Actresses Who Lost Millions in Horrible Business Investments

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Hollywood may seem like a world of endless wealth, but many successful actresses face significant financial risks and the need to protect their money. While trying to build businesses beyond acting, some have lost fortunes due to unpredictable markets and bad financial guidance. From unsuccessful property deals to becoming victims of fraud, these women have experienced very public and painful financial setbacks. Their experiences emphasize how crucial it is to understand finances and the dangers of investing in areas where you lack expertise.

Kim Basinger

In 1989, Kim Basinger bought the town of Braselton, Georgia, hoping to turn it into a popular tourist destination and a place to film movies. She spent around $20 million on the purchase. However, things went wrong when she pulled out of the movie ‘Boxing Helena’ and was ordered to pay a large sum of money in a legal dispute. This, combined with the struggling town investment, led her to file for bankruptcy in 1993. Ultimately, Basinger had to sell Braselton for just $1 million – a tiny fraction of what she originally paid. This is a well-known example of a celebrity investment that didn’t pay off and resulted in significant financial loss.

Debbie Reynolds

In the 1990s, Debbie Reynolds put a large part of her personal fortune into creating the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Hotel and Museum in Las Vegas. She envisioned it as a permanent display for her extensive collection of Hollywood costumes and props, including items from her famous film, ‘Singin’ in the Rain.’ Unfortunately, the hotel faced poor management and couldn’t attract enough visitors to succeed in a busy city. Reynolds filed for bankruptcy in 1997 to try and save the property, but it was ultimately sold to developers. Sadly, she then had to sell off her beloved collection of memorabilia over several years to pay off her debts.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

I was so saddened to learn about the impact the Bernie Madoff scandal had on Zsa Zsa Gabor. She was such a glamorous icon, appearing in films like ‘Moulin Rouge,’ and it was heartbreaking to discover she and her husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalt, lost an estimated $10 million to Madoff’s fraud. It really affected her later years; they even had to sell their beautiful Bel-Air home to cover bills and medical expenses. It just goes to show that even someone as worldly and experienced as Zsa Zsa could be taken advantage of, which is just awful.

Kyra Sedgwick

Kyra Sedgwick, the acclaimed actress from ‘The Closer’ (2005–2012), was significantly impacted by the Madoff financial scandal. She and her husband, Kevin Bacon, lost a large portion of their wealth when Madoff’s Ponzi scheme collapsed. Although the exact amount hasn’t been revealed, it’s estimated they lost tens of millions of dollars. They had invested their savings with Madoff, thinking it was a secure place to grow their earnings, and the loss forced them to quickly take on more work to restore their retirement funds.

Sonja Morgan

Sonja Morgan, known from ‘The Real Housewives of New York City’ (2008–2021), lost a $7 million lawsuit after a movie project she invested in fell apart. Her company was sued because the film, called ‘Fast Flash to Bang Time,’ couldn’t get a main actor or enough funding. The court held Morgan personally responsible for breaking the contract, which led her to file for bankruptcy in 2010. To pay off the debt, she had to sell valuable possessions, including a costly property in France. This financial setback became a well-known part of her story and highlights the risks involved in film financing.

Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling, best known for her role on ‘Beverly Hills, 90210,’ has faced several business setbacks, losing millions of dollars in the process. She invested significantly in both a retail store called ‘InvenTori’ and a bed-and-breakfast, which was even featured on her reality show ‘Tori & Dean: Inn Love,’ but unfortunately, neither venture succeeded long-term. These losses were worsened by unsuccessful real estate investments and high operating costs. As a result, Spelling has dealt with lawsuits from credit card companies and substantial tax debts. She has frequently explained that a lack of financial knowledge contributed to these business difficulties.

Toni Braxton

As a huge Toni Braxton fan, I was really saddened to learn about the financial difficulties she faced. It turns out that, despite her success in films like ‘Kingdom Come,’ she actually lost a ton of money funding her own concerts. In 2010, she filed for bankruptcy – for the second time! – after a Las Vegas residency fell apart. She personally covered the costs of putting on the show, and when health issues forced her to stop performing, she was stuck with millions in debt. Sadly, this even led to her losing the rights to some of her biggest hits and having to sell off her possessions. It really shows how risky it can be for artists when they try to produce their own shows – even established stars like Toni aren’t immune to that kind of financial blow.

Share your thoughts on which of these business failures was the most unexpected in the comments.

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2026-02-26 00:20