35 Stars Who Aren’t Worth As Much As You Expected

Ever wondered why Nicolas Cage appeared to spend the last decade appearing in every clichéd VOD action movie known to man? Well, he had a colossal tax bill to pay. The Hollywood eccentric was also forced to sell off most of his assets, too, having previously purchased a private jet, 30 motorbikes, and no fewer than 15 different properties! Cage had also splashed the cash on an octopus, a couple of castles, and even his own Bahamian island!

There’s always drama where Fleetwood Mac is concerned. Drummer Mick Fleetwood reportedly blew a colossal $60 million on drugs during the band’s heyday. Yes, $60 million! Little wonder, then, that the musician was eventually forced to declare himself bankrupt. Thanks to the band’s numerous reunion tours, Fleetwood has since managed to claw his way back up rock’s rich list. But his $20 million net worth is still only a fraction of what it could have been.

Okay, so we don’t exactly have to set up a fundraiser for the original Luke Skywalker. But considering he’s an integral part of a $10 billion franchise, Star Wars icon Mark Hamill’s net worth seems relatively modest. The actor appeared in all three chapters of the original George Lucas trilogy and was also asked to return for the more recent revivals.

The performer we know as 50 Cent could have renamed himself $150 million at the peak of his hip-hop career. That’s how much he was reportedly worth back in the 2000s after numerous hit albums, films, and endorsement deals. But the “In Da Club” hitmaker went bankrupt in 2015 following a sex-tape scandal. Fiddy has since managed to claw his way back up the rich list, but he still lags far behind his rival Kanye West.

Sure, $10 million is not to be sniffed at. But considering just how completely Girl Power conquered the world in the mid-1990s you’d probably expect Melanie B to have a higher net worth. But the loudest Spice Girl has also become the poorest thanks to several ill-advised moves in both her personal and professional life. For example, Mel now has to give Stephen Belafonte, the ex-husband from whom she split in acrimonious circumstances, $15,000 every month for three years! Ouch.

Wesley Snipes earned an incredible $13 million just for starring in Blade: Trinity. So you’d expect the actor to have a much higher net worth than $10 million. Of course, the actor ended up losing most of his fortune and spending time in jail after being found guilty of tax evasion. Snipes argued that he’d been the victim of bad advice, but the judge was having none of it and sentenced him to three years.

Pamela Anderson was perhaps the ultimate pin-up of the 1990s thanks to those slow-motion beach-running sequences in Baywatch. She struggled to sustain her success into the new millennium, though. And by the time a housing renovation project turned disastrous in 2009 Anderson found herself $1 million in the red. The blonde bombshell has since managed to turn things around, but her net worth is nowhere near what you’d expect from a star of her magnitude.

Danny Bonaduce shot to fame in the 1970s as the most cherubic member of The Partridge Family. But as he revealed in his memoir Random Acts of Badness: My Story, the former child star fell on hard times when he entered adulthood. Bonaduce has managed to get his life back on track and now earns a living as a radio DJ.

The dollar sign that Kesha used to have in her name could once have stood for far more than her current $5 million net worth. After all, the singer sold 90,000 copies of her chart-topping album Rainbow in its very first week! Sadly, Kesha was forced to spend much of the fortune she’d worked so hard to build up fighting a highly publicized court case against her producer Dr. Luke.

Natasha Lyonne’s net worth would no doubt have been much higher if she’d managed to swerve the usual damaged child star trope. The actress looked destined for a glittering Hollywood career after appearing in the likes of Slums of Beverly Hills and American Pie. But Lyonne pretty much went AWOL in the 2000s, a period she spent battling drug addiction. Thankfully, she’s since managed to revive her career with roles in Orange is the New Black and Russian Doll.

Burt Reynolds died in 2018 with much less money to his name than you’d expect from someone of his Hollywood stature. The Deliverance star freely admitted three years earlier to Vanity Fair magazine his financial nous had left a lot to be desired. Reynolds said, “I’ve lost more money than is possible, because I just haven’t watched it… There are a couple of actors who are quite brilliant with the way they’ve handled their money. But they’re not very good actors.”

