Puerto Rican queen Mario Montez was one of the most prolific of all the Warhol superstars, constantly working in the artist's underground film series during the 1960s. Her name was intended as a tribute to gay icon Maria Montez. Montez was a vibrant presence among the New York club scene during both the 1960s and 1970s, living her drag persona by night while working in clerical jobs in the city during the day. She never took a single acting class - she got her first acting role through her friendship with underground filmmaker Jack Smith.
Her final contribution to the drag queen scene was co-founding the Ridiculous Theatre Company in Soho, but after that, she quietly retired to Florida and disappeared from the public eye, with many people believing she must have passed away until she appeared in a 2006 documentary about Smith. She was honored with a special TEDDY Award in 2012, where she was described as 'the queen mom of all drag queens.' She eventually died the following year.
Not all celebrities have fame and fortune, some are just famous – and in a ton of debt. They came from rags to riches, then went back to rags. Whether they’ve filed bankruptcy, ended up in court, or just can’t stop spending, celebrities mismanage their money just like everyone else. They just hide it well.
50 Cent coined the term “wanksta,” then “partied like it was his birthday” until he filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2015. The rapper was said to be anywhere between $10 million and $50 million in debt. In 2016, a federal bankruptcy court judge in Connecticut approved a plan for the founder of G-Unit to pay his debts back. He was able to get his bankruptcy discharged in February of the following year.
Following a 45-year-long career in Hollywood, acting in more than 70 films, actor Gary Busey found himself in more debt than he was worth. In 2012, it was reported that Busey owed between $500,000 and $1 million worth of debt, but only had $50,000 to his name. The 74-year-old actor owed money to hospitals, banks, the L.A. Waterworks District, and even a storage company. He filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy that same year. Despite his longstanding career in Hollywood, Busey's net worth is now only $500,000.
Burt Reynolds is still worth five million dollars, but his battles with debt date back more than 20 years. Between bad investments and a pricey divorce from actress Loni Anderson, the 1970s superstar had to deal with over $10 million in debt and decided to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1996. While testifying in a 1994 custody hearing, the South Florida native said he spent $40 million getting through his divorce.
The former Hollywood bad boy, Charlie Sheen owes the IRS nearly $5 million. But that's not all. In 2016, his net worth was reportedly still as high as $150 million, but he was nonetheless $12 million in debt at the time – including mortgages, legal fees, and taxes. That same year, Debt.com reported Sheen owed nearly $300,000 on an American Express card alone.