14 Celebs Who Recovered From Being Broke
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TLC
Thanks to what they claimed was initially a predatory contract from Perri “Pebbles” Reid, T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli were fighting an uphill financial battle from day one. Mounting taxes, medical bills and legal troubles didn’t help the matter, which probably explains why T-Boz filed for bankruptcy in 2011. It would appear a few laps around the reality show circuit have helped things.
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Donald Trump
To be clear, the man who hopes to ride his Republican ticket to The White House on a campaign of racist rhetoric and tough talk has never filed for personal bankruptcy. He has filed for corporate bankruptcy twice though, which should give pause to anyone wondering how he’ll balance the budget.
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Michael Vick
When Michael Vick’s boy’s flipped on him in that infamous dogfighting case in 2007, he lost everything and headed to prison. He’s since signed a deal in 2011, which guaranteed him $40 million. That’s enough to get back in the black.
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Will Smith
Prior to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will Smith said he owed the IRS about $3 million in 1989. The former teenage millionaire quickly bounced back by becoming a big banking triple threat in both music, TV, and film.
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Rihanna
There’s a reason Rihanna kills her accountant at the end of the “B—h Better Have My Money” video. She and her accountant were locked in a $35 million lawsuit that eventually saw Rihanna settling for $10 million after claiming her accountants were guilty of negligence and gross financial mismanagement.
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Lady Gaga
Pop songstress Lady Gaga claims she was broke for the better part of 2009’s Monster’s Ball tour after investing all of her cash into the aforementioned tour. It turned out to be a smart decision, since LiveNation subsequently cut her a $40 million check.
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Charlie Wilson
Uncle Charlie has never gotten into the specific numbers, but he has confirmed he went from a member of The Gap Band to being a homeless drug addict. Through a reinvigorated solo career fueled by guest spots on Snoop Dogg and Kanye West albums, he got his mojo back.
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Larry King
You’d think Larry King would chill out on the marriages given how much some of his divorces have cost him. Of course, Larry can afford it since the last time he’s been broke was 1978. He’s bounced back rather well from bankruptcy nearly three decades ago.
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Walt Disney
Before creating Mickey Mouse in 1928, Walt Disney was super broke. He declared bankruptcy in 1923 after being cheated by one of his distributors.
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Toni Braxton
Despite filing for bankruptcy twice, we’re assuming Toni Braxton is back in the black since she purchased a $3 million mansion in Justin Bieber’s neighborhood last year.
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Hammer
Perhaps the reason Hammer is so tight about Jay Z mentioning him blowing through $40 million is because the former pop star is holding his own in the tech sector now. Granted, he’s not balling like he was in the ‘90s, but he seems to be holding his own.
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LaToya Jackson
Much like her brother Michael, LaToya Jackson managed to F up some commas and had to fight off her creditors. She’s been able to hit the reality show circuit and hawk a few products to get her pockets right in recent years.
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Natasha Lyonne
After breaking out in The Slums Of Beverly Hills, Lyonne reportedly battled addiction, homelessness, and ailing health. She eventually got back on her feet and is now a regular cast member on Orange Is The New Black.