Remember when Chris Tucker was one of Hollywood’s biggest names? The wisecracking comedian could once command paychecks of up to $25 million thanks to his success in the Rush Hour series. But due to various issues including a hefty tax liability, property foreclosure, and lengthy career break, the funnyman’s net worth has waned to just $5 million.

Sinbad has somehow managed to join the bankruptcy club twice. The comedian first declared he was completely broke in 2009 before doing so again four years later. Even worse, the Jingle All the Way star once owed an almighty $8.3 million to the Inland Revenue Service (IRS) and nearly $400,000 to American Express. We can only hope that his book, Sinbad’s Guide to Life, doesn’t include any lessons on handling money…

Poor Amanda Bynes has suffered one of the most public downfalls of any child star from the 2000s. The actress looked all set for a glittering Hollywood career after starring in the likes of What A Girl Wants and She’s the Man. But Bynes was sectioned in 2013 following a mental breakdown she experienced in the full glare of the cameras. She hasn’t been seen on the big screen since.  

Where to start with Mike Tyson’s money problems? The champion boxer raked in more than $300 million during his career in the ring. But over the past 30 years, he’s become more renowned for his run-ins with the law, substance abuse issues, and financial recklessness. The fearsome pugilist even ended up bankrupt in 2003, but has since managed to earn, and hold onto, a $3 million fortune.

“U Can’t Touch This” MC Hammer famously declared in his signature hit. But the IRS had no problem getting its hands on much of the rapper’s earnings in 2013 — nearly $1 million in back taxes, in fact. Before that, the star had also spent money like it was going out of high-trousered fashion. At one point Hammer was reportedly employing 200 people at an annual cost of $6.2 million! 

Lauryn Hill looked to have the world at her feet when she released her multiple-Grammy-winning solo debut in 1998. But she spectacularly failed to live up to her promise over the following decades. In fact, Hill still hasn’t released a proper follow-up. And an array of personal and financial problems, including a three-month jail term over unpaid taxes, has seen her net worth dwindle to just $2 million.

Allan Iverson achieved legendary status in the NBA during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers and was handsomely rewarded for doing so, too. Unfortunately, the former shooting guard’s penchant for ostentatious houses, luxury cars, and extravagant — some would say ugly — jewelry meant that he ended up spending his $200 million fortune in near-record time. At least Iverson can seek solace in the fact that at age 55 he’ll be the beneficiary of a Reebok trust worth $30 million!

It’s fair to say that Randy Quaid has become more synonymous with wacky conspiracy theories than Hollywood movies in recent years. The Independence Day star has regularly made headlines for his utterly bizarre behavior, which includes leaving $10,000 hotel tabs unpaid and spouting nonsense about film-star-killer cults. It’s actually surprising that Quaid still has $1 million to his now-infamous name.

Kelly Rutherford earned a multi-million-dollar fortune thanks to her stints in soap operas such as Melrose Place. Unfortunately, she ended up losing the majority of it in a bitter custody fight. The actress is said to have spent a seven-figure sum and seven years trying to win back her two kids Helena and Hermes. And as a result, Rutherford was forced to declare bankruptcy in 2013.

TLC became one of the most successful girl groups of all time in the 1990s with albums CrazySexyCool and FanMail. Yet thanks to a terrible record deal they signed early on, all three members ended up penniless. To add insult to injury, T-Boz also had to declare herself bankrupt for a second time in 2001 due to various serious medical issues. Both her health and bank balance have since recovered, but the latter should be far more than $1 million.

Lindsay Lohan became the mid-2000s’ ultimate teen queen thanks to roles in Freaky Friday and Mean Girls. But the redhead’s tendency to play as hard as she worked ended up costing her big time. Lohan’s partying lifestyle not only resulted in the roles drying up, but it also saw her multi-million dollar fortune dwindle down to just $800,000.

Stephen Baldwin’s $500,000 net worth may be dwarfed by that of his much-more-successful brother Alec. But the disparity in bank balances was once even bigger. In the late 2000s Stephen found himself saddled with debts of over $2 million and in trouble with the law over unpaid taxes of $350,000. The Usual Suspects star has since managed to get himself back in the black thanks to various VOD movies.

It’s easy to forget that Gary Busey was once a respected actor who even bagged an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Buddy Holly. But in recent years the star has become more renowned for his issues with substance abuse and rather erratic appearances on reality TV. In 2012 Busey was forced to file for bankruptcy, which explains why after a career spanning more than half a century, his net worth stands at just $500,000.

