Famous musicians seem to have it all. The money, the fame, the music, what more could they want? Well, it turns out a lot since many famous musicians end up losing everything. Here’s a look at the top 10 richest musicians who ended up losing everything.
Number Ten: Marvin Gaye
Turns out this melodic singer lived a pretty sad life. He had to file for bankruptcy to afford a pricey divorce with his wife in the 1970s and then ended up moving to Europe to avoid the IRS. He was killed in 1984 after his father shot him in a heated argument. Turns out our favorite sexy time singer didn’t live such a charmed life.
Number Nine: One Of The Richest Musicians Turned Bankrupt – MC Hammer
One of the most famous stories of bankruptcy is that of MC Hammer. Once boasting a net worth of $33 million, MC Hammer ended up filing for bankruptcy protection and as of 2013, still owed the IRS nearly $800,000. And you thought your bills were bad.
Number Eight: Dee Snider
The frontman and lead singer for Twisted Sister, Dee Snider, was forced to file for bankruptcy back in the 1990s when the band couldn’t afford to pay back their record labels. Sounds like one hell of a bad deal if you ask me.
Number Seven: Vanilla Ice
Oh, Vanilla Ice, how you changed the lives forever of white 90s adolescents who have yet to stop singing “Ice Ice Baby.” But it turns out this rapper never got to experience the charmed life since just a few years after the release of his first album he was forced to file for bankruptcy.
Number Six: Wayne Newton
If you didn’t know any better, you might think Wayne Newton would make the top list of the richest musicians ever. However, the Las Vegas entertainer was forced to file for bankruptcy after getting $20 million in debt over a libel dispute.
Number Five: George Clinton
One of the saddest stories on the list, not only did George Clinton, the frontman of Parliament/Funkadelic, lose all the money he had to his name, but he also lost all the rights to the songs he did from the late 1970s to the 1980s. Poor guy can’t even enjoy listening to his old songs without being reminded of what he lost.
Number Four: Lisa Lopez
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez is the most famous member of the group TLC. Her life was unfortunately filled with loss and hardship due to numerous abusive relationships, having to file for bankruptcy in the mid-1990s, and her tragic death in a car accident in the early 2000s.
Number Three: Fantasia
Fantasia Barrino is proof that winning American Idol doesn’t guarantee a lifetime of success. The pop star had to auction off her $1.1 million home in 2009 when she couldn’t afford to pay off the loan she had taken out for it.
Number Two: Sly Stone
Best known as the frontman for Sly and the Family Stone, Sly Stone has had a rough life. Once famous and making more money than most of us dream of, the musician is now homeless and living in a van in L.A.
Number One: Michael Jackson
Largely viewed as a huge success, Michael Jackson was actually in extreme debt at the time of his death. In 2005, he was rumored to be $300 million in debt and have $400 million in liabilities. Turns out being the King of Pop doesn’t pay as much as apparently Jackson needed. It turns out being a famous and rich musician might not be all it’s cracked up to be. Thanks for reading!
