20 Celebs Who Died Broke Despite Earning Hundreds of Millions

Becoming famous often leads to a lot of money, but it’s surprisingly easy for celebrities to lose it all. Poor deals, taxes, overspending, and lawsuits can quickly drain their wealth. Many stars also experience a drop in income while still owing money. After they’re gone, their estates can get caught up in legal battles with the IRS, record companies, or old business partners, leaving their families with little financial support. This proves that even a high lifetime income doesn’t guarantee financial stability in the long run.

Judy Garland

Judy Garland made a lot of money through her films, including ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ and from performing concerts. However, poor financial planning and problems with taxes seriously damaged her wealth. Several marriages and an expensive lifestyle further worsened her situation. By the late 1960s, she was constantly performing simply to pay her bills. She passed away in 1969 deeply in debt, and it took a long time to resolve her estate.

Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy Davis Jr. was a highly successful entertainer, earning a lot of money from performances and films like ‘Ocean’s 11’. However, he struggled with unpaid taxes, and the accumulating interest became a major problem for his estate. Throughout the 1980s, the IRS pursued him for back taxes, even as he continued to tour to try and pay off his debts. High divorce costs and business expenses only made the financial situation worse. By the time of his death in 1990, his estate was left with a significant tax bill that took years to settle.

Marvin Gaye

Despite earning significant money from his music, Marvin Gaye had ongoing financial difficulties, including unpaid taxes and high personal expenses. He declared bankruptcy in the late 1970s and gave up future earnings to pay off debts from his divorce. Even after moving to Europe, he continued to struggle with U.S. tax issues. At the time of his death in 1984, his estate owed more money than it had available.

Billie Holiday

As a lifelong movie and music fan, I’ve always been struck by Billie Holiday’s story. She was incredibly successful during her peak, earning a lot from constant touring and popular records. Sadly, so much of that income was eaten up by legal battles and back taxes. It’s heartbreaking to think that even while she was in the hospital, nearing the end of her life, she was under police watch due to drug allegations. She passed away in 1959 with almost no savings, and her estate couldn’t even cover her medical bills – it needed help from others. It’s a really tragic end for such a talented artist.

Joe Louis

As a boxing fan and critic, it’s always heartbreaking to look back at the financial struggles of our heroes. Joe Louis, the legendary heavyweight champ, earned a fortune in his prime – enough to make him a household name and land him tons of endorsements. But unfortunately, a mix of serving his country during the war, being incredibly generous with gifts, and some really bad financial advice left him deeply in debt to the IRS. Even after retiring, he tirelessly did exhibitions and worked as a greeter, just trying to pay off what he owed. It’s a sad truth that he passed away in 1981 still battling those federal claims. A true champion in the ring, but a victim of circumstance outside of it.

Bela Lugosi

As a huge classic horror fan, it always breaks my heart to think about Bela Lugosi. He was Dracula, becoming a worldwide sensation with that role, but he didn’t really benefit financially. The studio system back then was tough – he didn’t get a fair share of the profits when the film became so popular in reruns. Sadly, being typecast as Dracula meant fewer and fewer interesting roles came his way, and he struggled with medical bills. He ended up having to sell off personal possessions and take whatever work he could get just to make ends meet. It’s a tragic story, really – he passed away in 1956 without much money and still owing people.

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge was a pioneering actress in Hollywood, but she struggled with a lack of good roles and unfair pay. Poor management of her finances, along with legal battles, left her with little money. She also had substantial debts from owning property and caring for her daughter. Sadly, when she passed away in 1965, her estate was worth less than she owed.

Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr was a highly paid movie star, famous for films like ‘Samson and Delilah’. However, she found fewer acting opportunities as she aged and struggled financially. Although she co-invented a technology and received a patent with George Antheil, she didn’t profit from it. Legal battles and everyday costs depleted her savings, and she passed away in 2000 with much less wealth than she’d earned during her career.

