Erica Shishido, better known by her professional wrestling name, Aja Kong, has created a legacy for herself that has expanded over the course of four decades and just might make it into a fifth. The Tokyo, Japan-native is internationally known amongst wrestling fans from around the world and respected by her peers for her longevity and tenacity in such a brutal sport. Weighing in at 227lbs, Kong uses her size and strength to overpower her opponents. Throughout her illustrious career, Aja Kong has (wo)manhandled other wrestlers with ease to the point that she's put many lives in danger with her passionate performances.
Since making her debut in the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) in 1986, she instantaneously became a love-to-hate heel in the company. In 1995, Kong made her way to the WWF where she dominated the entire women's roster, including breaking the nose of Chaparita Asari yet was never a champion in the organization. That didn't stop her from racking up championship honors in leagues like GAEA Japan, Hyper Visual Fighting Arsion (Arsion), AJW, and more. To this very day, Aja Kong is smashing faces with spinning elbows in the All Elite Wrestling, LLC (AEW) at the age of 49.
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.