Picture this, another celebrity in money trouble
Filed under: Debt, Extracurriculars, Wealth
Maybe taking pictures of celebrities and hanging out at celebrity venues doesn't make you one of the rich and famous after all. Annie Leibovitz, the famed photographer, is in serious debt, at least according to the New York Post. The paper reports that she owes $715,000 for things like equipment rentals, renovations, unpaid taxes and an aborted book project. She racked up these debts despite a reported $2 million annual deal with Vanity Fair, where she takes fabulous and controversial pictures. As we are learning almost daily from celebrity foreclosure and bankruptcy stories, Leibowitz is hardly unique among the glitterati for getting into money trouble. The latest news from the Ed McMahon front, by the way, is that the deal to save his house is off.
Celebrity Foreclosures
Damon Dash
Foreclosure proceedings have begun against hip-hop mogul Damon Dash over unpaid mortgages on two Manhattan apartments. Eastern Savings Bank says the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder and his wife owe more than $7 million on the properties.
Gary Gershoff, Wire Image
Former "Tonight Show" personality Ed McMahon makes "a confidential deal" to sell his Beverly Hills home after falling behind on payments. But one thing is clear. It's not Donald Trump who recently offered to buy the home.
Matt Sayles, AP
'Extreme Makeover' House
The Harper family home in Georgia, which was rebuilt on an episode of ABC's "Extreme Makeover" in 2005, went into foreclosure this summer after the family used the house as collateral for a $450,000 loan and couldn't meet the payments.
Michael Buckner, Getty Images
Scott Storch
Hip-hop producer Scott Storch went into foreclosure in July on his $10 million Miami mansion, according to The Palm Beach Post. He also had his Ferrari Scaglietti and his prized motorcycle, a Bones Bike, repossessed.
Wilfredo Lee, AP
Vin Baker
Former NBA player Vin Baker has also been stung by the wave of foreclosures sweeping the U.S. Baker's 9,300-square-foot Georgian brick colonial Durham home, which has six bedrooms, a two-lane bowling alley, basketball court, guest house and pool was auctioned for $2.5 million.
Charles Krupa, AP
Ernestine Anderson
The jazz vocalist sings the National Anthem at a Seattle Seahawks game. But Jackson may not be singing now as she faces a foreclosure on her Seattle home. Public records show that she is more than $30,000 in arrears in payments and penalties.
Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images
Adam 'Pacman' Jones
The home of Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones will was recently put up for auction, attracting a $1.1 million offer --significantly less than the $1.4 million he owned on his home. Jones is one of the latest sports stars to run into issues with money management.
Ray Tamarra, Getty Images
The Mount, author Edith Wharton's estate in Lenox, Mass., needs to raise $6 million by the end of October to avoid foreclosure. Since February, $900,000 has been donated, but fundraisers need another $2.1 million in order to secure a pledged matching donation.
AP (2)
The trust overseeing Mark Twain's House and Museum in Hartford, Conn., still owes $4.9 million on a bank loan and is trying to meet its $2.9 million annual budget. The Twain House's executive director says an ambitious $19 million visitor center which opened in 2003 set the site's finances back.
AP (2)
Reflecting cuts in Vermont's state budget, the historic birthplace of President Chester A. Arthur in Fairfield, Vt., has cut back summer visiting hours from five days weekly to just two. A number of other government-maintained historic sites have reduced visiting hours, while others have been turned over to private groups.
AP (2)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-04-2008 @ 3:50PM
bree said...
I agree that hiring a money manager is a good idea, but it doesn't take a genius to know you don't spend more than you make and whatever you make, you put some in a savings account. Even at a pitiful 2% interest, you'd still be doing better than most of us.
I have no sympathy for these celebs that get into this situation.They get dazed by the attention and forget to be responsible.
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9-04-2008 @ 4:27PM
Trudy said...
I am with you sister...no sympathy here either!
9-04-2008 @ 4:28PM
Ted Johnson said...
Why not let Preident Bush handle it ? He sure has done a "Great job" taking over a Balanced Budjet from Bill Clinton and made it "Some Thing Else" !
Thats what republicans are good for, like Ike, Man it took years to get out that one !
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9-04-2008 @ 4:39PM
Rita McCarthy said...
No one should feel sorrow for these idiots. They've had a life time of rollin' in the doe so let them go belly up. They deserve nothing. Ed McMahan needs his 85 year old head examined.
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9-04-2008 @ 5:59PM
Justin said...
ED, just wait for the publisher's clearinghouse envelope in your mail, buy a dozen or so magazine subscription's & you could be the next 10 million dollar winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9-04-2008 @ 4:52PM
hownam said...
Bet Miley Cyrus is laughing about that one~
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9-05-2008 @ 7:54AM
hg2dean said...
Please don't suggest Miley and her perverted father were victims of an evil photographer. They've both been in the biz long enough... Miley can't stay a mouseketeer forever, i.e. IT WAS THEIR REQUEST.
9-04-2008 @ 4:53PM
susan said...
I could only dream of being able to make the kind of money theses people make. And for anyone in there position to owe anything to anyone is just crazy and not to mention irresponsable on there behalf. There is this thing called the internet where you can learn how to manage your own finances without having to put your money in anyone elses hands.
