Rich Celebrities Who Lost a Fortune

We often look at famous celebrities and wish we could lead such a lavish lifestyle. From mansions and cars to private jets and holidays in luxury 5-star hotels, they have it all.  But have you ever wondered how it is possible for a super-rich celebrity to go broke? These well-known stars found a way to do just that and squander away millions of dollars.

Debts from racking up high credit card bills, unpaid taxes, gambling debts, drug addiction, and extravagant shopping are just a few of the ways in which these rich celebrities lost a fortune:

Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson was the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history. Known by his nickname, “Iron Mike”, he is considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. His talent was spotted during a stint in a juvenile center, and in his successful career Tyson amassed a fortune of $300 million dollars.

However, he blew the lot! He made many extravagant purchases, the most memorable of which was the purchase of three white Bengal tigers. They cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy and train, with the feeding costs alone per day stacked up to a whopping $1,500. That’s a lot more than the average grocery shop!

Ben Affleck

This beloved Hollywood actor has appeared in an array of high-profile films, including Good Will Hunting, Argo, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. But Ben is also known to be an extraordinary casino player. His greatest gamble was $400,000, which he lost on a single hand while playing poker.  Affleck, on one occasion, was said to have tipped the casino staff more than $150,000 in one night!

Dionne Warwick

Warwick, undoubtedly one of the greatest female vocalists of all time, was declared bankrupt in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Newark, New Jersey. She went bankrupt after accruing over $10 million in debt due to unpaid taxes and mismanagement of the financial accounts. During the hearing, Warwick’s assets were said to be worth only $25,000, mainly a pair of diamond earrings, a pair of fur coats, and some art.