Justin Bieber's VIBE Feature: The Normal, Abnormal Life of Justin

*Scan the QR code on Bieber's picture (above) to get Behind the Scenes video and exclusive photos*

THE NORMAL, ABNORMAL LIFE OF JUSTIN$100 MILLION MAN-CHILD JUSTIN BIEBER ISNT IMPRESSED BY HIS OWN WEALTH. ALTHOUGH HES TAKING FINANCIAL POINTERS FROM MONEY TEAMS FLOYD MAYWEATHER, HES MORE IN NEED OF A SIT-DOWN WITH QUINCY JONES. ITLL HELP HIS DIVINE PLAN TO BE THE BEST OF ALL TIMEWRITTEN BY LOLA OGUNNAIKE / PHOTOS BY SCOTT COUNCILSTYLED BY DAVID THOMAS AT OPUS BEAUTY

Backstage at Ellen DeGeneres talk show, Justin Bieber is lounging in a dressing room, quietly nursing a cold. Despite it being a balmy afternoon in Burbank, Calif., hes at the tail end of a phlegmy, throat-clear ing cough that rattles his slight frame like a pair of maracas. His eyes, brown and Keane-painti ng wide, are heavy. Hed much rather be under the covers than under the probing watch of this reporter. So, he coughs again and wipes a bit of spittle from his perfect pout. Its hard to believe that moments earlier he was driving the Ellen audience into screaming, hip-swivelin g hysterics with Boyfriend, the first single from his latest album, Believe.

You cant let it show, Bieber says, sounding like a seasoned performer. You have to be a professional . While most kids his age are readying themselves for beer binges and other college high jinks, pops reigning prince is preparing for more money, minimal problems. No time for sick days and even less time for sleep. A new album, a worldwide tour, dozens of businesses and investments and a longtime girlfriendSelena Gomez, if youve been in a comaall require his full attention.

Forbes recently named him the third most powerful celebrity in the land (Jennifer Lopez topped the list and Oprah Winfrey was number two). It would be an impressive accomplishme nt at any age, but given the fact that Bieber is only 18which means he cant legally drink, just earned the right to vote and wont be eligible for say! a presidential run for another 17 years, if he was an American citizenmakes it even more laudable. Bieber, though thankful for the Forbes love, wasnt all that impressed when he heard the news. His reaction? Oh, thats cool, he recalls, reeking of teenage insouciance. I wasnt like, Oh, thats awesome! I could really care less.

When one has Bieber money, one can pretty much afford to do anything one wants, and that includes not giving a rats ass about much other than music. That hes managed to remain levelheaded and stay out of trouble thus far (minus the occasional skirmish with an overzealous paparazzo or baseless baby-daddy accusation, which he addresses on the song Maria, his version of Billie Jean) is a feat. That, however, doesnt mean hes perfect. He has his moments, says Allison Kaye, general manager at Scooter Braun, the company that oversees Biebers career. But when I get ahead of myself and want to strangle him, I think about the fl ip side. If he wasnt being a crazy 18-year-old, hed be a creepy robot kid. Id rather him be a normal 18-year-old.

*Scan the QR code on Bieber's picture (above) to get Behind the Scenes video and exclusive photos*