30 Celebrities Who LOST EVERYTHING

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were looking at celebrities who lost their wealth and/or status.

Wesley Snipes

You might not see much of Wesley Snipes these days, but back in the 90s and early 2000s, he was everywhere. Action, comedy, drama - he did it all. His role as the vampire-slaying Blade made him a legit superstar. But when Snipes reached his peak, everything started falling apart. On the set of Blade: Trinity, he reportedly clashed with the director and co-stars, earning the difficult to work with label. We all know how damaging that can be. Then the real blow came. Snipes got a three-year sentence for tax evasion, losing precious time when his career couldve soared higher. In a 2020 interview, he said the experience made him a clearer man. Maybe so, but not just the famous one he once was.

Michael Vick

As the downfall of R. Kelly and others have shown, fame and fortune dont make you untouchable. Before 2007, Michael Vick was mostly known as one of the NFL's brightest stars. But his dog-fighting scandal changed everything. It all started when a drug investigation involving his cousin led authorities to Vicks property, where they discovered an illegal dog-fighting ring. It wasnt his first brush with legal trouble, but it was by far the most damaging. His reputation took a hit, he lost his freedom for 21 months and his finances took a nosedive. Between losing his NFL salary, endorsements and drowning in debts, Vick filed for bankruptcy in 2008. He may be back on his feet now, but that stain on his reputation lingers.

Kate Gosselin

In the mid-2000s, Kate Gosselin was soaring high. Her reality show, Jon & Kate Plus 8, which followed her and her husband Jon raising eight kids, was a massive hit. Fast forward to 2009, the couple divorced, the show got a rebrand and things were no longer the same. The divorce drama painted Kate in a negative light, with rumors of her controlling attitude and parenting style turning viewers off. The custody battles and allegations of mistreatment didnt help matters, nor did her shows declining ratings. Since other TV projects fell flat, Gosselin reportedly went back to nursing. These days, she lives a quieter life, but her public image is still shaped by vast controversies and the Karen label.

Lenny Dykstra

Its wild how someone can go from owning an expensive penthouse to losing it all. Thats essentially Lenny Dykstras story. Baseball fans from the mid 80s to late 90s will probably remember this gritty player who helped the Mets win the 1986 World Series. But after retired, Dykstras world came crashing down. In 2009, he filed for bankruptcy, claiming $50,000 in assets, but behind-the-scenes were a mountain of debts, shady deals and hidden assets. His troubles didnt end there. Legal woes piled up, including charges for grand theft auto, drug possession and bankruptcy fraud. Add in erratic behavior and other disturbing allegations and youve got a cautionary tale of how money, fame and bad decisions can collide.

Curt Schilling

This baseball star was once on top of the world. Fame, fortune, respect on the field - he had it all. Who could forget his bloody sock from the 2004 American League Championship Series that was sold for a little over $90,000? After retiring from baseball, he set his sights on the business world, but that turned out to be a colossal failure. Fueled by his hobby for gaming, Schilling borrowed millions and launched a video game company. Unfortunately for him, he also allegedly invested his entire net worth into this project, resulting in bankruptcy. As for his company, it bled out. Many lost their jobs and eventually it all collapsed. Post-bankruptcy, Schilling joined ESPN as an analyst, but that gig wasnt without its own controversies.

Lisa Marie Presley

Elvis Presley wasnt dubbed the King of Rock and Roll for nothing. He was one of the greatest artists to ever live. But by the time he died, most of his fortune was gone. His ex-wife, Priscillia Presley, however, managed to turn his legacy into a multi-million-dollar brand. When Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis only daughter, inherited the estate at age 25, it was reportedly worth around $100 million. Sounds like she was set for life, right? Well, not quite. A trail of questionable decisions led to her losing control of the fortune her mother had rebuilt. Debts piled up, lawsuits followed and as of the time of her death in 2023, she was reportedly $10 million in the red.

Willie Aames

Falling from riches to rags isnt exactly rare in Hollywood and Willie Aames is a prime example. In the 80s and 90s, he was living large, starring as Tommy in Eight is Enough and Buddy in Charles in Charge. The guy was a teen idol. But stardom doesnt come with a lifetime guarantee. Roles dried up, substance use disorder became a problem, and his fortune dwindled. One bad decision after another left him completely homeless. The same actor who once had millions was struggling to survive. In a 2017 interview, Aames opened up about hitting rock bottom and taking responsibility for his actions. It takes sheer determination to reach an all-time low and come out strong - well give him that.

