video of her enjoying a ritzy brunch outside one of the luxury estate's with fellow officials Alicia Garza and Melina Abdullah, who have both since left the organization.

In 2021, sources claimed that Cullors had been searching for a sprawling condo in the Bahamas -  in the same beach-front resort where Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake have homes. 

Cullors vigorously denied that the group had purchased property on the islands, which are priced between $5million to $20million.

In October, the activist signed 'a multi-platform' deal with Warner Bros. Television Group to help produce content for 'black voices who have been historically marginalized.' 

The properties are a far cry from how Cullors says she grew up -  in a housing project less than a mile from the affluent and largely white neighborhood of Sherman Oaks.

Cullors described reports of her properties as 'right-wing bullying' and claimed the homes were purchased with the financial windfall she received from her speaking and book deals and not from the $90million donations raised by BLM in 2020.

Hawk Newsome, the head of Black Lives Matter Greater New York City, which is not affiliated with Khan-Cullors' Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, called for 'an independent investigation' to find out how the global network spends its money.

Studio City - $6m

In October 2020 BLM spent nearly $6 million in donated funds on a luxurious estate in Studio City, an upscale Los Angeles neighborhood.

The purchase, which was an all-cash deal, closed five months after George Floyd's murder sparked widespread donations and national protests.

The sprawling 6,500-square-foot compound includes a soundstage, seven bedrooms and bathrooms as well as a swimming pool.

It also has a sound stage, music studio, pool, and parking for more than 20 cars — and was secretly bought by a shell company connected to BLM.

Fully upgraded and renovated, the kitchen offers premium Thermador appliances, a wine fridge and a stone-topped island.

Cullors issued a statement denying she used the $6 million LA property for personal purposes but then had to backtrack and admitted to AP that she had used the compound for purposes that were not strictly business.