Britney Spears is raking in £370,000 a month - more than £4 million a year - despite not having had a hit song for three years. The troubled star's last big success was her 2004 Greatest Hits album and her last UK No 1 was Everytime in the same year.
Spears's continued earning power, from royalties, interest on her £65million fortune and income from her perfumes Curious and Fantasy, was revealed in court documents filed in her battle against ex-husband Kevin Federline for custody of their two children.
The papers also show that she still forks out £10,000 a month to K-Fed, even though they split last year.
Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, claims in a declaration filed this week that Spears "is clearly the 'monied party' in this case."
Kaplan is asking her to pay £25,000 for expenses in connection with the custody hearing, claiming his bill will be in excess of £20,000.
The documents also reveal that LA's Department of Children and Family Services is investigating Spears for allegedly neglecting her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James.
The singer has been accused of providing poor dental hygiene for the children, as well as allowing poor eating and sleeping habits.
Among those who have been, or are being, subpoenaed in Federline's move to get 70/30 custody of the boys are the Promises Treatment Center, where Spears was in rehab, her ex-manager Larry Rudolph and the star's former bodyguard, assistant and nanny.
Britney's former manager Larry Rudolph was served at a tanning salon, which he part owns in Los Angeles.
Manager Erin Tietsort, the assistant manager at the Sunset Tan in West Los Angeles. Tietsort said Rudolph was served by an attractive brunette.
"We asked her who she was but she just said she had a meeting with [Rudolph]. After he walked in he said, 'Can I help you?' and she just handed the papers and left. He had no idea.
"He then said [to himself], "Oh, okay. Yeah. They've been looking for me. This is for Britney Spears-Kevin Federline.' I was like, 'Really?' And he just stared out the window. You could tell he wasn't too happy about it," said Tietsort. Rudolph went into hiding to avoid being served because he felt his testimony under oath could hurt Spears's case, said American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, who was in contact with Rudolph over the weekend.
"He's actually on the run," Seacrest reported.
"After all they have been through he is still loyal to her."
It was business as usual for the chaotic singer who appeared in public yesterday wearing what could loosely be described as a floral mini dress – which exposed her ample bottom.
Spears is working on a comeback album, due for release on November 13th, and two singles - Gimme More and Cold As Fire - were leaked on the internet today ahead of their expected radio launch next month.
According to People magazine, the club-friendly dance track officially previewed on New York radio station Z-100's Web site.
The song is said to feature the pop star's signature breathy vocals, melodic electronic bleeps over a driving beat and a catchy hook.
Spears opens the sexy and sassy tune by defiantly saying, "It's Britney, b****", and producer Nate "Danjahandz" Hills ends it in a shout out, saying, "Bet you didn't see this coming." Spears and ex Federline, 29, are caught up in an ugly custody battle over sons Sean Preston, two next month, and Jayden James, eleven months.
And earlier this weeek it was revealed she is also being investigated for possible child abuse.
The complaint, lodged with Department of Children and Family Services, alleges poor dental hygiene, as well as poor eating and sleeping habits for the boys.
Spears' recent off the wall indiscretions, which include a topless swimming pool romp with a stranger earlier this month, have led Federline to seek full custody of their children.
