If you think about it, James Worthy is the prototype for every majorly effective NBA player of this current generation. Standing at 6'9", Worthy's height, athleticism, and speed allowed him to thrive on the professional hardwood. His ability to handle the ball and make decisions on the fly was exactly why he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers first overall in the 1982 NBA Draft and was never traded or released by the legendary sports franchise.
'Big Game James' won an NCAA Championship with the North Carolina Tar Heels in 1982 only to win his first NBA Championship three years later with the Lakers in 1985. Worthy would go on to win two more NBA Championships with the Lakers alongside winning NBA Finals MVP with his final NBA ring in 1988. James also earned seven NBA All-Star credits during his illustrious career and is still in the basketball business as an analyst and commentator. For all of you youngsters out there aspiring to be great basketball players, following James Worthy's blueprint is the way to go.
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.