Jon Stewart began his career as a standup comedian which later led him to being in front of the camera and made cameos in movies like Big Daddy, The Faculty, Rose Water, the cult classic Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Playing By Heart, and a personal favorite Half Baked. In 1999, Jon Stewart got the hosting gig for the satirical news show, The Daily Show, and became a household name for his thoughts on the socio-economic climate. In 2015, Stewart stepped down from the hosting position and has been enjoying the fruits of his labor ever since.
What many might not know is that Stewart has a rather doppelganger of his own in the form of American Congregationalist clergyman, Henry Ward Beecher. A man known for his support of the abolition of slavery. Not only was Beecher a well-known activist, he used his sources to buy and free slaves as well as purchase arms for the Union during the Civil War. Not to mention, he was also quite the ladies man as he went to trial for adultery in 1875 which resulted in a hung jury. Both Stewart and Beecher have had a positive impact on society.
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.