Contractors who worked on Tom Cruise‘s Clearwater, Florida, penthouse were left chasing unpaid bills totaling $770,000.
The Hollywood star reportedly spent around $3 million upgrading the $9.58 million property with custom interiors and high-end fixtures, but multiple contractors were forced to file liens to recover what they were owed.
Currently, one lien for a painting job remains unresolved, which an expert has claimed could lead to complications for Tom Cruise if he intends to sell the house in the future.
The Movie Star Reportedly Owed Contractors Over $770,000
Despite being one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, Tom Cruise reportedly delayed payments to contractors who worked on his luxury Florida penthouse.
According to the Daily Mail, Cruise purchased the Clearwater property for $9.58 million in 2017 and began renovations the following year.
He spent around $3 million on high-end fixtures, custom interiors, and other renovation requirements.
However, instead of paying contractors on schedule, Cruise is said to have withheld payments, forcing some of the companies to file liens in order to recover what they were owed.
The news outlet reported that as many as six liens were filed against the actor, some targeting the penthouse and others linked to a separate unit within the same SkyView building.
Altogether, the total amount owed reportedly reached a whopping $770,000.
Tom Cruise Was Forced To Settle Some Contractors’ Debts After They Filed Liens
Findings from the Daily Mail also revealed that Cruise hired Atlanta-based Mortensen Woodwork Inc. and Craftsmanship Installations Inc. to work on his Clearwater penthouse, which is located a few blocks away from Scientology’s Flag Building, the church’s global HQ.
Mortensen billed over $1.5 million, while Craftsmanship charged $416,650. By the time their work was completed in 2020, they were still owed $508,021 and $41,065, respectively.
In 2022, Cruise reportedly fell further behind by $100,000 with Mortensen Woodwork, paying only $150,000 of a $250,000 fee for a separate project.
Other contractors were also affected. Glass manufacturer Tab Glass was owed $63,725 from a $299,422 project, and A and A Clean Up Inc., which handles construction cleanup, had $11,830 unpaid after charging the “Mission Impossible” star $51,400.
All of these contractors filed liens on the property at various times, ultimately forcing Cruise to make payments in order to have the liens removed.
The Actor Allegedly Still Owes A Contractor Nearly $45,000 Since 2021
At present, one lien on the property remains unresolved, filed by Tampa-based Five Arrows Inc. The company invoiced Cruise $261,326 for a painting job completed in January 2021, but the actor still owes $44,240.
While Cruise has not explained why the debt remains unpaid more than five years after the work was completed, an expert suggested the outstanding balance may be related to possible disputes over the quality of the job.
“Sometimes, if there is a dispute between the vendor and property owner on workmanship quality, the property owner will not pay the invoice, and the vendor files a lien. This does not mean that the property owner has done anything wrong or is simply a slow pay,” strategic financing advisor, Darren K. Proulx, revealed to the outlet.
“It could mean that the vendor provided less than industry-standard workmanship and the property owner is refusing to pay for the low-quality workmanship,” he added.
Tom Cruise Could Face Issues If He Attempts To Sell The Apartment
Speaking further about the unresolved payment dispute, the Real Estate Bees employee warned that Cruise could face potential complications in the future if he continues to leave the debt unpaid.
“Typically, a negotiated settlement between the parties resolves the issue. Yet, in this case, no agreement has been reached, as the lien is still in place, which could result in implications if Cruise ever wanted to sell the apartment,” he said.
Proulx previously noted that companies like Five Arrows Inc. and the other contractors previously owed by Cruise were fully within their rights to file liens for unpaid bills, as the law empowers them to take such action.
“Most states have enacted laws that allow these entities to file what are called Mechanic’s Liens that can ultimately force a sale of the property to ensure payment to these unpaid vendors,” the expert revealed.
Tom Cruise Left Staff Stunned After Abruptly Ditching His London Penthouse For The US
The recent report about Cruise’s Florida home comes two months after it was revealed that he made an abrupt decision to leave the UK and move back to the US.
A source who spoke with the Mail on Sunday shared at the time that staff were “stunned” by his departure as it came without notice.
“Tom loved London. He loved where he lived; he would get up and go for [a] run around Hyde Park in the mornings,” a source stated. “He loved walking in the local area, but he also really, really enjoyed jumping in a helicopter at Battersea Heliport and flying off into the quintessentially British countryside.”
“It all happened very quickly,” the source continued. “It was a surprise to the staff at the building where his penthouse is. It’s most strange.”
“England became far more than just a filming base,” they noted about Cruise’s sudden exit. In the meantime, it’s still unclear why the actor made the abrupt decision.