Ed McMahon

What happens when you outspend your earnings and go through a couple of divorces? You could end up like Ed McMahon. Once TV royalty, Ed was Johnny Carsons sidekick on The Tonight Show and later the face of Star Search. But in 2008, fans were stunned to learn he was $644,000 behind in mortgage payments and facing foreclosure on his Beverly Hills mansion. Thats not even all. Citibank sued him for unpaid debts and a neck injury only made his situation worse. In a candid chat with Larry King, McMahon acknowledged his role in his financial ruin - overspending, risky loans, divorces, you name it. The saddest part? A man who once made millions allegedly died with about $2 million in debt.

Lauryn Hill

Fame at a young age can be a double-edged sword. Lauryn Hill was in her early 20s when The Fugees dropped The Score, one of the biggest hip-hop albums of the 90s. But tension in the group, especially with Wyclef Jean, led to their breakup. That didnt dim Hills light. She soared solo with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which was a critical and commercial triumph. But after the high, things unravelled. The Grammy-winning artist slowly withdrew from the spotlight, and over the years, gained a reputation for being late or unpredictable at shows. Then came the final blow - a tax scandal that landed her in prison for 3 months. Unfortunately, not everyone built for greatness is cut out for fame.

Tom Sizemore

Once upon a time, Tom Sizemore was Hollywoods go-to for tough-guy roles, stealing scenes in Heat, Black Hawk Down, and Saving Private Ryan. But as Sizemores acting career was booming, his life was spiraling. Why? Sizemore had a serious substance use disorder, but that wasnt all the mess he had in his life. The action star was also arrested multiple times for domestic abuse, drug possession and probation violations. Despite a few comeback attempts, Sizemore failed to reclaim the fame he once had. His name became more associated with scandals than talent. He went from a multimillion-dollar house and luxury cars to having almost nothing. Tragically, at 61, he died from a brain aneurysm, which his lifestyle may have contributed to.

Heidi Montag & Spencer Pratt

Once the king and queen of reality TV, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt shot to fame in the mid-2000s on MTVs The Hills. They brought a lot of drama, often overshadowing the shows star, Lauren Conrad. Their lavish lifestyle was no secret. They blew cash on luxury wardrobe, Pratts crystal collection, a full staff - all while ignoring their business managers' warnings. Heidis failed music career, plus her infamous plastic surgeries done in one day didnt help matters. Soon, all that money was gone and they were living broke in Pratts parents vacation home. Sadly, in 2025, they lost their home to the LA fire outbreak. Theres more than enough caution in this cautionary tale.

Sly Stone

Sly Stone rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the frontman and bandleader of Sly and the Family Stone. The group was groundbreaking, not only for their unique blend of funk, rock, soul and gospel, but also for their racially and gender diverse lineup. Stones visionary talents led the group to commercial fame, but his struggle with substance use disorder largely contributed to their dissolution in 1975. In the years following that, Stone launched a solo career that never quite took off. On top of that, the substance use disorder persisted, and he reportedly clashed with his manager and lost access to royalty payments for many years. This apparently put him in the hole, leaving him homeless and dependent on welfare checks.

Doug Hutchison

Although he had accumulated a string of supporting film credits, Doug Hutchisons breakthrough came in 1999s The Green Mile. Hutchison earned critical acclaim and multiple award nominations for his performance as a sadistic prison guard in the Stephen King adaptation. He eventually lost all of that favor when, at the age of 51, he got married to then underage, upcoming singer Courtney Stodden. Hutchison was widely criticized for the move and, according to him, was completely blacklisted by Hollywood and even his own family. This brought his once flourishing career to a screeching halt, leading him to file for bankruptcy in 2017. The couple managed to weather the storm and remained together for years, although they eventually called it quits in 2020.

Teresa Giudice

Since 2009, Teresa Giudice has been a regular cast member on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. That same year, Giudice and her husband Joe filed for bankruptcy, citing over $8 million in liabilities. This, however, was only the start of their troubles. In 2013, they were both indicted on multiple fraud charges, with some of them related to their 2009 bankruptcy case. They eventually entered a guilty plea and were ordered to pay over $400,000 in restitution, as a result. Giudice was sentenced to 15 months in prison, which she served at the Federal Correctional Institution in Connecticut. In 2020, Giudice filed for divorce from Joe, and the couple sold off their longtime New Jersey mansion the following year.

