Lady Gaga's ex-assistant sues her for $400K

Says she's owed for over 7,000 hours of overtime while working for the singer

Advertise | AdChoices

Str / AFP - Getty Images

Lady Gaga's former assistant is suing her for overtime wages that nearly reach $400,000.

By NATALIE FINN

updated 12/28/2011 8:29:36 AM ET

Print
Font:
+
-

Has Lady Gaga been keeping too tight of a hold on her meat-purse strings?

The pop superstar's former assistant claims she's owed nearly $400,000 in overtime pay after attending to Gaga's every need for four weeks in 2009 and then throughout 2010 and into March of this year.

Slideshow: Lady Gaga (on this page)

So, just how much overtime does it take to keep the singer happy, according to Jennifer L. O'Neill's lawsuit?

More Entertainment stories
1. Autistic ballerina dances her way into hearts
  
  In a popular YouTube video, the beaming little ballerina dances an entire four-minute routine seemingly perfectly, matchin...
2. Every on-screen drink in 'Mad Men' in 5 minutes
3. See the 'Dancing' stars' most memorable moves
4. Emmy's biggest snubs? Cranston, Hamm, more
5. 'Toy Story' toys burn up in prank on mom

MORE: Lady Gaga was the top-earning female artist of the year!

The plaintiff claims she worked 7,168 hours of overtime during her period of employment, meaning she was basically on duty almost every hour of every day that she worked for the "Born This Way" artist. Her complaint states that she was paid $1,000 per week for her time in 2009 and then an annual salary of $75,000 for the rest.

View the lawsuit

But that's just base salary, according to the suit, and does not account for the time O'Neill spent attending to Gaga business "not only in her home, but also during her travels to her global concert tours, from city to city throughout the world, at locales including stadiums, private jets, fine hotel suites, yachts, ferries, trains and tour buses."

Story: Adele sells most albums in a year since 2004

O'Neill "was always behind the scenes, and figuratively, if not literally, always at her side," the suit states.

GALLERY: High maintenance? Judge for yourself in Lady Gaga's Fashion Spotlight

"Jennifer O'Neill's lawsuit is completely without merit," a rep for Gaga tells E! News of the suit, filed Dec. 14 in U.S. District Court in New York.

Story: Trump takes credit for discovering Gaga

The plaintiff is demanding she be paid at least $393,014, encompassing the allegedly unpaid overtime and fair compensation for working 10-hour days.

Video: New Gaga video: Must see or must avoid?

Open in new window

Photos: Fashion gone Gaga

Open in new window

Rainbow tiers
Lady Gaga leaves her London hotel in a tiered skirt and Vivienne Westwood's "climate revolution" t-shirt in Sept. 2012. (Neil Mockford / FilmMagic) Share Back to slideshow navigation
On the catwalk
Lady Gaga opens British hat designer Philip Treacy's show at London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013 in Sept. 2012. She made a big splash on the catwalk by entering in hot pink netting. (Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Floral helmet
Lady Gaga wears a floral hat designed by British milliner Philip Treacy to the designer's Michael Jackson-inspired hat show at London Fashion Week in Sept. 2012. (Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Gaga shines
Wearing a long red wig and a gleaming black dress, Lady Gaga arrives for the launch of her "Fame" perfume in a horse-drawn carriage on September 14, 2012 in New York City. (Rob Kim / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Big bun
Lady Gaga shows off her recently shaved head at the launch of her "Fame" perfume at Macy's Herald Square in New York City on September 14, 2012. Her head was tattooed at the event inside of a transparent bottle made to look like her new fragrance. (Kevin Mazur / WireImage) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related interactive Lady Gaga gets new tattoo on shaved head
Knee-highs
The pop star arrives at Vilnius airport in Lithuania on Aug. 20, 2012 in a black crop top and short shorts with a split front skirt. She paired the look with chunky platforms and knee-highs. (Mindaugas Kulbis / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Mellow in yellow
The songstress sports a yellow wig as she holds her dog, Fozzi, at the airport in Vienna, Austria, on Aug. 17, 2012. She toted the pooch with her around the European city. (Andreas Pessenlehner / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Cover girl
Lady Gaga poses in a purple Marc Jacobs gown on the cover of the September 2012 issue of Vogue magazine. (Mert Alas And Marcus Piggott / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Gaga channels Jackie O
Lady Gaga leaves the Ritz Carlton Hotel in a Moschino drop-waist dress and Mary Jane platform pumps on May 2, 2012 in Hong Kong. (Chinafotopress / Getty Images Contributor) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Being Lady Gaga's manicurist: 'So much work'

