Champ Bailey's success comes from his consistency and longevity in the game. The 6'0, 192lb cornerback from Fort Campbell, Kentucky played his college ball at the University of Georgia. From 1996 to 1998, Bailey became a triple-threat for the Bulldogs playing a total of 957 snaps, 547 on defense, 301 on offense, and 109 on special teams. Defensively, Champ recorded 147 tackes, forced one fumbles, and caught eight interceptions. As a member of the school's track and field team, Bailey recorded a University of Georgia school record with an indoor long jump of 7.89 yards.
Champ Bailey was drafted 7th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins where he played a total of five NFL seasons was paid a total of $11.6 million. His true coming to form came as a member of the Denver Broncos where he played his next ten seasons and signed a $63 million, seven-year contract during his tenure with the team. In total, the Broncos shelled out a total of $96 million+ on the now Hall of Fame cornerback. Unfortunately, Bailey was cut from the team following the team's Super Bowl XLVIII loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Bailey then signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints in 2014, but was cut from the team prior to the start of the season. Bailey then announced his retirement and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
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.