Kanye West has turned into one of the biggest international superstar hip-hop artists in the world and in a very short amount of time. He's single-handedly changed the face the music and continues to grow as a musician as well as a fashion designer as he's released several original collections under his YEEZY imprint, not to mention the success he's had in the sneaker industry with both Nike and adidas.
Sadly, Kanye was almost a goner when he fell asleep at the wheel after leaving the studio in 2002. West was forced to have his jaw wired shut and a plate inserted into his face in order to reform his facial structure. In his first single, 'Through The Wire', Kanye rapped about the accident and stated the following, "Well, the only thing this accident is saying is, 'I am about to hand you the world, just know at any given time I can take it away from you.' To nearly lose your life, to nearly lose your mouth, your voice, your whole face, as a rapper... and I had to be on TV! My face looks crazy to me now... But I have to just thank God for the situation that I am in..."
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.