Advertise | AdChoices
Plunging neckline
The pop diva waves upon her arrival at Gimpo International airport in Seoul, South Korea, on April 20, 2012. She wore a Versace gown with a plunging V-shape neckline and an eye mask made of pearls. (Yang Kang-sam / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Portrait perfect
Lady Gaga poses for a portrait in her hotel suite prior to an event for her "Born this Way" foundation at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on February 29, 2012. The fashion icon rocked a dramatic hat and sunglasses from her own collaboration with Linda Farrow Projects. (Charles Krupa / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Gaga for Paul
Lady Gaga and Paul McCartney are seen in the audience at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 12, 2012.

Born Stefani Germanotta on March 28, 1986, Gaga has sold more than 23 million albums and won five Grammys. (Larry Busacca / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Ring in the new
Lady Gaga and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg share a kiss as they celebrate the beginning of the new year at New Year's Eve 2012 in Times Square on Jan. 1, 2012. (Jemal Countess / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
It's her department
Lady Gaga and designer Nicola Formichetti pose for a photo after cutting the ribbon opening Gaga's Workshop at Barneys in New York on Nov. 21, 2011. (Jemal Countess / WireImage) Share Back to slideshow navigation
For the children
Lady Gaga poses backstage at Children in Need Rocks Manchester 2011 at The Manchester Evening News Arena in England on Nov. 17, 2011. (Dave J Hogan / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
And a Bambi to boot
Lady Gaga poses after receiving the International Pop award during the Bambi ceremony in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Nov. 10, 2011. The Bambis are the main German media awards. (Daniel Roland / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
She got her MTV
Lady Gaga holds her four awards backstage at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Nov. 6, 2011. (Luke Macgregor / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation
She's got the spins
Lady Gaga performs onstage during the MTV Europe Music Awards live show at at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Nov. 6, 2011. (Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Dude!
Lady Gaga, left, dressed as her male alter ego Jo Calderone, presents the Best Pop Video award to Britney Spears during the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles on Aug. 28, 2011. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Promises, promises
Lady Gaga poses during a news conference in Taipei, Taiwan, on July 4, 2011. The singer promised her fans that she would hold an Asian concert tour next year, after her first performance in Taiwan sparked stronger-than-expected response from local fans. (Sam Yeh / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Born this way?
Fans of Lady Gaga, dressed in costumes, pose during a news conference in Taipei on July 4, 2011. (Sam Yeh / AFP-Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Earthquake relief
Lady Gaga poses during the MTV Video Music Aid Japan at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, on June 25, 2011. (Hikaru Ogawa / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Am I your 'Idol'?
Lady Gaga performs "Edge of Glory" during the "American Idol" finale on Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Scotty McCreery beat out Lauren Alaina for the title. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related story Great Scott! McCreery wins 'American Idol'

Advertise | AdChoices
Where to start with this outfit?
Lady Gaga tapes an episode of "106 and Park" at BET Studios in New York on Monday, May 23, 2011. (Charles Sykes / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
'Born This Way'
Lady Gaga's second full-length studio album, "Born This Way," was released in May 2011. Online retailer Amazon was overwhelmed with demand for the album on its release day, when it sold for just 99 cents. (Interscope records via Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Lady Gaga album demand overwhelms Amazon servers