Kelly Rutherford

Kelly Rutherford has been a staple on the small screen from as far back as the late 80s. The Kentucky-born actress first burst onto the scene with the NBC soap opera Generations. She later gained further recognition with major roles in Melrose Place and Gossip Girl. But all of the money Rutherford amassed from those shows was eventually whittled away by a grueling custody dispute with her ex-husband Daniel Giersch. After filing for divorce in 2008, Rutherford fought for sole rights of their two children - a battle that cost her about $1.5 million in legal fees alone. As a result, she filed for bankruptcy in 2013. Regardless, the dispute continued and Rutherford ultimately lost custody of both children in 2015.

TLC

With four Billboard number-one hits, multiple awards and tens of millions of records sold, TLC were undeniable powerhouses throughout the 90s. Their sophomore album CrazySexyCool was released in November 1994 and sold more than 15 million copies worldwide. So it came as an absolute shocker when, the very next year, it was announced that they were filing for bankruptcy. TLC cited their seemingly exploitative record contracts, which left each lady with less than $50,000 in annual payments. They succeeded in renegotiating their contracts and bounced back with 1999s Fanmail. However, due to the sad and untimely death of Lisa Left Eye Lopes in 2002, they went on a hiatus but have since come back together, now as a duo.

Brett Butler

For five years Brett Butler played the titular divorced single mother on the ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire. As the main star, Butler took home around $250,000 per episode. But her struggle with substance use disorder eventually contributed to the series getting the ax in 1998. Since then, Butler has come under financial fire, admittedly making careless decisions that ate up most of her net worth. Although she made a return to the small screen, taking up recurring roles in How to Get Away with Murder and The Walking Dead, things dont seem to have gotten any better. In 2021, Butler became so broke that she nearly lost her apartment and hesitantly set up a GoFundMe page in order to save it.

Sinbad

Comedian and actor Sinbad first gained popularity on the TV series A Different World before landing his own sitcom The Sinbad Show. Although the series was canceled after one season, Sinbad went on to film multiple stand-up specials and appeared in a host of movies and TV shows. But as his star power kept rising, so did his spending, up to the point that it exceeded his income. And it certainly didnt help that he kept defaulting on his tax payments, ultimately accruing a tax debt of $2.5 million. In 2013, Sinbad filed for bankruptcy, declaring that he was $11 million in the hole, with only $16,000 in monthly income.

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes spent four years on the Nickelodeon sketch series All That before landing her own spin-off The Amanda Show. By the 2000s, she was already a teen idol, racking up credits like What a Girl Wants and Hairspray. But things soon took a downturn. Bynes faced a tough battle with substance use disorder and found herself in a rabbit hole of legal trouble. With roles drying up and so many court cases piling, it became easy for money to go down the drain. Even worse, she was placed under a conservatorship and lost control of her finances. Bynes seems to be getting her life back on track, however, as she has maintained a long streak of sobriety and had her conservatorship ended in 2022.

Gary Coleman

For his role as Arnold Jackson on the NBC sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, Gary Coleman was, at one time, receiving the biggest salary for any child actor on the small screen. But after Diff'rent Strokes came to an end in 1986, Coleman realized that his parents, who had been overseeing his finances, had grossly mismanaged it. In 1989, he filed a lawsuit against them, as well as a financial advisor, and was awarded $1.28 million in restitution. However, the roles seemed to dry up as Coleman grew older, leading him to file for bankruptcy in 1999. He reportedly battled with multiple health and legal issues later in life, and passed away in 2010 after falling down and suffering a brain bleed.

MC Hammer

Over the span of a decade, MC Hammer became the quintessential rags to riches and back to rags Hollywood story. After releasing two moderately successful albums, Hammer achieved worldwide fame with his hit single U Cant Touch This from his third studio album. At the time, Hammers net worth was valued at over $33 million by Forbes. This seemingly overnight wealth was soon sucked up by his lavish spending, extravagant mansion and numerous dependents. By 1996, Hammers musical success had plummeted and he had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, as he was over $13 million in debt. The California rapper never quite recovered from his fall, despite a few comeback attempts.

Dennis Rodman

As a professional basketball player, Dennis Rodman became world famous for his insane skills on the court, as well as his controversial persona. Rodman retired from the NBA in 2006 and also performed as a wrestler, actor and reality TV star. Rodmans journey to penury began in the mid 2000s, when he became involved with the conwoman Peggy Ann Fulford. Fulford posed as a financial advisor and was able to scam Rodman, as well as multiple other athletes, of millions. This ate into his finances so much that he could barely afford to make his child and spousal support payments. After Fulford was convicted, Rodman was awarded over $1 million in restitution, which admittedly, he most likely will never get.

