There aren't too many physical specimens at the quarterback position that have been built like Cam Newton. Standing at 6'5, 245lbs with breakaway speed and pocket presence makes Cam Newton an NFL anomaly. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Newton ditched the possibility of attending the universities of Georgia, Maryland, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, and in order to attend the University of Florida in 2007. After accusations of stealing a laptop, Newton packed his bags and eventually landed in Auburn in 2010 where he won the Heisman Trophy, the Manning Award, and AP College Player of the Year. He led Auburn to both SEC Championships and BCS National Championship wins in his first and only season with the team.
Cam Newton was drafted 1st overall in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers where he's played all nine seasons of his NFL career. Cam became an instant impact player winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2011. In 2015, Cam Newton led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50, won NFL MVP honors, and Offensive Player of the Year which allowed him to cash in on a huge payday. After earning $22 million from his initial contract, Newton signed a five-year, $103 million contract extension with the Panthers in 2015. Thus far, he's earned $82.7 million of his contract money. Lately, Cam has been struggling with health issues and the Panthers have been riding with Kyle Allen as the starting QB. It could possibly be an end of an era with Cam Newton leading the Panthers.
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.