Actresses Who Lost Their Entire Fortune and Had to Start Over

It’s surprising to realize how financially unstable things can be for people in Hollywood, even those who seem incredibly successful. I’ve learned that many actresses, despite their fame, have actually gone through really tough times financially, often because of lawsuits, bad investments, or just the high cost of living. It’s amazing to me how some of them had to declare bankruptcy and completely rebuild their careers. Their experiences really show how unpredictable the entertainment industry is and how much strength it takes to bounce back from both professional and personal challenges.

Kim Basinger

In the early 1990s, Kim Basinger faced serious money problems. After withdrawing from the movie ‘Boxing Helena’, she lost a legal case and was ordered to pay eight million dollars, ultimately leading her to file for bankruptcy. She’d also previously spent twenty million dollars buying a town in Georgia, but had to sell it. Years later, her career rebounded when she won an Academy Award for her role in ‘L.A. Confidential’.

Debbie Reynolds

Debbie Reynolds experienced financial hardship not once, but twice, because of her husbands’ business choices. She worked incredibly hard in movies and on stage to pay off millions of dollars in debts that weren’t her fault. Passionate about Hollywood’s legacy, she opened a museum to showcase her impressive collection of costumes, though it also struggled financially. Despite these challenges, she remained a beloved presence in the entertainment world, appearing in classics like ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and ‘Halloweentown’ while consistently performing on tour.

Lena Headey

I was really shocked to learn that Lena Headey was in such a tough spot financially during her divorce. Even though she was famous for playing Cersei on ‘Game of Thrones,’ she told the court she had almost no money left – less than five dollars in her account! It was heartbreaking to hear she was struggling to pay legal fees and basic living costs, and she even had to ask for an early tax refund just to get by and provide for her child. Thankfully, things improved as ‘Game of Thrones’ kept going and she started landing more movie roles, but it really showed you that even success doesn’t always guarantee financial security.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan experienced well-publicized money problems, including the government seizing her bank accounts due to unpaid taxes. After finding fame in ‘Mean Girls’, her spending and legal troubles quickly depleted her savings. Friends reportedly helped her pay off a large amount of her debt as she worked to restore her image. Eventually, Lohan moved overseas to pursue new business opportunities and slowly return to acting.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson faced financial difficulties that forced her to sell her house and return to her home country. She filed for bankruptcy in both the US and Canada due to unpaid taxes and expensive home improvements. While she became famous on ‘Baywatch,’ maintaining her expensive lifestyle proved difficult during slower periods in her career. Since then, Anderson has dedicated herself to activism and writing, alongside taking on new acting roles.

Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling has publicly discussed her money problems, including a lot of credit card debt. Even though her father was a very successful producer, she didn’t receive a large inheritance. For years, she and her family dealt with lawsuits from banks and struggled to keep up their lifestyle. Spelling shared her experiences with managing her finances on the reality show ‘Tori and Dean’ and in several books.

Kelly Rutherford

Kelly Rutherford, the actress from ‘Gossip Girl,’ recently filed for bankruptcy. She spent all of her money fighting a long and expensive legal battle to gain custody of her children, racking up over a million dollars in legal fees and travel costs. This left her unable to afford her New York City apartment. Since then, she’s worked on TV shows around the world and is now a vocal advocate for changes to family law.

Natasha Lyonne

I’ve always admired Natasha Lyonne, and I was really struck by her story of overcoming some incredibly tough times. Apparently, after a break from acting, she went through a period of homelessness and lost pretty much all the money she’d made from films like ‘American Pie’ – things got really rough with health and legal battles. It’s amazing how she turned things around, starting with smaller roles in independent theater and film. Eventually, she really made a comeback, landing those fantastic starring roles in ‘Orange is the New Black’ and, more recently, ‘Russian Doll’. It just goes to show her talent and resilience.

Courtney Love

I’ve always been fascinated by Courtney Love’s story, and it’s just heartbreaking to me that after Kurt Cobain’s death, she believes millions were stolen from his estate. It seems like she’s really struggled financially because of it – facing lawsuits and tax problems that wiped out her savings. She even had to sell off possessions and live in rentals while she tried to figure out what happened and get to the bottom of the alleged fraud. Despite everything, though, I admire her resilience. She’s kept working as an actress, and I’ve even enjoyed seeing her on shows like ‘Empire’.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

I was so saddened to hear about how much the Bernard Madoff scandal affected Zsa Zsa Gabor. It was awful that she lost so much of her life savings – I read she even had to sell her beautiful Bel Air home because of it. Thankfully, her husband really stepped up to help her manage everything, especially with all the medical bills and legal costs piling up as she got older. Even with all those financial struggles towards the end of her life, she still managed to stay true to herself and remain a glamorous icon, which I always admired.