Janice Dickinson doesn’t have as much money to put where her big mouth is as you’d imagine. The former America’s Next Top Model judge went bankrupt in 2013 after running up an array of significant debts. Dickinson, who famously declared herself as the world’s first-ever supermodel, has since managed to earn approximately half a million dollars.

Evander Holyfield picked up the World Heavyweight Champion title on four occasions and even an Olympic medal during his glittering 20-year career in the ring. But the boxer’s financial acumen wasn’t quite as impressive as his physical prowess. Holyfield spent nearly every cent of the $230 million prize money he earned, with the majority going to the IRS and mortgage providers. The sportsman ended up having to sell most of his prized assets to avoid going completely broke.

The NBA’s most flamboyant star Dennis Rodman reportedly earned over $27 million during his time on the basketball court. But his outlandish lifestyle — those trips to meet unlikely friend Kim Jong Un won’t have come cheap for one thing — saw the former Chicago Bull nearly lose it all. In 2012 Rodman argued that he didn’t have the funds to shell out for the $800,000 child support payment he owed.

You could argue that Courtney Stodden should be more than happy with having $500,000 in the bank. After all, she doesn’t appear to have a discernible talent. The reality TV star was only launched to fame thanks to her tabloid-baiting marriage to Doug Hutchison, an actor 35 years her senior. Stodden has since tried, and largely failed, to carve out her own career in provocative style.

Jax Taylor always made sure he was the center of attention on reality show Vanderpump Rules, resulting in a spin-off with partner Brittany Cartwright. But his hedonistic lifestyle and inability to stop straying has put both their relationship and bank balance in jeopardy. In saying that, $500,000 is still the kind of figure that would make most other bar workers jealous.

The fact that Aaron Carter opened an OnlyFans account in 2020 suggested that money was tight for the former child star. The singer admitted to website Huffington Post four years earlier that he’d been careless with the millions of dollars he’d raked in as a singer and actor. Back-tax payments and splashing the cash on flashy properties had seen Carter’s fortune shrink to just $400,000.

Back in the mid-1990s you couldn’t turn on your radio without hearing Coolio’s smash hit “Gangsta’s Paradise” blaring out. That Stevie Wonder-sampling track was no doubt responsible for much of the $4 million the rapper earned during this period. But the fact that Coolio hasn’t come anywhere close to its success again explains why he’s now performing at low-key venues for less than $8,000.

Love-‘em-or-hate-‘em reality TV couple Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt were once raking in $2 million per annum. But after splashing the cash on partying and clothes to go partying in, the pair soon found themselves almost back to square one. In 2016 Montag admitted to People magazine that they had “nothing to show for what we’d done.”

Although best-known for her stint in the Meet the Parents franchise, Teri Polo has more than 100 different film and TV credits to her name. That still didn’t stop her falling foul of the bankruptcy courts, though. The actress also had to deal with a lawsuit filed by her landlord over failed rent payments at the same time. Despite her best efforts, Polo is still nearly a million dollars in the red.

The late rapper DMX shifted 30 million albums during his turbulent career. But with no fewer than 15 kids to support financially, the cash he earned from such impressive sales soon disappeared. DMX, who passed away in 2021, also found himself in trouble with the law over tax evasion and had to file for bankruptcy, too.

Yes, you read that right — minus $11 million. Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice and husband Joe were forced to declare they were bankrupt at the turn of the 2010s. The pair were also indicted on nearly 40 different counts including bank, wire, and mail fraud. Teresa has recently somehow still found the cash to treat herself to a Lexus worth $90,000 though. Usually, being on reality TV can get you super-rich — we mean, wealthy beyond your wildest dreams. Take these stars, for instance, who make more for a few hours of contriving drama than most of us do working for an entire year!

As the daughter of a WWE legend, Brooke Hogan was never going to be short of cash. But she’s also built her own fortune thanks to appearances in her dad Hulk’s reality show Hogan Knows Best. The socialite went on to front her own spin-off, resume her recording career and follow in her dad’s wrestling footsteps by joining up with TNA.