T-Pain

Since bursting onto the scene in 2005, T-Pain has racked up a slew of hit singles, and accumulated a fortune of over $40 million. However, instead of making wise financial investments, he bought a massive house and a $2.1 million Bugatti, which he later sold off for just $800K. It certainly didnt take too long for that bank account to go low low low. By 2019, the Buy You a Drank singer was left with no option but to file for bankruptcy protection. He did win the first season of The Masked Singer the same year, and things seem to be looking up for T-Pain nowadays.

Todd Herzog

Prior to being cast on the 15th season of Survivor, Todd Herzog traveled across America as a flight attendant for SkyWest Airlines. His highly calculated run on the show culminated in him winning the season and taking home the $1 million cash prize at just 22 years old. But while he triumphed on the screen, Herzogs entire fortune was in jeopardy, as he was struggling with alcohol use disorder. After seeking professional help, Herzog was able to turn his life around. He has since attained sobriety and now lives a rather quiet life with his husband Jess Hermansen.

Fantasia

This North Carolina singer and actress was propelled to stardom after winning the third season of American Idol in 2004. Her first ever single I Believe went straight to number-one in the U.S. and Canada, and her debut album was certified platinum. Things seemed to be off to a good start for Fantasia, but due to her sole breadwinner status among her siblings, mother, and daughter, and the declining sales of her second album, she soon found herself struggling. Her $1.1 million house was set to be auctioned off to cover an unpaid loan. In an interview with Oprah, Fantasia owned up to her mistakes, blaming her misfortune on her financial decisions and inability to say no. In 2023, she announced her return to school after dropping out as a teen.

Gary Busey

Once upon a time, Gary Busey was a mainstream Hollywood star. The Texas actor gained national attention for his leading performance in the 1978 bio film The Buddy Holly Story, which earned him an Oscar nomination. He followed this up with starring roles in movies like Lethal Weapon and Point Break, which were certified box office hits. His financial downturn came in 1988 when Busey was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that left him with permanent brain damage. The once bankable Hollywood player became erratic on and off camera, and soon struggled to find roles in movies and TV shows. With most of his money gone and not enough coming in, Busey had to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2012.

Lil' Kim

Widely regarded as the Queen of Rap, Lil Kim inspired a generation of rappers with her music and has sold upwards of 30 million singles globally. Life really was all about the Benjamins for the hip-hop star. However, following dwindling album sales and a prison stint in 2005, Lil Kim found herself in a free fall. In 2018, she declared bankruptcy, claiming to be about $4 million in debt, with unpaid taxes and mortgage loans taking up a large chunk of that figure. In order to pay off her debt, the Queen Bees $2.3 million mansion was auctioned off, with the opening bid being $100. Yep, you heard that right.

Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger became a Hollywood fixture for her notable femme fatale roles throughout the 80s and 90s. But, at the height of her acting career, Basinger faced multiple setbacks that severely impacted her finances. First, she paid $20 million to acquire a small town in her home state of Georgia, an investment that backfired tremendously. Next, she backed out of the doomed movie Boxing Helena, for which she was sued and forced to pay millions of dollars to the studio. This resulted in her filing for bankruptcy. To top it all off, her marriage to Alec Baldwin ended in a messy divorce that reportedly cost the Oscar-winning actress another few million dollars. She never quite recovered financially.

Toni Braxton

For someone like Toni Braxton, whos sold more than 70 million records worldwide, its hard to imagine how she could go bankrupt twice. Just two years after her smash hit Un-Break My Heart, Braxton found herself in dire straits and had to declare bankruptcy. While her music generated millions, Braxton barely got any of it due to specific clauses in her recording contract. She managed to dig herself out of that hole but ended up filing for bankruptcy again in 2010 after her Vegas residency was canceled due to her health issues. But just like the Phoenix, she was able to rise from her financial ashes, and has since produced and starred in the successful reality series Braxton Family Values.

Burt Reynolds

Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds was a top box-office draw in the late 70s and early 80s, but he gradually lost his bankability as the years progressed. This, coupled with his costly divorce from Loni Anderson and some poor investment choices, led to the actor filing for bankruptcy in 1996. He made a career comeback soon after with Boogie Nights in 1997, which earned him a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. By 2014, Reynolds was auctioning off personal items and memorabilia, which rekindled news of bankruptcy. Until his death in 2018, Reynolds lived at his Florida estate which once faced foreclosure, but was then bought by his neighbor, who let him live on the property at a low cost.

Which of these downfalls is the most tragic? Let us know in the comment section.