Advertise | AdChoices
Kiss from a fan
A fan blows a kiss to the camera as she waits in line outside an album-signing event for Lady Gaga's new release "Born This Way" at Best Buy in New York City on Monday, May 23, 2011. (Jessica Rinaldi / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Lady Gaga delivers the goods on new CD
Am I what you expected?
Lady Gaga greets her fans at a New York Best Buy store for the launch of her new album, "Born This Way" on Monday, May 23. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Love in her eyes
Lady Gaga leaves the set of Canal Plus TV show "Le Grand Journal" at the France's 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2011. (Martin Bureau / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
What to wear, and what not to wear
Singer Lady Gaga is as well-known for her outrageous costumes as for her music. Here, she performs at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, March 22, 2011. (Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images Contributor) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Lady of fashion
Nicola Formichetti, Lady Gaga and Sebastian Peigne walk the runway during the Thierry Mugler Ready to Wear Autumn/Winter 2011/2012 show during Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday, March 2, 2011. (Francois Durand / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Lady in red
Lady Gaga performs at New York's Madison Square Garden on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011. MTV reported that "multiple costume changes, fake blood, complicated sets and over-the-top piano playing" were only part of the show. (Kevin Mazur / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Related slideshow 2011 Grammys red carpet

Entrance of the egg
Lady Gaga made headlines for entering the 2011 Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011inside a giant egg. She later claimed she spent days in the egg prior to the awards, but others said she was never inside it for that long. (Danny Moloshok / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related slideshow The 2011 Grammy Awards

