There are conflicting theories about whether or not it's a good idea to work with your significant other when you're making a film. As we've seen with Marilyn Monroe, if it goes wrong, it can put undue strain on your relationship. Maybe that was a key factor in Bruce Willis' thinking when he decided to pass on a lead role in 'Ghost.' If he'd taken it on, it would have been him who'd had the iconic 'let's make pottery sexy' scene with Demi Moore - who was, at the time, his wife.
We'll never be sure why Willis said no, but perhaps he was concerned about stepping too far away from his comfort zone at the time. He was an action movie star, and he wouldn't accept a more subdued role until he appeared in 'The Sixth Sense' years later. He also wasn't the only big name to turn 'Ghost' down; both Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise didn't see the merit in the script, and rejected the offer as well. Patrick Swayze had no such concerns, and was wearing a big smile when he movie collected the 'Best Original Screenplay' Oscar.
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.