You might not know that Bloodline star Jacinda Barrett actually got her start on reality TV. Yes, the actress first caught the public’s attention on the London spin-off of ground-breaking show The Real World. But she soon distanced herself from her MTV past with roles in the likes of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Millennium and Suits. Barrett’s also married to one of the latter’s main stars, Gabriel Macht.

Nicole Polizzi was such a popular figure on MTV’s Jersey Shore that she could command a whopping $150,000 for each show. The reality star, who’s best known as Snooki, was quickly able to amass a multi-million dollar fortune. And she’s not been afraid to spend it, either. In 2015 Polizzi and husband Jionni LaValle bought a New Jersey property worth more than $2.5 million.

Whitney Port quickly became a fan favorite during her appearance on MTV’s flagship reality show in the mid-’00s, The Hills. And the reality star didn’t waste any time parlaying her popularity into other areas. She penned articles at Teen Vogue, launched her own Whitney Eve fashion range and collaborated with couture queen Diane von Furstenberg. Then in 2019 Port went back to where it all started with a slot on The Hills: New Beginnings.

Jamie Chung has forged a successful Hollywood career with parts in Sucker Punch, Grown Ups and Sorority Row. But her earliest taste of fame came in the world of reality TV. In 2004 she was cast in the San Diego version of MTV favorite The Real World. Chung was also victorious in the spin-off mash-up with Road Rules Challenge.

During The Hills’ debut years, Audrina Patridge was allegedly being paid $100,000 for every new installment she appeared in. The reality star further boosted her bank balance with spin-off Audrina and a spell on Dancing with the Stars, as well as the launch of her accessory and swimwear ranges. She was also allowed to retain and then sell her $1.8 million Orange County home in her divorce settlement with star cyclist Corey Bohan.

Emily Maynard shot to fame in 2011 as the chosen one in the 15th season of ABC’s long-running dating show The Bachelor. Sadly, though, her relationship with Brad Womack didn’t last and within a year she was back on reality TV. But on this occasion, Maynard was the one doing the selecting. Her double duty has helped her become one of the franchise’s most popular and most financially successful contestants.

Kendra Wilkinson has managed to maintain a healthy bank balance since leaving one of the world’s most famous mansions. The former Playboy bunny has reportedly accrued $6 million thanks to several reality show stints. These include Dancing with the Stars and Marriage Boot Camp as well as her own vehicles, the imaginatively named Kendra and Kendra on Top.

Falling pregnant at a young age turned out to be lucrative for Farrah Abraham. The Teen Mom celebrity has reportedly earned up to $6 million since her stint on the controversial MTV show. And some of that total has been earned through the adult videos she can make more than $10,000 from at a time.

One of reality TV’s most controversial families, the Duggars found fame on the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting. The $7 million that father Jim Bob and mom Michelle have made since has no doubt helped with all the childcare costs. Fox News reports that the couple can command up to $20,000 just to talk about their experiences as parents and grandparents.

Nicole Richie emerged from her singer father Lionel’s shadow in the ’00s with her reality show The Simple Life. She mightn’t be in the same financial bracket as her former co-star Paris Hilton. But the $10 million Richie’s reportedly earned through her modeling and acting career isn’t to be sniffed at. And if you throw in the $20 million that rock star husband Joel Madden has made, then their wealth as a couple’s even more impressive.

You couldn’t blame Christina Anstead for feeling a little smug whenever she looks at her bank balance. The HGTV star’s reportedly worth $12 million, having earned roughly $50,000 for each show of her series Christina on the Coast. That overall figure’s higher than that of both her ex-husbands, Ant Anstead and Tarek El Moussa.

None of The Real Housewives of New Jersey are exactly short of a cent or two. But with a fortune of $12 million, Caroline Manzo has more than most. The reality star accrued this impressive figure through her work on the successful Bravo show and her property company, Opus Properties. Manzo’s also been an integral part of her partner Albert’s catering firm.

Golnesa Gharachedaghi may have a super-rich architect dad with a fortune in the region of $25 million. But the Shahs of Sunset star hasn’t opted to live off the family’s wealth. She’s launched several businesses of her own including CBD firm WüSah and a hair-extension brand. And with a net worth of $12 million, Gharachedaghi’s now one of the reality show’s wealthiest stars.

