When Drew Brees first arrived in the league as a member of the San Diego Chargers many doubted his ability to get the job done. He's somewhat undersized and isn't known for being the most athletic quarterback during this current era of speedster and big arm quarterbacks. While many counted him out as just average, he took the New Orleans Saints on his back and made them one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL today. If there's any player with the heart of lion, it's Drew Brees.
After having a successful college career at Purdue University, Brees went on to be selected 32nd overall in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. Brees one the starting the starting job in San Diego in 2002, but after suffering a severe shoulder injury signed with the New Orleans Saints were he would become an instant stud. Prior to Drew Brees joining forces with the Saints , the franchise only won one playoff game in 29 years. Brees led the Saints to their first-ever Super Bowl victory in 2009 against the Indiapolis Colts and took home Super Bowl MVP honors for his performance. The 12x Pro Bowler currently ranked third in all-time passing touchdowns (522) and is set to pass Peyton Manning's 539 in the near future.
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.