Judy Garland

Despite being a world-famous star, Judy Garland faced constant money problems throughout her life. Poor handling of her finances by those she trusted, along with her health struggles, resulted in significant debts and repeated tax issues. She tirelessly toured and performed to provide for her family and pay off what she owed. Even though her role in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is still considered a classic film, she sadly passed away with very little money.

Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake was a major star in the 1940s, but later in life, she found herself working as a waitress. A drop in movie roles and personal difficulties led to financial problems that affected her career. Even her memorable look in films like ‘Sullivan’s Travels’ couldn’t prevent financial hardship. Eventually, she moved to New York, worked at a hotel bar, and briefly returned to performing on stage.

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge achieved a historic milestone as the first African American woman nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, but sadly, she passed away while struggling financially. She lost all her money because of bad investments and legal issues. The limitations placed on Black actors in Hollywood during the mid-1900s also held back her career. Despite a standout performance in ‘Carmen Jones,’ she was eventually forced to sell her house and lived in a small apartment before her death.

Lorraine Bracco

Actress Lorraine Bracco, famous for her role in ‘The Sopranos,’ filed for bankruptcy after a long and costly five-year custody battle. The legal fees wiped out her savings, forcing her to take on a lot of work and significantly reduce her spending to rebuild her finances. She has since recovered and gone on to appear in popular shows like ‘Rizzoli and Isles’.

Janice Dickinson

Janice Dickinson, the former model and actress known from ‘America’s Next Top Model,’ filed for bankruptcy due to large debts from unpaid taxes and medical bills. She dealt with legal issues and public attention while trying to resolve her financial problems. Later, she worked to revive her career through TV appearances and reality shows.

Mischa Barton

After her successful run on ‘The OC’ ended, Mischa Barton struggled with her finances. This led to a legal battle with her mother over how her money and assets were being handled. She went through a period of change, trying out different acting roles and appearing on reality TV. More recently, she’s been working to rebuild her career with independent films and a return to television on ‘The Hills: New Beginnings’.

Heidi Montag

Heidi Montag and her husband famously lost their entire $10 million fortune in just a few years. After gaining fame on the reality show ‘The Hills,’ they struggled with spending too much money on expensive things and cosmetic surgery. They eventually found themselves living in a guest house once their money was gone. Now, Heidi focuses on raising her children and taking on smaller roles in television to provide for her family.

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes faced difficult personal and legal issues that affected her finances. She earned a lot of money early in her career with shows like ‘The Amanda Show’ and the movie ‘Hairspray,’ but that money was put under legal control due to concerns about her spending and lack of income. Since then, Bynes has been focusing on her education, health, and living a more private life.

Loni Anderson

After her very public divorce from Burt Reynolds, Loni Anderson found herself in serious financial trouble. A long and costly legal fight left her deeply in debt, which was hard to cover with her acting salary. To get back on her feet, she filed for bankruptcy in the mid-1990s to reorganize her finances. She continued to work in television and also used her platform to advocate for different causes as she rebuilt her life.

Margot Kidder

I was so saddened to hear about Margot Kidder’s struggles. After a very public battle with her mental health in the 90s, she went through a really tough time financially and even lost her home. It was a stressful period as she focused on getting better, but she was incredibly resilient. She slowly started acting again, taking on smaller roles in independent films and TV shows. Before she passed away in 2018, she became a powerful voice for mental health awareness, which I always admired. She really used her experiences to help others.

Brett Butler

Brett Butler experienced a dramatic life change, going from a $25 million salary on her hit show ‘Grace Under Fire’ to a period of homelessness. Health issues and the show’s cancellation caused her to lose all her money. She rebuilt her life by moving to a farm and working outside of acting. Later, she returned to television with guest appearances on shows like ‘The Walking Dead’.

Erin Moran

After her time on ‘Happy Days,’ Erin Moran experienced serious money problems. She eventually lost her house and had to move into a trailer park with family. While she was once famous, acting roles became scarce, drastically changing her financial situation. Despite these hardships, she remained a cherished figure for fans of classic TV until she passed away in 2017.

