Key Points Summary: Selena Gomez broke
- Selena Gomez’s startup Wondermind reportedly missed payroll
- Mom and CEO Mandy Teefey took out home loan to pay staff
- Around $60K owed to PR firm, freelancers still unpaid
- Employee health benefits cut off in March due to funding issues
- Teefey blamed for poor leadership after rejecting big brand deals
- Company says missed payments will be resolved by Monday
- Gomez hit billionaire status in 2024 thanks to Rare Beauty
Selena Gomez’s mental health startup Wondermind is facing a cash crisis—so bad that her own mom took out a loan to make payroll.
Mandy Teefey, CEO and co-founder of the company, reportedly borrowed against her house after Wondermind struggled to pay around 15 employees earlier this year, according to Forbes.
Workers Unpaid, Vendors Owed Thousands
In March, the company allegedly began missing payments. One out of two paychecks was eventually issued, but freelancers and vendors remain owed “hundreds of thousands,” insiders claimed.
One PR firm is still waiting on $60,000, anonymous staffers told Forbes. The company said it has “rectified” the issue and promised full payment by Monday.
Health Benefits Canceled Amid Panic
To make matters worse, Teefey reportedly sent staff an email mid-March informing them that their health coverage was being terminated. The announcement came on a scheduled wellness day.
“As you are aware, we have been working tirelessly to secure our next round of funding,” she wrote. Employees were advised to sign up for COBRA coverage immediately.
A Crisis Years in the Making
Sources said Wondermind’s decline started in January 2023 when Teefey, 49, became sole CEO. Despite her experience managing Gomez’s career, insiders say she lacked the business sense to lead a tech startup.
She allegedly turned down major brand deals—some in the millions—if they required Selena Gomez’s involvement. That decision shocked many, considering Gomez’s $1.3 billion net worth.
Backlash and Praise for Teefey’s Leadership
Wondermind’s chief of staff, Emma Wright, disputed the brand deal rumors and said criticism of Teefey was “insanely misleading.”
“She’s focused entirely on protecting staff livelihoods and growing the company,” Wright added.
Gomez Silent, Wondermind Restructures
Gomez has yet to publicly address the controversy. Wondermind released a statement acknowledging “growing pains” and teased a new chapter ahead.
The company, founded in 2021, raised $5 million in funding in 2022. Gomez, Teefey, and Daniella Pierson originally launched it to redefine “mental fitness.”
Rare Beauty Powers Gomez’s Fortune
While Wondermind flounders, Gomez’s Rare Beauty empire continues to soar. Bloomberg credits the brand—launched in 2020—for roughly 80% of her $1.3 billion fortune.
Gomez also earns from music, acting, endorsements, and real estate. Her relationship with music producer Benny Blanco has also kept her in the spotlight.
Still, the Wondermind fallout raises big questions: Was Selena Gomez betrayed by her own startup? Or is she keeping her distance as the company fights for survival?
Teefey insists brighter days are coming. But for many Wondermind employees, freelancers, and vendors, those missed checks still hurt.
