His voice might not be to everyone's taste, but nobody can argue that Bob Dylan is one of the most influential singer-songwriters of all time. When he made the switch from the acoustic guitar to the electric guitar in the mid 1966s, folk music fans nearly started a riot at a concert. Dylan has been seen as a poet, a protest song writer, and almost a prophet by the people who idolize him. That's quite a list of achievements for a guy who was born in Duluth, Minnesota, and isn't even called Bob Dylan.
Dylan was actually born as Robert Allen Zimmerman in 1941, but took on the stage name of 'Dylan' after being inspired and moved by the works of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. He grew up listening to blues and country radio stations, and progressed into writing folk music because he felt it sounded 'more authentic' than the rock and roll bands who were emerging at the time. As a performer, he's been on tour constantly since 1988 with very few breaks, and has spoken of wanting to continue for the rest of his life.
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.