I cant feel sorry for anyone who pisses away there money.
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9-04-2008 @ 5:14PM
bob said...
Any large bank has investment programs---ie managers- for people that have a lot of money but do not know how to manage it. They are throughly vetted and will place all earned funds into safe respectable accounts, stocks, bonds, with a good even blend. It will not make you wealthy, but it will protect your money when you are on the way down. Of course this is not "glamorous" enough for most of these people. And their crazey assed "friends" hit them up for a fortune for hare-brained investment scams and promotions.
The problem is that most of the "stars' or children with excessive inheritances with no experince in handling money insist on not following wise conservative money managers
investment and saving programs. They think the money will last forever, they can have anything they want, and more often than not...someone will be willing to pick up the tab just to hang around them.
I lived in Hollywood for years in the music business and have seen this up close and personal from many friends/acquaintances. They never listened to anything but their own egos.
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9-04-2008 @ 5:17PM
Beth said...
Ed McMahon deserves to lose his home. Let him suffer a penniless old age like all the people did who bought in to that Publisher's Clearinghouse scam that he endorsed (and made money off of) for years. He absolutely disgusts me. Same with Dick Clark, his partner in scamming money out of the elderly via Publisher's Clearinghouse.
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9-04-2008 @ 5:20PM
audreyvhoffman said...
Great photography doesn't equal solid financial skills---money woes are hitting all rungs of the ladder these days.
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9-04-2008 @ 6:03PM
Lisa said...
Annie will be just fine. $715k is a drop in the bucket to people who have a means of making money. She is working for herself and debt is sometime unavoidable. I am a middle class person and have a business and am in debt almost $500k. I have no problems paying my bills and have excellent credit. I am sure the same is true for Annie.
As far as Ed and his house, I can't say that I blame him. Why pay a mortgage on a place that he has had for sale forever and can't sell because the market has dropped. Walk away and cut your losses. It seems to be the American way these days.
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9-04-2008 @ 11:35PM
The Furry Godmother said...
You aren't middle class if youhave the luxury of being 500 k in debt. You are delusional.
9-04-2008 @ 6:25PM
Sarah said...
Why don't they pay their taxes every month like me? Why wait until it's a huge amount and not pay it? All wealthy people (not me) should always flat out pay for a residence (and a modest one). It just goes to show you shouldn't pay anyone these outrageous amounts; if they knew how to handle it, they wouldn't get in trouble, and how do you learn how to handle it but to appreciate it, and how do you appreciate it but not being given insane amounts too quickly. Money gone to waste.
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9-04-2008 @ 7:22PM
Melia said...
I don't feel sorry for them at all.....I can't even get sympathy when I call the car finance company for an extra week!!!!!
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9-04-2008 @ 7:30PM
Whlchrwor said...
I just have one question Ed. Why in the world did you pay for your daughters nasty divorce? Isn't she an adult. Come on
know, what were you thinking? I don't feel sorry for you either.
I wouldn't pay for any of my childrens divorces, houses, cars
or anything else, even if I could afford to. She made the
decision to marry that guy not you.
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9-04-2008 @ 7:34PM
Audrey, CA said...
I THINK DONALD TRUMP IS STUPID TO AID AND ABET
ED MCMAHON. I LOST ALL RESPECT FOR HIM WHEN HE DITCHED HIS WIFE AND KIDS AS SOON AS HE BECAME FAMOUS ON CARSON'S SHOW, AND STARTED MESSING W/ THE BROADS, AND DIVORCED. ASIDE FROM THIS, I THINK THAT CELEBRITIES SHOULD BE PUT IN JAIL IF THEY RENEGE ON THEIR TAXES. I PERSONALLY KNOW A YOUNG LADY SINGER/SONG WRITER WHO OWES THE IRS OVER $29,000. SHE WEARS AN OUTFIT ONCE AND THROWS IT IN A BOX AND GIVES IT TO A FRIEND. SHE DRIVES A NEW SUV AND STAYS AT THE VERY BEST HOTELS, WHAT IS THIS CRAP?
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9-04-2008 @ 7:44PM
Tom said...
I don't understand why or how these so-called celebrities can get so far behind in their taxes. I've asked this question before. Why isn't there some kind of witholding taken by the IRS. They never miss a month, neither federal nor state, without taking a bite out of my check, before I ever see the money. If I should make a big win at the local casino, the IRS will get their share before I get out the door. Tom
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9-04-2008 @ 8:06PM
bm35mm said...
Even if she paid off her debt in full with next years annual deal with Vanity Fair she would have way over $1,000,000.00 to live on.This doesn't even include all the side jobs she does.You need to down size for a couple years girl and get your finances in order.I hate reading about this stuff.Most of us working stiffs would almost sell our souls for the kind of money she makes.Lets just hope she doesn't file bankrupcy and stiff all the camera shops she owes money to.In her defense ,she is a awesome photographer,who really brings out the human side of all her subjects.
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9-04-2008 @ 8:25PM
Marilee said...
Annie Lebowitz is a huge showoff, she goes for the extreme in her pictures for VF.....must live that way also. I think poorly of her for the trend she started with one VF cover after another pushing the edge....nudity among other stuff. Could care less that she owes more than some people make in a lifetime. Shame on her and Ed McMahon....dumb!
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