Breaking out of the egg
After breaking out of the egg, Lady Gaga performed her hit, "Born This Way," at the 2011 Grammys. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Talk about 'Fame'
Lady Gaga accepts her award for best pop vocal album for "Fame Monster" at the 2011 Grammys. "Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart," she said. (Lucy Nicholson / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Say cheese
Lady Gaga takes a photo with her phone while introducing her Grey Label product line during the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. (Steve Marcus / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Flashing the crowd
Lady Gaga performs to a sellout crowd at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010. Unsurprisingly, she changed costumes numerous times during the show. (Peter Morrison / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Bridging the generations
Lady Gaga and Yoko Ono perform at the "We Are Plastic Ono Band" concert at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles on Oct. 2, 2010. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
She's got a wild hair
Lady Gaga performs at The Oak Room in New York's Plaza Hotel wearing almost nothing except a cape made of hair and fishnet stockings on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010. She had been invited to the stage by the house jazz band. (Daniel Shapiro / Splash News) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Flying the flag
Lady Gaga suited up to speak at a rally in support of repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gay service members, in Portland, Maine, on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010. (Pat Wellenbach / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Meat Lady Gaga
Singer Lady Gaga horrified PETA and some viewers when she wore a dress, hat and boots made from meat to accept the video of the year award during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 12, 2010 in Los Angeles. Some thought it was cleverly designed fabric, but the designer later revealed that the dress was in fact made of real meat. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Sharp mind
Don't touch her head! Lady Gaga wore a black gown and a pointy headdress to accept the award for best pop video for "Bad Romance" at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 in Los Angeles. In background are presenters Amber Riley, Cory Monteith, and Jane Lynch, of the cast of "Glee." (Matt Sayles / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Topped off
Lady Gaga wore multiple outfits to the 2010 VMAs, but she accepted the award for best female video for 'Bad Romance' from presenter Ellen Degeneres while clad in a Victorian-style gown, Mohawk-style headdress, and a blue-and-white wig. (Mike Blake / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Stripping down
Sometimes the best outfit is ... next to nothing. Lady Gaga performs at Staples Center on Aug. 11, 2010 in Los Angeles. (Jason Merritt / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Crowd surfing
Lady Gaga reveals a lot while jumping into the crowd during a performance by Semi Precious Weapons at Lollapalooza at Grant Park on Aug. 6, 2010 in Chicago. (Roger Kisby / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Keep a stain stick handy
Lady Gaga wore an all-white ensemble to perform on NBC's TODAY at New York's Rockefeller Center on July 9, 2010. (Jemal Countess / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Strike a pose
Lady Gaga poses with a large Polaroid picture of herself at the MIT Art Museum in Cambridge, Mass. The photo will be added to the 10,000 artifacts from Polaroid’s 73-year history that the company donated to the MIT Museum in May. Lady Gaga is Polaroid's new creative director, tasked with introducing Polaroid to a new generation. (AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Fire when ready
Lady Gaga on the cover of Rolling Stone's June 25, 2010 issue. In an interview, the pop star talked about the breakup that inspired her transformation from Stefani Germanotta to Gaga, her complex relationship with her father and the music on her next album. Lady Gaga told Rolling Stone art is life and not being fierce isn't an option: 'When I wake up in the morning, I feel just like any other insecure 24-year-old girl,' she says. 'Then I say, 'B*tch, you're Lady Gaga, you get up and walk the walk today.' (Rolling Stone via EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Damn Yankees
Lady Gaga attends a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets on June 18, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in New York. Lady Gaga apparently crashed the New York Yankees’ clubhouse, according to the Huffington Post, which caused a disruption mostly because the Yankees lost the game. (Al Bello / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Dazzling Nottingham
Lady GaGa performs at the Trent FM Arena on May 27, 2010 in Nottingham, England. Lady Gaga started the latest UK leg of her Monster Ball Tour at the Nottingham Trent Arena. During the emotional show, Gaga broke down in tears during 'Brown Eyes' which she dedicated to her ill grandfather. (Ollie Millington / Getty Images ) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Constellation of stars
Lady Gaga (third from left) was joined by (from left) Sting, Debbie Harry, Elton John, Shirley Bassey and Bruce Springsteen in peforming "Don't Stop Believing" during the 21st birthday celebration of the Rainforest Fund at Carnegie Hall in New York on May 13, 2010. (Lucas Jackson / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation
A-veiling herself
Before her concert in Berlin, Germany, on May 11, 2010, a veiled Lady Gaga received several awards. (Britta Pedersen / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation
'Monster' hits
Lady Gaga performs at the O2 arena in Hamburg, Germany, on May 10, 2010 during her "Monster Ball" tour. (Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Idol-ing about
Lady Gaga performed at the American Idol Season 9 Top 5 to 4 Elimination Show on May 5, 2010 in Los Angeles. She later criticized "Idol" for "chopping up" her performance in editing. (Frank Micelotta / PictureGroup via AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Flash in Japan
Lady Gaga arrives at Narita International Airport in Japan on April 13, 2010. (Koichi Kamoshida / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Hold the phone
With soda cans for hair rollers, Lady Gaga peforms in the video for "Telephone," her smash hit with Beyonce. (AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Pompadour and circumstance
Hair piled high, Lady Gaga arrives on the red carpet for The Brit Awards 2010 at Earls Court on Feb. 16, 2010, in London. (Ian Gavan / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Girls just wanna have fun
Lady Gaga, left, and Cyndi Lauper appear on TODAY on Feb. 10, 2010, to promote their roles in the M-A-C Viva Glam program, benefiting women with HIV/AIDS. (Peter Kramer / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Lady Gaga says she’s single and celibate
Pearl jam
Bedecked with pearls, even on her face, Lady Gaga attends the amfAR New York Gala co-sponsored by M.A.C. Cosmetics to Kick Off Fall 2010 Fashion Week at Cipriani 42nd Street on Feb. 10, 2010 in New York City. (Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Ice queen
Lady Gaga's ensembles -- including this icy number --stuck to a futuristic theme at the 2010 Grammy Awards, where the singer walked away with two of the coveted trophies.

The pop sensation is known for her catchy dance music and eccentric style, ranging from pantless getups to blinding face masks. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Out of this world
Lady Gaga arrives at the Grammy Awards on Jan. 31, 2010, wearing this shiny, silvery three-dimensional outfit that was created in collaboration with Giorgio Armani. (Chris Pizzello / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Green Gaga
Lady Gaga performs the first song of the 2010 Grammy Awards in a green fairy-wing bodysuit with matching green sparkle booties. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related slideshow Fashion hits and misses at the Grammys

