While Mark Price and John Starks are both respectable Oklahoma representatives, they do not compare to the superstar talent that is Blake Griffin. Born in Oklahoma City, Blake Griffin all of his high school and collegiate basketball in his home state of Oklahoma. In his sophomore year as an Oklahoma Sooner, Blake Griffin earned the title of National Player of the Year, which led to him being picked first overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Tragically, during the final pre-season game of the 2009 season, Griffin broke his left knee cap and missed his entire rookie year. What could have derailed his trajectory later resulted in Griffin becoming a force of nature in the paint, racking up a Rookie of The Year Award in 2011 and six NBA All-Star nods through his decade-long career. Watching Griffin grow throughout the years has been a pleasure for any true basketball aficionado. He's developed a stable handle and jump shot that has made him more of a threat since he was initially introduced to the league. Now, he just needs a couple of rings for his trophy case.
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.