Reality TV veteran Nene Leakes appears to be quite the shrewd negotiator. The Real Housewives of Atlanta celebrity managed to get a new deal for the Bravo show’s sixth season that saw her pocket $1 million. Throw in the money she’s made from her acting career and Home Shopping Network products, and Leakes has a net worth to make most of her fellow housewives green with envy.

While Madison wasn’t a Playmate, she’s one of the most famous women to find fame in the Playboy mansion. As you may remember, she first gained attention on behind-the-scenes show The Girls Next Door thanks to her relationship with mogul Hugh Hefner. And Madison proved that she had some business sense of her own in 2017, when she offloaded her LA home for $1.1 million more than she’d paid for it just two years earlier.

Chip and Joanna Gaines are reportedly one of the best-paid couples in the crazy world of reality TV. The house-renovating duo apparently earn $30,000 for every Fixer Upper show they make. And with no fewer than five seasons of the HGTV hit under their belts, plus several tie-in books, it’s little wonder they’re approaching the $20 million net worth mark.

The Real Housewives of New York star Ramona Singer apparently bags half a million dollars for each series of her hit Bravo show. She’s earned much of her fortune through her various business endeavors, including True Faith Jewelry and RMS Fashions. In 2021 Singer “accidentally” uploaded a screenshot of a bank account to Instagram, which revealed that she makes money from Cameo and Amazon as well.

Most of Dorinda Medley’s $20 million fortune was earned prior to her joining The Real Housewives of New York. The reality star once counted Joan Collins and Princess Diana as clients of her clothing firm, and she also enjoyed success in the world of real estate. Medley was no doubt also given some sound financial guidance by Richard Medley, her late second husband, who was an investment specialist.

There appears to be some confusion over how much Shannon Beador earns from The Real Housewives of Orange County. The website Radar Online has reported that divorce filings stated that the star earned $400,000 for every series. But David Beador, her former husband, has since alleged that it’s actually double this figure. Whatever the precise amount, Beador’s certainly one of the franchise’s highest-paid cast members.

Whoever would’ve expected Pauly D to be the most successful graduate from Jersey Shore? The former reality TV star’s reportedly earned an impressive $20 million after forging a second career as a DJ. Mr. D can command up to $40,000 for a single set on the decks, while he’s also added to his fortune with the launch of his own tanning and fashion brands.

After stealing the show in Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, Kristin Cavallari was given her own reality series. The money she earned from her fashion pursuits has also helped her to amass a reported fortune of $33 million. Of course, that figure could change significantly once the details of her split from footballer husband Jay Cutler are finalized.

If you’ve ever wondered who’s the richest star of Basketball Wives, wonder no more. Once married to The Shaq, Shaunie O’Neal has a colossal $35 million to her name. That’s little surprise considering that she not only appears in the hit reality show but also serves as its producer.

As any viewers of Keeping Up with the Kardashians will already know, Scott Disick has never been short of confidence. And he’s never been short of cash, either. Kourtney’s sometime partner, and the dad of her three kids, was born into a wealthy property dynasty. Disick has also made his own money as a model, TV personality and entrepreneur.

Lauren Conrad mightn’t be as visible in the reality TV world as her former The Hills co-stars these days. But she still boasts the biggest fortune by some distance. Conrad’s earned this impressive figure through various ventures, such as the L.A. Candy young adult novels and an eponymous clothing brand.

And so we finally meet one of the Kardashians. Well, a Jenner to be precise. The youngest daughter of Kris and Caitlyn reportedly has $45 million to her famous name. Kendall Jenner’s been courted by the likes of Calvin Klein and Adidas over the years. And she famously earned a quarter of a million dollars for a single Instagram post endorsing the doomed Fyre Festival.

So Kris Jenner’s oldest daughter reportedly has the same net worth as her youngest. Yes, Kourtney Kardashian can match Kendall Jenner’s $45 million fortune, having been a mainstay of her family’s phenomenally successful reality show. The on/off partner of Scott Disick has also boosted her coffers with the launch of her Poosh website.

Who knew that duck hunting could prove to be so lucrative? Duck Commander’s CEO Willie Robertson is reported to have a staggering net worth of $45 million. That’s the same as Kendall Jenner! Of course, Robertson’s bank balance has been largely boosted by his family’s A&E reality show, Duck Dynasty.