Advertise | AdChoices
Pause for reflection
Lady Gaga performs in a mirrored getup at the first of four shows at Radio City Music Hall on Jan. 20, 2010, in her hometown New York. (Evan Agostini / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Hairy situation
Singer Lady Gaga sports a hat made of her own teased out hair for her appearance at the Polaroid booth after being named the company's chief creative officer at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nev., on Jan. 7, 2010. (Andrew Gombert / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
All on her shoulders
Lady Gaga takes shoulder pads to new heights in this disco ball-inspired getup that she sported when performing at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Dec. 22, 2009. (David Livingston / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Tied up in a bow
No need for accessories when you can just rock the hairbow like Lady Gaga did for her performance at the launch of music video site VEVO on Dec. 8, 2009 in New York City. (Theo Wargo / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Gaga goes royal
Britain's Queen Elizabeth (L) meets U.S. singer Lady Gaga following the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, England on Dec. 7, 2009. Gaga wore a stunning red dress and matching eye makeup. (Leon Neal / Pool via Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Strong shouldered
Lady Gaga attends a CD signing at Best Buy on Nov. 23, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The 23-year-old New Yorker was bombarded with so many fans — some who waited days outside to catch a glimpse of the star — that she ordered them $1,000 worth of Papa John's pizza. (Kristian Dowling / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
In the nude
Clad in a complicated bodysuit, Lady Gaga performed at the 2009 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Nov. 22, 2009. As her dramatic performance concluded, her piano was set ablaze and violins were smashed. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related video ‘Lady Gaga,’ ‘Twitter’ top Googled terms

Advertise | AdChoices
Puckered up
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton and musician Lady Gaga attended the MOCA NEW 30th anniversary on Nov. 14, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

Of Lady Gaga's new "Bad Romance" music video, the blogger wrote, "Epic! Glamour! Dance! Dark! Fashion! Diva!" (Michael Caulfield / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Funny face
Lady Gaga smiles awkwardly during the 184th edition of the TV show "Wetten, dass..?" (German for "Wanna Bet..?") on Nov. 7, 2009 in Braunschweig, Germany. During the show, the singer showed off an arm tattoo of a poem by German writer Rainer Maria Rilke. (Jochen Luebke / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Crescent curves
Lady Gaga waves to the crowd during the German TV show "Wetten dass...?" ("Wanna Bet..?") in Braunschweig, Germany, on Nov. 7, 2009. (Axel Heimken / Pool via Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Thinly-veiled sexuality
An icon of avant-garde fashion, Lady Gaga wore a lace veil at the 13th Annual 2009 ACE Awards on Nov. 2, 2009 in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
More than just a unique face
Lady Gaga marched for gay rights at the National Equality March in Washington, where thousands of gay and lesbian activists converged on the White House and Capitol demanding civil rights protections in all 50 states.

"If we see ourselves as free and equal people, then we need to act as free and equal people," the singer said in a statement. "Lend your voice and demand to be heard." (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Clad in black
Lady Gaga covered John Lennon's legendary "Imagine" during the 13th Annual National Dinner of the Human Right Campaign on Oct. 10, 2009 in Washington, DC.

Before her performance, Lady Gaga was introduced by President Barack Obama. "It's a privilege to be here tonight to open for Lady Gaga," the President said. "I've made it." (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Hair-raising
Lady Gaga wore a furry, see-through creation to the Billboard Women in Music brunch, where she received the "Rising Star" award on Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 in New York.

"Lady Gaga is one of those rare examples of a truly unique artist with mass appeal," says Bill Werde, Editorial Director of Billboard. "The whole world is waiting to see what her next outrageous but brilliant move or style will be." (Evan Agostini / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
For the frill of it
Lady Gaga poses for pictures at a New York press conference announcing Heartbeats by Lady Gaga, the latest addition to the Beats by Dr. Dre family of headphones from Monster Cable, on Sept. 30, 2009. (Peter Kramer / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Take a spike
Lady Gaga fuses several different styles together while performing at the launch of V Magazine's V61 issue on Sept. 14, 2009 in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Minnie me
Lady Gaga sported lacy headgear at an MTV Video Music Awards after party at Avenue on Sept. 13, 2009 in New York City. (Shareif Ziyadat / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related slideshow MTV Video Music Awards 2009

Advertise | AdChoices
Thigh high
Lady Gaga stands backstage with the best new artist award at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, Sept. 13, 2009.

