The $6 Million Question: How Much Lastonia ‘Stoni’ Leviston Really Won In The 50 Cent Lawsuit
The high-stakes legal battle between Lastonia ‘Stoni’ Leviston and hip-hop mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is one of the most explosive celebrity lawsuits of the last decade, and the question of the final payout still generates intense curiosity. As of late December 2025, the definitive, final amount Lastonia Leviston received is often misreported, with figures ranging from $5 million to $7 million. The true figure, confirmed through court documents related to 50 Cent’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, reveals a specific settlement amount that closed the book on the infamous sex tape scandal that began nearly fifteen years ago.
The lawsuit stemmed from a deeply personal and malicious act: the public release of a private, intimate video. While a jury initially sided with Leviston, awarding her a massive judgment, the final, negotiated payout was a slightly lower, yet still substantial, sum that allowed both parties to move on from the devastating legal saga. This article breaks down the initial verdict, the punitive damages, and the ultimate, court-approved settlement that Lastonia Leviston walked away with.
Lastonia ‘Stoni’ Leviston: Biography and Lawsuit Timeline
Lastonia “Stoni” Leviston is an American businesswoman and entrepreneur who gained significant public attention due to her relationship with a prominent rapper and the subsequent legal battle she waged against another hip-hop superstar. She has successfully redefined her public image beyond the controversy and is known for her business ventures.
- Full Name: Lastonia Leviston
- Known As: Stoni
- Profession: Businesswoman, Entrepreneur
- Notable Relationship: Ex-girlfriend of rapper Rick Ross (William Leonard Roberts II)
- Child: She shares a daughter, Toie Roberts, with Rick Ross.
- Lawsuit Defendant: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
- Lawsuit Filing Date: 2010
- Lawsuit Verdict Date: 2015
- Allegation: Publication of a private, non-consensual sex tape on the internet, which included derogatory commentary by 50 Cent.
- Initial Compensatory Damages Award: $5 Million
- Total Jury Award (with Punitive Damages): $7 Million
- Final Settlement Payout: $6 Million
The core of the legal action centered on a private video Leviston made with a former boyfriend. In 2009, 50 Cent reportedly obtained the tape and, in an act widely perceived as a jab at his rival, Rick Ross (Leviston’s ex and the father of her child), edited the video, added his own crude narration in character, and posted it online. Leviston testified that the public humiliation caused her severe emotional distress, nearly leading to suicide.
The $7 Million Verdict: Damages for Emotional Distress and Defamation
The jury trial in 2015 proved to be a major victory for Lastonia Leviston. The court found Curtis Jackson liable for the unauthorized use of Leviston’s image and for inflicting emotional distress. The jury understood the profound impact the leak had on Leviston’s life, which included public ridicule and psychological trauma.
The jury’s decision was delivered in two phases, which is common in high-profile civil cases:
Phase 1: Compensatory Damages ($5 Million)
In the first phase, the jury awarded Lastonia Leviston $5 million in compensatory damages. This amount was intended to compensate her for the actual harm suffered, including emotional distress, humiliation, and the damage to her reputation. The public nature of the leak, which was viewed millions of times, was a key factor in the substantial award.
Phase 2: Punitive Damages (Bringing the Total to $7 Million)
Following the initial award, the jury was set to consider punitive damages. Punitive damages are not meant to compensate the victim but to punish the defendant for particularly egregious or malicious behavior and to deter similar actions in the future. The jury ultimately decided to award an additional $2 million in punitive damages. This brought the total judgment against 50 Cent to a staggering $7 million.
The $7 million total was a clear message from the court about the severity of non-consensual sharing of private intimate content, a practice often referred to as revenge porn or non-consensual pornography (NCP). However, this total judgment was not the amount Leviston ultimately received.
The Final Payout: Why the Verdict Dropped to a $6 Million Settlement
The story took a dramatic turn just days after the $5 million initial verdict was announced. On July 13, 2015, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This move immediately put a halt to the enforcement of the $7 million judgment. Bankruptcy filings are often used by high-net-worth individuals to restructure their debts and protect their assets from large civil judgments.
The bankruptcy proceedings meant that Lastonia Leviston became a creditor in 50 Cent’s bankruptcy case. Instead of receiving the full $7 million judgment, she had to negotiate a settlement as part of the rapper’s financial reorganization plan, which was overseen by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
The Court-Approved $6 Million Settlement
The most accurate and final figure for the amount Lastonia Leviston received is $6 million. This final amount was agreed upon by Leviston and her legal team as part of 50 Cent’s court-approved Chapter 11 reorganization plan. While this was $1 million less than the total jury award, it represented a guaranteed, structured payout from the bankruptcy estate, avoiding years of further litigation and appeals that would have been necessary to collect the full $7 million.
The settlement was a crucial part of 50 Cent’s path to debt freedom, which also included a separate $17 million payout to another major creditor, Sleek Audio. The judge approved the reorganization plan, which included the $6 million payment to Leviston, allowing the rapper to resolve his financial woes and exit bankruptcy.
In summary, while the jury awarded Lastonia Leviston $7 million, she ultimately agreed to and received a final settlement of $6 million as a key component of Curtis Jackson’s bankruptcy resolution.
Topical Authority and Key Entities in the Leviston v. Jackson Case
The lawsuit between Lastonia Leviston and 50 Cent is a landmark case that touches upon several key legal and cultural entities, establishing a strong topical authority on the subject of celebrity lawsuits, digital privacy, and non-consensual content.
- Lastonia Leviston: The plaintiff, who successfully sued for defamation and emotional distress.
- Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson: The defendant, a prominent rapper, actor, and businessman.
- William Leonard Roberts II (Rick Ross): Leviston’s ex-partner and 50 Cent’s long-time rival, whose feud was the motivation for the leak.
- Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: The legal mechanism 50 Cent used to restructure his debts and negotiate the final settlement.
- Compensatory Damages: The $5 million awarded to cover Leviston’s actual harm.
- Punitive Damages: The additional $2 million awarded to punish 50 Cent’s malicious conduct.
- Emotional Distress: The primary claim of harm cited by Leviston in her testimony.
- Defamation: A claim related to 50 Cent’s derogatory commentary added to the video.
- Non-Consensual Pornography (NCP): The legal category under which the sex tape leak falls.
- Sleek Audio: Another major creditor who received a settlement as part of the same bankruptcy plan.
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court: The judicial body that approved the final $6 million settlement.
This case remains a powerful example of how legal consequences can follow even the most high-profile figures for violations of digital privacy and personal dignity, solidifying Lastonia Leviston’s victory as a significant moment in the fight against revenge porn.
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