Mickey Rooney

Mickey Rooney was a major Hollywood star for many years and earned a huge salary. Sadly, in his later years, he was the victim of elder abuse and financial exploitation, which left him with very little money. Court records showed he had almost no cash and significant debts. When he passed away in 2014, his estate was small and quickly settled.

Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman, famous for his role on ‘Diff’rent Strokes,’ earned a lot of money as a child actor. Unfortunately, legal battles with his parents and business managers led to him losing most of it. He declared bankruptcy in the late 1990s and had to take on odd jobs. When he passed away in 2010, he didn’t have many possessions and there were disagreements about his medical expenses.

Corey Haim

Corey Haim earned a good income from popular films like ‘The Lost Boys’ and related work. However, he faced ongoing health and addiction issues which caused inconsistent employment and increasing financial difficulties. He eventually filed for bankruptcy, reporting significant tax debts and few assets. Sadly, by the time of his death in 2010, he had very little remaining of the money he’d earned at the height of his career.

Dana Plato

I was so saddened to hear about Dana Plato. She became a star as Kimberly on ‘Diff’rent Strokes,’ but it’s heartbreaking to learn that leaving the show left her in a really tough spot financially. From what I understand, she struggled with legal and medical bills, and just couldn’t find consistent work. She ended up selling off things from the show and taking any appearance she could get just to make ends meet. It’s just awful that she was still dealing with debt and barely had any savings when she passed away in 1999.

Bobby Driscoll

Bobby Driscoll, a popular actor known for his Disney roles and voicing Peter Pan, earned a good income during his early career. However, as he got older, acting jobs became scarce. He faced struggles with addiction and relied on the support of friends and temporary shelters. He passed away in 1968 while living in poverty, and his identity remained unknown for several years.

John Barrymore

John Barrymore was one of the highest-paid actors of his time, starring in famous films like ‘Grand Hotel’. However, lavish spending, multiple divorces, and declining health gradually depleted his wealth. As a result, he had to borrow money to maintain his lifestyle in his later years. He passed away in 1942 with outstanding debts, which were eventually settled with assistance from his friends following his funeral.

Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake was a famous actress in classic noir films like ‘The Blue Dahlia,’ but her career eventually declined, leaving her with financial difficulties. She worked various jobs, including in restaurants and local theater, just to cover her basic expenses. Over time, she accumulated significant medical and tax debts. When she passed away in 1973, she had very few assets and limited funds.

Peter Lawford

Peter Lawford made a good living through movies like ‘Ocean’s 11’ and his television appearances. However, later in life, expensive divorces, struggles with addiction, and a lavish lifestyle drained his resources. He ended up selling possessions and depending on friends to cover his bills. When he passed away in 1984, he was in debt, which created difficulties even with planning his funeral.

Redd Foxx

Redd Foxx achieved great success and high earnings on ‘Sanford and Son,’ but he struggled with tax issues for many years. The IRS took his property and reduced his income from other television shows to cover what he owed. He continued to work to pay off his debts, but he never fully managed to do so, and he passed away in 1991 still owing money to the government.

Tupac Shakur

Despite earning a lot of money from record sales and concerts, Tupac Shakur didn’t have much cash readily available. This was because of upfront payments and the need to pay back his record label, plus significant expenses for legal matters and security. The way his contracts were set up meant his earnings were largely used to cover debts. When he passed away in 1996, his estate surprisingly held few assets considering his immense fame.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson made a huge amount of money through his music, concerts, and ownership of song rights. However, he had borrowed heavily against his assets and faced significant legal costs, leaving him deeply in debt. Documents revealed after his death showed he owed hundreds of millions of dollars, despite owning valuable music copyrights. While his finances were unstable when he passed away in 2009, his estate was later able to improve the situation.

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston earned a huge amount of money throughout her career from albums, concerts, and movies like ‘The Bodyguard’. However, towards the end of her life, her income dropped, and she faced financial difficulties. Reports indicated she was struggling with money and had substantial debts, often depending on future projects and possessions to pay her bills. When she passed away in 2012, her estate required significant work to rebuild its value.

2025-11-15 02:46