Dominique Wilkins is one of the most exciting NBA personalities and athletes the game has ever seen. Wilkins was originally drafted by the Utah Jazz third overall out of the University of Georgia in the 1982 NBA Draft but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. He spent the majority of his career with the Hawks before bouncing around the league and European leagues before retiring as a member of the Orlando Magic in 1999. During his stint in the NBA, Wilkins earned nine NBA All-Star honors and two NBA Slam Dunk Championships.
Wilkins was known for his high flying ability and was chosen to enter the NBA Slam Dunk Contest a total of four times. The first time in 1985, Wilkins defeated Michael Jordan in an amazing contest of athleticism and dunking ability. The following year, Wilkins was beaten by then-teammate Spud Webb. In 1988, Wilkins and Jordan had a rematch in which Jordan took home the trophy and in 1990, Wilkins participated in his final dunk contest beating Kenny Smith in the finals.
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.