While Drew Bledsoe's legacy may be foreshadowed by the performance of his then-backup, Tom Brady, his legacy helped rebuild the New England Patriots franchise to what it is today. Bledsoe was a high-volume quarterback that wasn't afraid to let the ball fly on any defense the NFL had to offer. During his three-year tenure at Washington State University, Bledsoe shattered a multitude of records including most passing yards in a single game (476), most pass completions in a single season (241), and single-season passing yards (3,946). In 1992, Bledsoe led the Cougars to a 31-28 Copper Bowl victory over the Utah Utes and won the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year Award.
In the 1993 NFL Draft, Drew Bledsoe was selected 1st overall by the New England Patriots where he would play nine seasons out of his fourteen-season NFL career. While a member of the Patriots, Bledsoe became the youngest quarterback to surpass 10,000 and 20,000 passing yards. Bledsoe also holds the record for most completions in a game with 45. The 4x Pro Bowler did win a ring in his final season with the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI. Bledsoe would go to play three seasons with the Buffalo Bills from 2002 to 2004 and the Dallas Cowboys from 2005 to 2006. Injuries and some lackluster performances helped Bledsoe choose retirement in April 2007, but he will forever be known as a legend in New England.
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.