'Billionaire' Selena Gomez's startup in financial crisis and missed payroll for employees TWICE

Daily Mail​

12-05-2025

Selena Gomez's mental health startup Wondermind is reportedly in financial crisis, having reportedly missed multiple payments to associates over the past seven weeks.
Despite the 32-year-old A-lister's reported billionaire status, Wondermind associates such as 'employees, vendors and freelancers' have not been paid since late March, Forbes reported Saturday.
Selena's mother and Wondermind CEO Mandy Teefey, 49, told workers this past Thursday that she has taken loans out against her personal home to keep the startup funded amid tough times, sources told the financial publication.
Teefey, who has more than 251,000 followers on her Instagram page, was able to make good on partial monies owed with the cash infusion from the home loan, according to the outlet.
But a source told People Sunday that Teefey didn't actually take out a loan to make payroll, adding that Gomez herself 'immediately invested more money' into the company upon learning it was having money troubles.
Dailymail.com has reached out to Teefey, Wondermind and reps for Gomez for further comment on the Forbes report.
Gomez - who heads the successful Rare Beauty makeup brand - 'is not involved in the day-to-day operations' at Wondermind.
Gomez 'has invested millions of dollars over the years into [the company] to support her mother and their shared passion for mental health,' the source told People.
Still, Forbes reported that Wondermind owes freelancers and vendors a reported 'tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of dollars.'
The Dallas-born businesswoman, who had the pop superstar when she was 16 with ex-husband Ricardo Joel Gomez, runs the company, which has around 15 employees, out of Los Angeles.
A rep for the organization acknowledged to Forbes Saturday that the company had been dealing with 'growing pains,' the situation was subsequently 'rectified,' and changes have been made to ensure business will go on as usual - and that everyone gets paid on time moving forward.
'In the coming days we will be transitioning into a new chapter for Wondermind,' said the rep, 'and continuing our important work in mental fitness that helps hundreds of thousands of people.'
In a statement titled ' Our Commitment To Mental Fitness ' on its page, the company stresses people take daily measures to make sure they are staying mentally healthy and sharp.
'Mental fitness means working on your mental health— - whatever that looks like to you,' the company said. 'It takes more than an inspirational quote to really change your mindset.
'But showing up for your mental health shouldn't be expensive, inaccessible, or time consuming.
The statement continued: 'Even if you're lucky enough to see a therapist, making time for your mind in between sessions can go a long way. That's what we're here for—to give you easy, doable ways to put your mental fitness first every day.'
Wondermind subsequently said it provides a platform for practice; the necessary tools; and platforms for important conversations.
Despite the business setback, Gomez appears to be thriving in her personal life as she and her music producer fiancé Benny Blanco have been dating for almost a year-and-a-half.
They were initially reported together in December of 2023, and got engaged one year later.
In March, the Only Murders In The Building star released her album I Said I Love You First, which she worked on with her beau, saying in a Hot Ones appearance that there was a natural chemistry in collaborating with Blanco.
Blanco, a 37-year-old native of Reston, Virginia, has been involved in the industry for more than 15 years as a musical artist, producer, and songwriter.
He's collaborated with a bevy of big name artists such as Gomez's ex Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Lizzo, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, SZA, Ed Sheeran and Keith Urban, according to Harper's Bazaar.
Blanco established himself earlier in his career working for Dr. Luke's Kasz Money Productions. He has been a songwriter on a number of hit tracks, including Rihanna's Diamonds, Maroon 5's Moves Like Jagger, Spears' Circus, and Ke$ha's TiK ToK, among others.
As a solo artist, he released his first album Friends Keep Secrets in December of 2018. The record, which topped out at 41 on the Billboard 200, included contributions from Bieber, Halsey, Calvin Harris, Omar Apollo and Gracie Abrams.
He has had six singles hit the Billboard Hot 100 over the last five years, including 2018's Eastside (with Halsey & Khalid); as well as 2019's Roses (with the late Juice WRLD and Brendon Urie) and I Can't Get Enough (with Gomez, Tainy and J Balvin).
In recent years, he's charted with the 2020 tracks Lonely (with Bieber) and Real S*** (with Juice WRLD) and 2022's Bad Decisions (with BTS & Snoop Dogg).
Blanco was past rumored to be in a romance with Elsie Hewitt, a 27-year-old model-actress from London. Gomez has past been in high-profile relationships with stars such as Bieber, The Weeknd, Zedd, Nick Jonas, and Taylor Lautner.