During the pandemic, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) was designed to support struggling arts, musicians and entertainment businesses. However, a Business Insider investigation revealed that wealthy musicians like Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Marshmello misused millions in taxpayer funds for personal luxuries, including private jets, designer clothes, and extravagant parties. This misuse highlights glaring failures in oversight and raises ethical concerns about relief programs meant to aid struggling workers.

Lil Wayne: From Private Jets to Concert No-Shows

  • Grant Awarded: $8.9 million through the SVOG program.
  • How the Money Was Spent:
    • Over $1.3 million went toward private jet flights.
    • More than $460,000 was spent on designer clothes from luxury brands like Gucci and Balenciaga.
    • Nearly $175,000 was used to promote his GKUA marijuana brand during a music festival, covering artist expenses and personal wardrobe costs.
    • $88,000 billed to taxpayers for a New Year’s Eve concert he never performed, citing “flight delays” while partying with fellow rapper 2 Chainz at a club instead.

Despite receiving substantial taxpayer assistance, Lil Wayne directed millions to personal luxuries, leaving his touring crew and support staff with a fraction of the funds.

Chris Brown: Birthday Parties and Personal Trips

  • Grant Awarded: $10 million to his company, CBE Touring.
  • How the Money Was Spent:
    • Paid himself a $5.1 million salary from the grant.
    • Spent $80,000 on his 33rd birthday party, featuring:
      • A $3,650 LED dance floor.
      • “Atmosphere models” in body paint ($2,100).
      • Hookahs, bottle service, and nitrogen ice cream ($29,000).
      • Damage costs for burn holes in rented furniture.
    • Charged taxpayers $24,000 for a personal trip to Tulum, Mexico, where he filmed a music video with Jack Harlow but spent the remainder on leisure.

Brown’s lavish spending contrasted sharply with the program’s intended purpose of supporting struggling workers in the arts and live entertainment sectors.

Other Celebrities Under Scrutiny

  • Marshmello (Christopher Comstock):
    • Received $9.9 million and directed the entire grant to his personal account.
  • Alice in Chains:
    • Members Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney, and Mike Inez collectively took $3.4 million of their $4.1 million grant, leaving minimal funds for crew members. A longtime guitar tech battling cancer received little financial support from the band.
  • Steve Aoki:
    • Of the $2.4 million grant received, $1.9 million was allocated to officer pay—essentially, to himself.

These cases highlight a troubling trend: musicians and their teams often prioritized personal compensation over supporting the crews and workers who depended on them for their livelihoods.

Systemic Failures and Oversight Gaps

The Small Business Administration (SBA), tasked with overseeing the program, initially maintained strict eligibility requirements to prevent misuse. However, under pressure from lawmakers to expedite relief, the SBA eased many controls. Key issues included:

  • Eligibility Loopholes: Musicians with substantial personal wealth qualified for grants as long as their touring companies showed a 25% revenue decline.
  • Inadequate Vetting: Some expenses—such as alcohol, luxury items, and personal trips—were approved without scrutiny.
  • Post-Grant Audits: The SBA relied heavily on post-disbursement reviews, leaving funds unrecoverable once spent.

By mid-2021, lobbying efforts and industry influence led the SBA to include musicians and their loan-out companies in the program, opening the floodgates for questionable applications.

The Broader Impact: Trust Eroded

The misuse of SVOG funds has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers, industry insiders, and the public:

  • Sen. Gary Peters (Chair of Homeland Security Committee): Called the spending an “abuse of federal resources,” emphasizing that the program was meant to support struggling workers and businesses—not wealthy celebrities.
  • David Walker (Former Comptroller General): While stopping short of declaring the spending fraudulent, Walker said the revelations “smell bad” and raised ethical concerns.
  • Small Arts Organizations: Groups like the Arizona Actors Academy, which received modest grants, fear public trust in government aid for the arts will be eroded.

A Call for Accountability

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program was a lifeline for many small arts organizations and live-event workers. However, its misuse by multimillionaire musicians highlights systemic flaws in federal relief programs. As lawmakers call for greater oversight and the SBA faces mounting scrutiny, these revelations serve as a stark reminder of the need for tighter controls and ethical accountability in distributing taxpayer funds.

The public deserves answers—and action—to ensure that future relief programs genuinely serve those in need.

This story was originally featured on BusinesInsider