Of her pantless style, the singer told Rolling Stone magazine: "My grandmother is basically blind, but she can make out the lighter parts, like my skin and hair. She says, 'I can see you, because you have no pants on.' So I’ll continue to wear no pants so that my grandma can see me.” (Lucas Jackson / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Face-framing
Beyonce and Lady Gaga, in an austere white headpiece, pose together at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 13, 2009. (Frank Micelotta / Picturegroup) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Crowning moment
Lady Gaga, dressed in a cherry-red lace dress with matching mask, accepts the award for best new artist at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Halfway through her acceptance speech, the singer stripped off her mask and thorny crown to address the crowd. (Gary Hershorn / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related slideshow Would you wear this?

Advertise | AdChoices
There will be (fake) blood...
Lady Gaga shocks viewers with an eccentric, bloodied performance of her hit song "Paparazzi" at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. (Gary Hershorn / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Ruffling some feathers
Lady Gaga's multiple costume changes included a black feather creation at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related video Lady GaGa shows off some moves

Advertise | AdChoices
Platinum perfection
Lady Gaga makes a heart gesture during her appearance at IFA, the world's largest trade fair for consumer electronics and electrical home appliances, in Berlin, on Sept. 7, 2009. The New York-born singer, styled in a dramatic bob cut, presented headphone products by the company Monster. (Gero Breloer / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Silver surfer
Lady Gaga perfoms in an asymmetrical getup at the V Festival on Aug. 23, 2009 at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, England. (Samir Hussein / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Quiz: What’s your personal style?
Bow wow
Lady Gaga poses for fans upon her arrival at the Changi International Airport on Wednesday Aug. 12, 2009 in Singapore. (Bryna Djuhar / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
Unchained glove
Lady Gaga shines in a glittery mini dress at the 2009 Wango Tango concert in Irvine, California, on May 9, 2009. (Mario Anzuoni / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Advertise | AdChoices
White might
Lady Gaga sings amidst confetti at the Z100 Jingle Ball 2008 at Madison Square Garden on Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 in New York. (Evan Agostini / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Lady Gaga's ex-assistant sues her for $400K

Says she's owed for over 7,000 hours of overtime while working for the singer

Below:

Jump to video New Gaga video: Must see or must avoid?

Jump to photos Fashion gone Gaga

Video: New Gaga video: Must see or must avoid?

Photos: Fashion gone Gaga

Rainbow tiers

On the catwalk

Floral helmet

Gaga shines

Big bun

Knee-highs

Mellow in yellow

Cover girl

Gaga channels Jackie O

Plunging neckline

Portrait perfect

Gaga for Paul

Ring in the new

It's her department

For the children

And a Bambi to boot

She got her MTV

She's got the spins

Dude!

Promises, promises

Born this way?

Earthquake relief

Am I your 'Idol'?

Where to start with this outfit?

'Born This Way'

Kiss from a fan

Am I what you expected?

Love in her eyes

What to wear, and what not to wear

Lady of fashion

Lady in red

Entrance of the egg

Breaking out of the egg

Talk about 'Fame'

Say cheese

Flashing the crowd

Bridging the generations

She's got a wild hair

Flying the flag

Meat Lady Gaga

Sharp mind

Topped off

Stripping down

Crowd surfing

Keep a stain stick handy

Strike a pose

Fire when ready

Damn Yankees

Dazzling Nottingham

Constellation of stars

A-veiling herself

'Monster' hits

Idol-ing about

Flash in Japan

Hold the phone

Pompadour and circumstance

Girls just wanna have fun

Pearl jam

Ice queen

Out of this world

Green Gaga

Pause for reflection

Hairy situation

All on her shoulders

Tied up in a bow

Gaga goes royal

Strong shouldered

In the nude

Puckered up

Funny face

Crescent curves

Thinly-veiled sexuality

More than just a unique face