Billy Joel Sues Former Manager for $90 Million in Fraud, Recalling Their Feud

A few days ago, the streaming platform HBO Max released a two-part documentary about the life and career of Billy Joel. In it, the legendary artist recounts, among other things, the painful deception he suffered at the hands of his then-manager and closest advisor. "I realized I had to start all over again," the five-time Grammy Award winner confessed.

In early June, the two-part documentary "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" had its world premiere at New York's Tribeca Film Festival. The production not only provides a behind-the-scenes look at the 76-year-old singer's brilliant, decades-long career but also sheds new light on the dramatic events in his private life.

In it, the artist describes, among other things, a difficult childhood spent under the care of an alcoholic mother and a serious emotional crisis that resulted in him attempting suicide twice. On July 19, the documentary debuted on the streaming service HBO Max.

The film also recounts the painful moment for Joel when he realized he had been robbed by his then-manager , Frank Weber. The fraud was discovered by his wife, Christine Brinkley, with whom he was in a relationship from 1985 to 1994.

"I thought to myself, 'Wow, he's flying everywhere in a private jet. He's always buying racehorses, and everyone thinks we have a bunch of properties nearby. Something's not right.' So I told Billy that Weber was cheating on him, but he wouldn't hear of it. Frank was kind of a confidante, a trusted advisor. I told Billy, 'Listen, I love you, I'm trying to protect you. I see people cheating on you.' But he trusted him, even more than he trusted me, which, of course, hurt me when I heard that," Brinkley says in the documentary.

Billy Joel/photo: Shutterstock

The matter came to light when the artist was planning to renovate his home, but he lacked the funds.

"My friends in the music industry told me I shouldn't have any financial problems, after all, I had so many hits. They asked me where my money went. I had no answer, " Joel revealed.

Finding himself in a critical situation, the star decided to commission an audit of his finances.

" It turned out I didn't have a cent. It hit me like a bolt from the blue. I didn't have the money I should have had. I was $5 million in debt. When I found out my money had been squandered, I was furious. It was devastating. I asked myself, 'How stupid and naive did I have to be to trust this guy?'" the singer confessed.

Joel emphasized that with a family to support, he felt a lot of pressure to generate new income.

"I realized I had to start all over again. I had to get back to writing and recording songs, I had to go on tour. I was afraid this situation would negatively impact my marriage and my daughter's life. I had to earn money somehow," the musician emphasized.

In 1989, the star filed a lawsuit against Weber, seeking $90 million. The parties ultimately reached a settlement, the details of which were not made public.

In May, Joel was forced to cancel all scheduled concerts due to health issues. His condition worsened after recent performances, leading to "problems with hearing, vision, and balance."

The singer was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, also known as Hakim's syndrome, whose symptoms include cognitive and motor impairments. In a recent interview, the musician reassured fans that he was under the care of specialists and remained positive.