filed under: eating disorder rumors

Michael Jackson is said to be living on a diet of gravy, painkillers and biscuits.

The cash-strapped star - who settled a £4.7 million court case against Sheikh Abdulla Al-Khalifa at the weekend - is apparently surviving on the bizarre diet after his spending habits spiralled out of control.

Jackson's financial woes are said to be a result of him blowing £1 billion on luxuries such as a Ferrari car and the entire stock from antiques shops and comic book stores he has visited.

Sources close to the 'Thriller' singer say he is a "millionaire who lives like a billionaire".

However, the 50-year-old's family lawyer Brian Oxman insists the star is in excellent health and is not struggling financially.

He said: "Michael is in excellent financial shape. We should all be so fortunate to have his problems.

"He lives a pretty simple lifestyle these days. The extravagances are in the past. He is very low-key, but he is happy and doing well."

After months of stress and turmoil, a weary, frustrated Brad Pitt has put his foot down and has forced Angelina Jolie to get professional help.

In the Oct. 13 issue of Star we report that almost three months after the birth of her twins, Angie is still in a deep funk — and Brad is so determined to get her back to her old self that he put her in therapy to get her to eat, get out of the house and put an end to her intense mood swings.

"Angelina didn't want to accept the fact that she was struggling after the twins were born and was really resistant to Brad's pleas for her to get help," an insider tells Star. "But she finally agreed."

While still in France at Chβteau Miraval, Angie started seeing the doctor — who Brad found in Paris — for daily power sessions, says another source. Now that they've moved to Berlin she's continued their sessions via phone and webcam.

So what kinds of things is Angie working out? For one, the mother of six has been unhappy with her body since the July 12 birth of Knox and Vivienne, sources say, and has hardly been eating. "She still thinks she's fat," says a source. "She barely touches the food that is brought to her. After a few bites she'll say, 'Take it away; I'm not hungry.' Brad is trying to get her to eat more, but she has no appetite.

"When I pictured heroin, I pictured some crazy crackhead with no shoes under a bridge. You never think that is going to be you. And it never was me. I was never under a bridge, and I always had shoes."

"I've never gone a day without putting food in my mouth. I've never sewn my mouth shut. I've never gone on a liquid diet. So I want to know why I'm the face for a problem."

Insiders say Nicole has been using Adderall - a prescription drug normally used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and is a powerful appetite suppressant. “She loves Adderall because she stays awake, and it makes her not want to eat,” says a close pal. “And she takes it even more when she’s filming.”

Although her rep denies that she uses the drug, a pal says Nicole’s actually increased her dosage: “She’s taking more and more lately.”

Which young Hollywood starlet had secret gastric bypass surgery, but then lost too much weight? During a recent four-day stint at a health clinic, she was actually having an operation to remove the bypass.