You'd think that New Mexico would be home to more than just a couple of elite, pro-level basketball players due to their proximity to California. But, surprisingly, there are only a handful of NBA players from the border state that have played more than a full season in the NBA. However, the 6'6 power forward, Bill Bridges, hailing from Hobbs, New Mexico is more than deserving to hold the crown for his hometown state. Prior to entering the NBA, in 1961, Bridges entered the American Basketball League as a member of the Kansas City Steers where in his second season he lead the league in scoring.
In 1964, Bridges finagled his way into the NBA and played for the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors where he won his first and only NBA Championship in his final season in 1975. Averaging a career double-double of 11.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, Bridges was also a 3x NBA All-Star (1967, 1968, 1970). Unfortunately, Bridges lost his battle with cancer at the age of 75-years-old in September 2015. With that said, thank you for pushing the game forward and holding New Mexico down. Rest well.
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.