Shakira went all out to decorate her $15.9 million Miami mansion for the holidays, despite facing legal troubles and having recently paid over $6.9 million for a court case related to tax fraud allegations. The Colombian singer, aged 46, created a magical winter wonderland for her two sons, Milan (10) and Sasha (8), whom she shares with her ex Gerard Piqué, by covering her roof, palm trees, and hedges with sparkling lights. This holiday season is the second one since her 11-year relationship with Piqué ended, a split she described as a betrayal, especially as it happened when her father was in the ICU. Apparently, she realized he was cheating on her when she noticed a jar of strawberry jam had been consumed while she was not at home.
Shakira went all out this holiday season, sparing no expense while decking out her lavish $15.9 million Miami mansion. This extravagant display of festive spirit comes shortly after she coughed up a hefty sum of over 6.9 million to address allegations of tax fraud. Just last month, a report from ShowNews Today revealed that Shakira’s keen observation skills caught her off guard when she discovered a jar of strawberry jam in her home, a treat none of her family members cared for. This discovery hinted at the presence of an unknown visitor in their midst.
In an interesting twist, Shakira cleverly incorporated this incident into the music video for her hit single, Te Felicito, where a shot of Rauw Alejandro peeping into an open fridge showcased her sense of humor. Despite facing personal challenges like the breakup of her relationship and attending to her ailing father, who found himself hospitalized twice this year, Shakira also grappled with the legal woes of a tax evasion lawsuit. Letting out her frustration, the Hips Don’t Lie singer expressed her discontent with the Spanish authorities for singling out ‘high-profile individuals’ and slapping her with a staggering £6.4 million fine on top of a £15 million tax penalty.
In order to avoid a drawn-out legal battle, Shakira agreed to a hefty seven-figure fine, which spared her from serving time behind bars but didn’t come without its share of financial implications. Defending her innocence, the songstress emphasized her decision to prioritize her children’s well-being and career over a prolonged court case. Shakira’s sentiments echoed the frustration felt by others in the public eye who have faced similar battles with tax authorities, draining their energy and peace of mind for years. As she strives to move past this chapter in her life, Shakira remains grateful for the support of her fans and determined to refocus on her music and family.
Celebratory: Even with the challenges she’s faced in court recently, the Colombian music sensation, aged 46, has turned her house into a magical winter scene for her two boys, Milan (10) and Sasha (8), whom she co-parents with her former partner Gerard Piqué. She has decked out her roof, palm trees, and bushes with sparkling lights to bring holiday cheer to her family.
Embracing new holiday traditions: This Christmas will be the second one for the singer since her 11-year relationship with Piqué came to an end, a time she describes as a period of betrayal while dealing with her father’s illness in the ICU. Following a court announcement today, she will face a fine of £6.4 million (€7.3m) for admitting to six tax fraud charges, a much lower amount than what prosecutors had originally sought.
Having already paid back the taxes with interest, totaling nearly £15 million (€17m), she will also need to pay a fine of £378,000 (€432,000) to avoid imprisonment. In a statement released by her team, she expressed her commitment to integrity in her career and personal life, highlighting the importance of seeking expert advice from tax authorities like PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited and Ernst & Young Global Limited. Despite her determination to prove her innocence in a trial, she ultimately decided to settle the matter in the best interest of her children, prioritizing her well-being and future projects such as a world tour and a new album.
The legal case revolved around her residency in Spain from 2012 to 2014, amidst hit songs like ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ and ‘Whenever, Wherever’, as well as the popular 2010 World Cup anthem ‘Waka Waka’. Moving forward, she looks forward to focusing on her kids, her career, and embracing new opportunities while leaving behind the stress and emotional toll of recent years.
Last month, the singer known for her hit song Hips Don’t Lie criticized Spanish authorities for targeting ‘high-profile individuals’ after being hit with a hefty fine of £6.4million and a £15million tax bill for alleged financial fraud; this took place on November 16, 2023.
According to Spanish authorities, Shakira, often referred to as the Queen of Latin Pop, spent more than half of the relevant time period in Spain and should have paid taxes in the country during that time. They claimed that she moved to Spain in 2011 when her relationship with former FC Barcelona player Gerard Pique became public, yet she remained as an official tax resident in the Bahamas until 2015.
The prosecution accused Shakira of using a network of companies based in tax havens in an attempt to avoid paying taxes in Spain. The singer was among those mentioned in the ‘Paradise Papers’ leak, which exposed the offshore tax dealings of various prominent figures, including musicians like Madonna and U2’s Bono.
Shakira’s legal team, Molins Defensa Penal in Barcelona, insisted in November 2022 that she did not spend more than 60 days annually in Spain during the relevant period. They argued that she would have had to reside in Spain for at least half the year to be considered a tax resident.
They further explained that Shakira led a transient lifestyle, touring the world in 2011 and spending a substantial amount of time in the United States as a judge on The Voice television show. It was only right before the birth of her second child in January 2015 that she made a permanent move to Barcelona.
In a 2022 interview with Elle magazine, Shakira stated, ‘I’ve settled all the dues they claimed I owed, even before the lawsuit was filed. So, as of today, I have no outstanding debts to them.’
At long last, Shakira has settled the legal matter by agreeing to a hefty financial penalty. This agreement not only helps her avoid incarceration but also brings a swift conclusion to the extensive fraud case in Barcelona without the need for a trial.
Spanish prosecutors had a different perspective, with investigating judge Marco Juberías stating in 2021 that there was enough evidence of wrongdoing to proceed to trial after a three-year investigation. Shakira maintained her innocence during questioning by Juberías in 2019 and was unsuccessful in her attempt to have the case dismissed the following year. Prosecutors were pushing for an eight-year and two-month jail term and a fine of nearly 24 million euros for the singer. Despite this, Shakira’s PR firm stated that she had already settled her debts by paying 14.5 million euros plus an additional 3 million euros in interest. In total, she had paid back about 25.5 million euros, exceeding the amount prosecutors were seeking. Shakira rejected a settlement offer from prosecutors in July 2022, opting to let the legal process run its course, as she maintained her belief in her innocence. The specifics of the proposed settlement were not disclosed.