Celebrities who died broke – found dead in abandoned building and cash strapped to leg

Some of the biggest stars of all time were broke when they died.

It’s no surprise that the likes of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Judy Garland acquired huge amounts of wealth during their time at the top. Releasing record-breaking albums and shooting classic Hollywood films will earn you a hefty buck.

But whilst their legendary showbiz status remains, sadly, some of the biggest entertainers of all time ended up with very little money at the end of their lives. In fact, some of them owed millions of dollars in debt and left their surviving kin with some serious money problems.

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Daily Star has rounded up the tragic celebrities who either frittered their fortunes away, or fell on hard times due to other upsetting reasons.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, is one of the most influential figures of all time. He sold an estimated 500 million records around the globe and won countless awards thanks to his iconic hits.

In 2007, he was worth an estimated $236.6 million (£187.19 million). But when he died from an overdose of surgical anesthetic in 2009, he was bankrupt and reportedly $500 million (£395.71 million) in debt.

It was known that MJ enjoyed a lavish lifestyle and drains on his finances included luxury cars, expensive art, exotic animals and his abandoned Neverland Ranch. He also donated large amounts of money to charity.

Marvin Gaye

The Motown icon was just 44 years old when he was fatally shot by his father in 1984. When he died, the Let’s Get It On singer had accrued $9.2 million (£7.28 million) in debt—$4.5 million of which was owed to the IRS.

He’d already spent a few years in Europe as a tax exile and eventually moved back in with his parents. His struggles with cocaine addiction and two divorces certainly didn’t help the situation.

He also owed back alimony of $300,000 (£237.43 million), but his estate didn’t crumble as royalties from his work have since paid off his debts.

Judy Garland

Judy Garland was just 16 years old when she was cast as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, and she became one of the biggest stars in the industry. However, she was fed pills from an early age and her life took a tragic turn.

The actress ended up penniless and addicted to drugs, singing in clubs for just $100 (£80) a night. She was virtually homeless, owed $4 million (3.16 million) to the IRS and eventually died of an overdose aged just 47.

Apparently, she was unable to have some of her requests honoured in her will as she didn’t have the funds. But her daughter Liza Minelli paid off her mother’s debts, thanks in part to her family friend Frank Sinatra.

Whitney Houston

Six-time Grammy winner Whitney made an estimated $250 million (£197.85 million) thanks to her hits. She even cut a whopping $100 million (£79.14 million) deal with record label Arista in 2001.

But she was reportedly broke when she died in a hotel bathtub in 2012. It’s believed she was around $20 million (£15.83 million) in debt and blew millions on drugs, including cocaine and marijuana.

But Whitney’s estate has made millions in posthumous earnings since her death, just like that of Michael Jackson’s. Her heirs have benefited from a $14 million (£11.08 million) deal with talent agency Primary Wave.

Billie Holiday

Despite being one of the most lauded singers of the 1930s and forties, with hits like Gloomy Sunday and Strange Fruit, Billie Holiday reportedly died with just one dollar in her bank account.

By 1947, after just three years, she had racked up the equivalent of $3.3million (£2.6million) in today’s money. But when she died aged 44 in July 1959, she had $750 in cash – $7,450 in today’s money – strapped to her leg.

Billie’s funeral was attended by thousands – though she had no tombstone for almost a year. She died so poor, with her estranged and abusive husband Louis McKay refusing to pay for her funeral, that fans rallied around to buy her a grave marker.

A wealthy jazz fan named Michael Grace reportedly offered to pay for her grave and wanted to bury Billie beside baseball legend Babe Ruth in an upscale New York cemetery. But her husband refused.

Mickey Rooney

Beloved child star Mickey Rooney was one of the best paid actors in the forties and appeared in over 300 films. He earned millions, but he filed for bankruptcy in 1962 following six divorces and financial mismanagement.

Things got worse when he handed his finances over to his stepson, who used the money to fund his lavish lifestyle. He was accused of stealing $8.5 million (£6.73 million) from the actor.

When Mickey died aged 93 in 2014, he left just $18,000 (£14, 250) to his stepson and died owing medical bills and back taxes. Apparently, there wasn’t enough money to pay for a public funeral for the star.

Sammy Davis Jr

Sammy Davis Jr was famously part of the Rat Pack in the sixties and died of throat cancer at the age of 64 in 1990. The singer died with a $4 million (£3.14 million) estate but he owed $5.2 million (£4.12 million) in taxes, which later rose to $7 million (£5.54 million) with penalties and interest.

His widow Altovise Davis had to auction his property and real estate to cover some of the cost. Famous pals such as Quincy Jones and Ed Asner took part in a fundraising concert in Las Vegas to help raise more money.

Corey Haim

Lost Boys actor and teen star Corey Haim lived a life marred by drug addiction. His money problems began he was sued by Lloyd’s of London for $375,000 (£296,780) for failing to disclose his drug issues on an insurance form.

The star struggled to find acting work and filed for bankruptcy in 1997. He claimed he owed $100,000 (£79, 140) to the IRS and had as little as $100 (£79.14) in cash, $31,000 (£24533.71) in a pension fund, and royalty rights of $7,500 (£5935.57).

Corey died of pneumonia aged 38 in 2010. His family asked fans to help cover the cost of his funeral.

Bobby Driscoll

The body of Bobby Driscoll was found in an abandoned building in the East Village of Manhattan on March 30, 1968. The child star and actor starred in some of Dinsey’s biggest films in the 1940s and fifties, including Song of the South (1946) and Treasure Island (1950).

He also provided the voice of Peter Pain in the 1953 film, but sadly he became addicted to narcotics and was sentenced to prison for drug use. His drug use prevented him from seeing his three children with wife Marilyn Jean Rush and he was buried in an unmarked grave.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk