Millionaire athletes who lost all their money

Dennis Rodman, or the Worm, was an essential player for the Chicago Bulls. He was special both on and off the track. His charisma led him to make more money with sponsors than he did on contract, yet he ended up owing more than $800,000. He had to work as a reality character and even with Kim Jong Un in North Korea to get by.

A living legend of tennis, Boris Becker won three Wimbledons and became number one in the world. Despite amassing a fortune of $126 million, he filed for bankruptcy in 2017.

The best football player in Irish history, and a legend of Manchester United, George Best had it all: fame, quality and money. But he lacked the mindset to manage the combination. History recorded several phrases by Best, like this one: "I spent a lot of money on cars, women and alcohol. The rest I wasted." Before he passed away in November 2005, he left another phrase for his fans: "Don't die like me."

Ronaldinho was the footballer with the highest income in 2006: about 24 million euros. Between his business and his career, the Brazilian's wealth reached some 100 million dollars. Yet, Ronaldinho confessed one day that he had only 45 dollars in his account. Later, he ended up in a Paraguayan prison for trying to enter the country with a false passport.

One of the greatest sportsmen of all time accumulated a fortune of 400 million dollars. How does one spend so much money in one lifetime? With a divorce, super luxury properties, jewelry, clothes, lawyers and, above all, several Bengal tigers.

Perhaps the most talented English footballer in contemporary history, 'Gazza' never hid where he spent his money: cars, women and alcohol. Even though he lost his fortune, at least he is not addicted anymore.

He was the first athlete as a global media personality besides being one of the greatest players in the NFL. On the day he was arrested for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her partner Ron Goldman, OJ's estimated net worth was $11 million.
He was acquitted of the murder charges but convicted in a civil suit that forced him to pay $33.5 million to the Goldmans. He was in jail until December 2021 for other, unrelated crimes, and he's been broke for years.

She was the queen of speed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics where she won three gold and two bronze medals. Her smile and her looks were sought after by firms all over the world, but everything changed when she tested positive in a doping test. She spent her entire fortune paying fines and lawyers, even having to sell her belongings, including her mother's house.

This Formula One champion had to be foreclosed on for debts in excess of $7.5 million. Among the objects the Brazilian treasury took from him was the car with which he'd won the 1983 championship.

He made no less than $250 million in his entire career. The legendary boxer squandered everything on luxury cars, private parties and the support of his 11 children. He also built a house with 109 rooms, 17 bathrooms, a cinema and an Olympic swimming pool. Eventually, he had to return to the ring - and participate in shows like 'Celebrity Big Brother' - to recover financially.

The squire of Michael Jordan (left) at the legendary Chicago Bulls, Scottie Pippen (center) lost more than $120 million in failed businesses. Planes, restaurants and a failed luxury resort led him to bankruptcy. He ended up playing basketball in Finland to get back on his feet at the age of 42.

(Left on the image: Dennis Rodman)

The Italian striker Christian Vieri was always famous for his love of wild nightlife. He spent as much as $16 million on parties, failed investments, alcohol, and poker. In 2014, a company he had run with his mother went bankrupt. They lost over 16 million dollars.

Known as Calamity James, the English goalkeeper served the clubs of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal to earn over £30 million ($40 million). In 2014, two years before he retired, James had to file for bankruptcy. His divorce from his former partner, which began in 2005, had cost him much of that fortune.

The number 6 of the 1996 draft round, Antoine Walker was a confirmed basketball star from his first year. He continued to succeed and gained 108 million dollars over 12 seasons. Two years after retiring, however, Walker had to declare bankruptcy. His wealth had gone into cars, jewelry, family support and bad investments.

Maradona was known as the genius of football but also a man with flaws. The hero of the 1986 World Cup for Argentina, he was always very fond of excesses, partying and nightlife. On an economic level, the Italian tax office gave him the biggest blow, claiming 61 million dollars from back taxes. Maradona had to declare bankruptcy in 2009.

He scored the goal against Argentina that gave Germany the 1990 World Cup in Italy, making him a national hero. However, in 2014, the German newspaper Deutsche Welle reported that Brehme had his house mortgaged for 300,000 euros ($340,000) in addition to a loan of 150,000 euros ($170,000). To pay all of this back, he asked his former partner Oliver Straube for a job as a cleaner of drains, septic tanks and toilets.

A remarkable case in the NBA. Allen Iverson, MVP of 2001 and one of the best scorers in history, gained $154 million plus sponsor deals. However, his list of expenses was as extravagant as it was extensive: custom-made suits he only wore once, $800,000 in a Philadelphia jewelry store, and $4.5 million for a home foreclosure. He retired in 2010 and by 2012 he was already in financial trouble.

This Brazilian player could rival Pele in quality and talent, but instead, he outperformed O'Rei in terms of vices and addictions. Garrincha squandered his fortune on gambling and alcohol. Known as 'La Alegría del Pueblo' (The Joy of the People), he had as many as 14 children. He died in 1983, at the age of 49, completely broke and with a diagnosed depression.

The Emperor had it all to be one of the greatest soccer players in history. But when his career was at its peak, Adriano Leite's father died. It was 2004, Adriano was 22 years old and living far from his home country Brazil. A severe depression led him to alcohol and drugs, and although he continued to play, he never returned to his former level. After the money ran out, he moved to Vila Cruzeiro, the most dangerous favela in Brazil.

Jack Johnson filed for bankruptcy... at the age of 23! The worst part is that it was his parents, through power of attorney, who'd spent the 18 million he had made. They signed several loans on the hockey player's future earnings to buy cars, houses and vacations. Born in 1987, the player is still active, but he's had to face several lawsuits. And yet, he hasn't sued his parents.

Bjorn Borg retired in 1983, at the age of 27, with 62 titles and the desire to build a business off of his success. The gamble didn't work out for him. His brand Bjorn Borg Design, dedicated to sports products, went bankrupt in 1989. Eight years later, the Swedish government came near to declaring the tennis player bankrupt on a $40,000 debt.

Kenny Anderson retired in 2005 and filed for bankruptcy that same year. The basketball player admitted that he had not saved any of the 71 million dollar he had earned. One of his expenses was a large amount of monthly child support.

A legend of Real Madrid in the 90s, he made the equivalent of 2.5 million euros ($2.8 million) at the end of the century. Having played for 15 seasons, the Chilean forward did not know how to manage his wealth. In 2014, Zamorano declared himself bankrupt. He owed more than 3 million euros ($3.4 million) in loans and was forced to sell 14 of his homes.

The late Leon Spinks was the man who beat Muhammad Ali and enjoyed his peak as a boxer in 1978. At that time, he had an estimated $4.5 million in profits. Yet, two decades later, Leon Spinks had spent all of his wealth and was homeless. He lost his fortune on drugs and many confrontations with the law. In the end, he made his living as a janitor.

One of the best players in the WNBA, Swoopes accumulated around 50 million dollars. She was a recognizable face and a benchmark for the competition. Yet, she lost all her money. It was bad investments, most by her manager, that she claimed had led to her bankruptcy in 2004.

This New Jersey Nets player amassed a fortune of $50 million that he invested in nine Whataburger stores in Jacksonville. It seemed like a sensible business investment, but unfortunately he did it at the beginning of the 2008 real estate crisis. Five of the nine stores went bankrupt, leaving the player with a balance of $5 million in his account and a debt of $25 million. He filed for bankruptcy in 2010.

Vick was jailed in 2007 for having dog fights in his yard. The Falcons quarterback lost about $140 million and had to file for bankruptcy. After getting out of jail, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009, but his contract was far from the best.

He spent 15 seasons in the NFL where he accumulated $80 million in earnings. But ruinous investments, child support and bad company cost him his fortune. He went bankrupt in 2012.

A Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens in 2014, Ray Rice saw his life change for the worse in that same year. TMZ leaked a video that showed the player attacking his fiancée. His team pulled him off the field while the NFL suspended him indefinitely. Although the charges were dropped, Ray Rice decided not to play in the NFL again.