Mackenzie Phillips

Mackenzie Phillips, known for her role on ‘One Day at a Time,’ lost her savings due to personal struggles and periods of being out of work. Legal and health problems took a toll on her finances. However, she successfully rebuilt her life, becoming a counselor while still occasionally acting. She also wrote a popular memoir that helped her get back on her feet financially and allowed her to share her story.

Nichelle Nichols

In the later years of her life, Nichelle Nichols, the groundbreaking Star Trek actress, struggled with money and legal issues related to her estate. She found herself in a dispute with family and former colleagues over her assets. Despite being a beloved icon, she faced worries about her housing and medical bills. Fortunately, her fans and the wider community rallied around her, providing support until her death.

Patty Duke

Early in her career, Patty Duke faced difficulties managing her money because her guardians controlled her income. Despite winning an Oscar for ‘The Miracle Worker,’ she later learned that most of her earnings had disappeared. Duke went on to champion stronger financial protections for young performers and worked hard to rebuild her life. Throughout her career, she remained a well-respected actress and a passionate advocate for mental health.

Peggy Lipton

After her divorce, Peggy Lipton struggled financially as she re-entered the job market. Having taken a break from acting, the ‘Mod Squad’ star found it hard to quickly rebuild her career and income. She successfully returned to prominence with a well-known role in ‘Twin Peaks’ and continued working steadily in film and television for the rest of her life.

Tia Carrere

Early in her career, actress Tia Carrere, best known for ‘Wayne’s World,’ faced financial hardship after a legal battle with her managers. She had to rebuild her finances while continuing to work steadily as both an on-screen and voice actress. Since then, Carrere has successfully revived her career, even winning multiple Grammy Awards for her music, and continues to act.

Delta Burke

After leaving ‘Designing Women’, Delta Burke experienced difficulties in her career and finances. She dealt with health problems and found fewer opportunities for leading roles, which affected her income. She eventually returned to television with smaller roles and put her energy into building her clothing line. Burke has openly shared her story of overcoming challenges and continuing her career.

Lisa Rinna

Lisa Rinna revealed that she and her husband were almost broke before she started on ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’. Even though she’d been working steadily on shows like ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Melrose Place’, they went through a tough time with few jobs and a lot of bills. She took any work she could find to keep her family in their house. Since then, Rinna has used her fame to build a number of thriving businesses.

Shannen Doherty

Shannen Doherty experienced money problems due to her ongoing health issues and disagreements with her previous managers. She sued them, claiming they didn’t handle her finances properly, which resulted in her health insurance temporarily being canceled. The ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ star has openly discussed the expensive costs of medical treatment and how it affected her savings. She’s still working as an actress and continues to share her experiences with her fans.

Sherilyn Fenn

After enjoying success in the early 1990s, particularly with ‘Twin Peaks,’ Sherilyn Fenn found it harder to land major roles as the entertainment industry evolved. Combined with personal difficulties, this led her to live a more simple life than her initial fame might suggest. Despite these changes, Fenn has continued acting in independent films and TV shows and remains popular with her fans.

Sondra Locke

After a long and public legal dispute with a former partner, Sondra Locke said she was left with nothing. The actress, who was nominated for an Academy Award, spent years fighting for her rights to her work and money. She eventually reached an agreement that let her continue her life and career, and she later focused on directing and acting in smaller, independent films.

Taryn Manning

Throughout her career, actress Taryn Manning, known for her role in ‘Orange is the New Black,’ has experienced financial and legal difficulties. These personal challenges have sometimes affected her work. She’s continued to pursue roles in independent films to stay involved in the entertainment industry while working through these issues.

Lark Voorhies

After starring in ‘Saved by the Bell’, Lark Voorhies faced financial hardship and fewer job opportunities. Public struggles with her health and personal life made it hard for her to find consistent work. Her family has shared that they’ve been helping her manage things and taking care of her during tough times. She’s occasionally appeared in follow-up projects related to her earlier roles.

Jaime Pressly

After ‘My Name is Earl’ ended, Jaime Pressly faced financial difficulties, including a substantial tax debt. She had to adjust to losing her regular income while also paying what she owed to the government. By focusing on her acting, she eventually secured a leading role in the hit sitcom ‘Mom,’ which helped her pay off her debts and regain financial stability.

Tell us which of these career comebacks surprised you the most in the comments.

2026-02-14 05:18