Khloé Kardashian’s reportedly earned slightly more than her big sis Kourtney and younger half-sibling Kendall over the years. Her denim range Good American has no doubt helped generate some of the extra $5 million. And Kardashian’s executive producer roles on Twisted Sisters and Revenge Body will have paid pretty well, too.

Andrew Firestone may have been unlucky in love when he was cast on the third season of The Bachelor. But the reality TV star sure has been far luckier when it comes to cold hard cash. Firestone’s great-grandfather founded the eponymous tire company, which raked in nearly $33 billion during 2018 alone. And the one-time ABC suitor has $50 million to call his own thanks to his executive role at a lucrative hospitality company.

Surely the only reality TV star with both a Peabody and Emmy Award to her name, Carole Radziwill began her career as a reputable journalist. But it was causing drama on The Real Housewives of New York that turned her into a household name. Radziwill, who was famously wed to John F. Kennedy Jr’s late cousin Anthony, reportedly earned half a million dollars for each series of the hit Bravo show.

Bethenny Frankel got her first taste of reality TV as a finalist on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. Since then, the entrepreneur’s become a staple of the genre. She joined The Real Housewives of New York City and later landed her own series, Bethenny Getting Married?. Much of Frankel’s $70 million fortune, though, was accrued from selling her drinks brand, Skinnygirl.

Possibly the biggest breakout name from the Real Housewives franchise, Lisa Vanderpump also has a net worth that dwarfs most of her reality TV co-stars’. The entrepreneur made most of her fortune through the hospitality empire she’s built with husband Ken Todd. And they’re not afraid to spend the cash, either. In 2011 the couple splashed out on an exclusive Beverly Hills villa worth a staggering $11.2 million!

But the title of richest Real Housewife still belongs to one of the New York spin-off’s ever-presents. Kyle Richards has crossed the $100 million barrier thanks in part to the $270,000 she receives for each series of the hit Bravo franchise. Like many reality TV stars, the actress also has her own fashion range. Her marriage to wealthy property developer Mauricio Umansky has also helped boost her combined bank balance.

Thanks to her Olympic past, Caitlyn Jenner was already raking it in years ahead of her stint on Keeping Up with the Kardashians. But the star’s net worth has skyrocketed in recent years, after she wrote an autobiography and landed her own reality TV series. As a result, Jenner’s reportedly the fourth-richest member of her famous family.

Without Kris Jenner, it’s unlikely we’d even know who the Kardashians are. She was the person responsible for getting her famous family their own reality show, after all. And Jenner’s been handsomely rewarded for her efforts, too. Forbes magazine reports that the momager takes ten percent of her kids’ earnings. Little wonder, then, that Jenner’s fortune is fast approaching the $200 million mark.

Working together’s certainly paid dividends for Drew and Jonathan Scott. Best known as the Property Brothers, the identical twins have amassed a combined net worth of $200 million since rising to fame on HGTV. But the Canadians have also paid things forward, working with charities such as St. Jude’s and campaigns including Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative.

Paris Hilton might have been eclipsed by her one-time assistant, Kim Kardashian. But she can take consolation from the fact she’s still one of the richest reality TV figures of all time. The Simple Life star boasts a fortune of $300 million thanks to her various business ventures, modeling career and DJ performances. Hilton isn’t averse to showing off her wealth, either. Her costly car collection includes a pink Bentley with a dashboard containing diamonds worth $200,000!

To say that there’s been confusion over Kylie Jenner’s net worth would be something of an understatement. In 2019 she was hailed as the youngest self-made billionaire on the planet by Forbes. But the magazine retracted that claim just two months later, reporting that Jenner had inflated the value of her Kylie Cosmetics firm. The entrepreneur’s now rumored to have a not exactly shabby $700 million in the bank.

No prizes for guessing that Kim Kardashian’s the wealthiest reality star ever to grace our screens. The influencer’s put her name to everything from cosmetics to emojis since finding fame on her family’s hit show. Of course, she may well lose her richest title to her younger half-sister in the near future. In early 2021 Kardashian announced she was divorcing Kanye West, a move that could see her forced to split some of her assets with the controversial rapper.