Tom Cruise invested millions in upgrading his opulent Scientology penthouse, only to leave contractors in a bind as they pursued overdue payments long after completing their work, according to a Daily Mail investigation.

The 63-year-old actor reportedly spent approximately $3 million on premium fixtures and bespoke interiors for his expansive Clearwater, Florida, duplex, beginning the project back in 2018.

Cruise initially acquired this luxurious residence, situated on the ninth and tenth floors of the SkyView tower in the heart of downtown, for $9.58 million in 2017. This purchase followed the sale of several of his previous properties in New York, Hollywood Hills, and Beverly Hills.

However, the extravagant renovation was plagued by ongoing payment delays, prompting contractors to resort to legal action to claim their rightful earnings.

Darren K. Proulx, a strategic financing advisor at Real Estate Bees, explains that contractors providing materials or labor for a real estate project are entitled to lien rights.

“Most states have laws that permit these parties to file what are known as Mechanic’s Liens, which can ultimately lead to the sale of the property to guarantee payment to these unpaid suppliers,” Proulx elaborates.

Tom Cruise has been at the center of payment disputes involving renovation work carried out on his penthouse in Clearwater, Florida, the Daily Mail can reveal 

The $9.5 million duplex is situated on the ninth and tenth floors of the SkyView building in downtown, which houses a number of wealthy Scientologists 

The Daily Mail can reveal that at one stage, six separate construction liens were filed against the Top Gun actor’s properties in the building – which include the penthouse itself and another unit – over unpaid bills totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

While most of the disputes were eventually resolved, one lien remains outstanding today from a six-figure paint job. 

 Documents show Tampa-based Five Arrows Inc, filed a lien against the property for an outstanding $44,240 bill from a $261,326 painting job completed in January 2021. 

The lien is yet to be resolved, according to Pinellas County public records.

Says Proulx, ‘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.

‘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.

The unit, pictured in a rendering ahead of its 2018 construction, was later upgraded by Cruise in a $3 million project that saw it fitted with high-end fixtures and other custom interiors 

The sprawling duplex features a rooftop deck complete with a pool, bar, and infinity hot tub

Records obtained by the Daily Mail show Tampa-based Five Arrows Inc filed a lien against the property for an outstanding bill of $44,240 that is yet to be paid despite the contracted work being completed in January 2021

‘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.’

Cruise did not respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment. Five Arrows’ parent company, The Valcourt Group, also failed to respond to requests for comment.

Cruise’s luxury condo boasts a rooftop deck with a solarium, infinity hot tub, pool and bar, and sits just a short walk from Scientology’s Flag Building, the church’s global HQ.

After the property was completed in 2018, he enlisted a number of elite contractors to outfit the residence with custom interiors.

Among them was Atlanta-based Mortensen Woodwork Inc and Craftsmanship Installations Inc, which billed more than $1.5 million and $416,650, respectively, for their handiwork from 2018 to 2020.

Mortensen Woodwork specializes in ‘hand-crafted custom-made interiors’, which includes furniture, cabinets, shelving, marble flooring, and was behind high-profile projects including the Coca-Cola HQ in Atlanta and the Atlanta Falcons’ Mercedes-Benz Arena.  

Craftsmanship Installations works in a similar field and was responsible for the millwork at the Bank of America HQ in Charlotte.

Both companies were only partially paid, with Cruise owing Mortensen $508,021 and Craftsmanship Installations $41,065. 

Records show Mortensen Woodwork completed another $250,000 project in 2022, but was only paid $150,000.

In all three situations, the companies were forced to place liens on the property until the bills were settled and the liens were eventually released.

Cruise’s penthouse infamously went viral during construction after a local bartender, Clay Irwin, managed to get a first look inside the property and gave his social media followers a virtual tour   

Other contractors, including glass manufacturer Tab Glass and Window Corp and A and A Clean Up Inc also carried out jobs on the property – and later filed liens after being left out of pocket. 

In the case of the glass manufacturer, the company was owed $63,725 from a $299,422 job and was forced to file a lien in February 2021, with it being discharged three months later.

A and A Clean Up Inc which specializes in construction cleanup charged $51,400, with $11,830 being left unpaid until April 2021.

In total, the work carried out on the home by all six contractors was valued at more than $2.8 million – with a total of $768,881 unpaid until liens were placed – and $44,240 is still outstanding.

The SkyView building is known for housing wealthy Scientologists, including Cruise’s own sisters Lee Ann, Cass, and Marian Mapother.

Billionaire biopharmaceutical entrepreneur Bob Duggan is registered to a $3.8 million apartment, which covers the entire sixth floor.

Despite the glamorous interiors, the building has been criticized for its plain exterior and its location in downtown Clearwater, an area dominated by Scientologists and church properties, and largely avoided by non-members.

The impressive penthouse went viral in 2017 – long before it was upgraded – after former Clearwater bar owner Clay Irwin shared the first look inside the property on social media. 

Despite its impressive interior, the building, which sits just steps from Scientology’s global headquarters, has been criticized for its dull, ‘plain’ facade

The Hollywood actor, 63, owns multiple units within the Scientology-linked building

Irwin was remarkably let into the half-built condo by a construction worker at the time.

‘It’s very basic and kind of plain looking. The building is just ugly. It almost looks like a jail,’ he said of the exterior. 

He then recorded himself inside as he walked around Cruise’s penthouse and even climbed onto the roof, along with his dog, Bruno.

Once inside, Irwin’s tune changed. ‘Be prepared to be amazed – this place is sick!’ he is heard saying. 

After panning round to Cruise’s pool, which overlooks Clearwater harbor, Irwin gasps: ‘That’s one hell of an infinity pool’.

He then goes on to show the living quarters, where the Scientology HQ can be seen in the background, with Irwin screaming: ‘This isn’t a condo, it’s a freaking museum!’

At one point a brazen Irwin even announced to viewers that his pooch had an accident on Cruise’s landing floor, quipping: ‘The first dog that’ll take a p**s in Cruise’s condo!’