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The Broke and Famous: Celebrities Who Have Gone Bankrupt

These famous folks had it all—and then they lost it and had to declare Chapter 11. Oops!

Brendan McDermid / Reuters

By William BootPublished Jul 14, 2015 2:15PM EDT

galleries/2015/07/14/the-broke-and-famous-celebrities-who-have-gone-bankrupt/150714-celeb-bankruptcy-01_ghjexl — Rapper 50 Cent filed for bankruptcy protection on July 13, 2015, reporting debts and assets in the range of $10 million to $50 million. Lawyers for the “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” singer filed court papers under the musician's real name, Curtis James Jackson III. The 40-year-old New York-born entertainer called the voluntary Chapter 11 filing in a Connecticut bankruptcy court a “strategic business move” that would not affect fans.
Brendan McDermid / Reuters

galleries/2015/07/14/the-broke-and-famous-celebrities-who-have-gone-bankrupt/150714-celeb-bankruptcy-02_pxt3ke — Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump has had four of his businesses file for Chapter 11.
L.E. Baskow / Reuters

galleries/2015/07/14/the-broke-and-famous-celebrities-who-have-gone-bankrupt/150714-celeb-bankruptcy-03_et4aqa — Larry King filed for bankruptcy in 1978.
Radovan Stoklasa / Reuters

galleries/2015/07/14/the-broke-and-famous-celebrities-who-have-gone-bankrupt/150714-celeb-bankruptcy-04_lvf9v8 — Cyndi Lauper filed in the early ’80s, before her music career took off.
Danny Moloshok / Reuters

galleries/2015/07/14/the-broke-and-famous-celebrities-who-have-gone-bankrupt/150714-celeb-bankruptcy-05_xjwhcn — Billy Joel had financial trouble after his brother-in-law cleaned him out.
Carlo Allegri / Reuters

galleries/2015/07/14/the-broke-and-famous-celebrities-who-have-gone-bankrupt/150714-celeb-bankruptcy-06_uddsaw — We all saw this one coming, unfortunately—Lindsay had to file in 2010.
Lucas Jackson / Reuters

galleries/2015/07/14/the-broke-and-famous-celebrities-who-have-gone-bankrupt/150714-celeb-bankruptcy-07_jil774 — Burt Reynolds has had financial troubles for the past 15 years—he's currently battling rumors he’s about to file Chapter 11 again.
Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

galleries/2015/07/14/the-broke-and-famous-celebrities-who-have-gone-bankrupt/150714-celeb-bankruptcy-08_mbrhdc — Elton John has expensive tastes—the singer went broke in 2002.
Carlos Barria/Reuters

galleries/2015/07/14/the-broke-and-famous-celebrities-who-have-gone-bankrupt/150714-celeb-bankruptcy-09_hyxrfz — Actor Mickey Rooney filed twice, and at the time of his death, had assets of just $18,000.
Gus Ruelas/Reuters

galleries/2015/07/14/the-broke-and-famous-celebrities-who-have-gone-bankrupt/150714-celeb-bankruptcy-10_byhpxc — Designer Betsey Johnson declared in 2012.
Carlo Allegri / Reuters

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