Athletes in the World Who Lost Fortunes! Crazy
The sports world is full of glories, fame and money. Many athletes manage to accumulate millionaire fortunes with their talents, sponsorships and contracts. However, not everyone knows how to manage their resources well and end up losing everything or almost everything. In this text, we are going to know 15 cases of athletes who lost fortunes in an impressive way. Some of them managed to recover, some did not.
1.Mike Tyson: The former boxer was one of the biggest names in the sport, winning multiple world titles and knocking out his opponents. He came to earn more than 400 million dollars in his career, but he spent it all on mansions, cars, jewelry, parties, drugs and women. He also had problems with the law, being convicted of rape and assault. In 2003, he declared bankruptcy, owing more than $20 million. Today, he lives more modestly and tries to rebuild his image.
2.Diego Maradona: The Argentine is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, having been world champion in 1986 and an idol for Napoli and Boca Juniors. He also made a lot of money from his career but wasted it on drugs, alcohol and gambling. He had several health problems and faced a long legal battle with the Italian tax authorities, who charged him more than 40 million euros in back taxes. He died in 2020, aged 60, leaving an uncertain and disputed inheritance for his children.
3.Antoine Walker: The former basketball player was a three-time NBA champion for the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, in addition to being called up to the All-Star Game four times. He earned over 100 million dollars in his career, but he spent it on luxury cars, jewelry, clothes and gambling. He even lost over a million dollars in one night in Las Vegas. In 2010, he declared bankruptcy, owing more than $12 million. Today, he works as a sports commentator and motivational speaker.
4.Ronaldinho Gaúcho: The Brazilian was one of the most skillful and charismatic players in the history of football, being world champion in 2002 and twice elected the best player in the world by FIFA. He shone at Barcelona, Milan and PSG, earning millions of euros from his contracts and sponsorships. However, he also spent a lot on parties, women and friends. In 2019, he had his passport seized by the Brazilian court for failing to pay an environmental fine of around 2 million reais. In 2020, he was arrested in Paraguay for using false documents and was detained for almost six months. Today, he is on parole and is trying to resume his artistic career.
5.Allen Iverson: The former basketball player was one of the greatest scorers in the NBA, being MVP in 2001 and 11 times All-Star. He earned over 200 million dollars in his career, but he blew it on cars, mansions, jewelry and friends. He also had problems with the law, being accused of domestic violence and illegal possession of weapons. In 2012, he declared bankruptcy, owing more than $150 million. Today, he lives on a lifetime pension from the NBA and some sponsorships.
6.Oscar De La Hoya: The former boxer was one of the biggest names in the sport, being a world champion in six different categories and winning a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics. drugs, alcohol and prostitutes. He also had problems with the law, being sued for sexual harassment and defamation. In 2011, he admitted to being addicted to cocaine and alcohol and checked himself into rehab. Today, he owns a boxing promotion company and is trying to get back in the ring.
7.Michael Schumacher: The German is considered one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time, being seven times world champion and holder of several records. He earned more than 800 million dollars in his career, but his life changed drastically in 2013 when he suffered a serious skiing accident in the French Alps. He was in a coma for six months and has since lived in a vegetative state in his Swiss mansion. His medical treatment costs around 50,000 euros a week and consumes a large part of his fortune.
8.Evander Holyfield: The former boxer was one of Mike Tyson’s biggest rivals, being world champion in four different categories and starring in one of the most controversial fights in history, when Tyson bit his ear. He earned over 200 million dollars in his career, but he spent it on mansions, cars, jewelry and women. He had 11 children with six different women and faced multiple child support lawsuits. In 2008, he had his mansion mortgaged for not paying the installments. Today, he lives more simply and tries to get back in the ring.
9.George Best: The Northern Irishman was one of the greatest footballers of the 1960s, being an idol for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He made a lot of money from his career, but he spent it on alcohol, drugs and women. He had several health problems and was hospitalized several times for cirrhosis of the liver. In 2005, he died aged 59, leaving an estimated fortune of just £100,000.
10.Boris Becker: The German was one of the greatest tennis players in history, being three times Wimbledon champion and number one in the world. He has earned over 100 million dollars in his career but has lost it to bad investments, divorces and lawsuits. He also had problems with the German tax authorities, being accused of tax evasion. In 2017, he declared bankruptcy, owing more than 50 million euros. Today, he works as a sports commentator and coach.
11.Vin Baker: The former basketball player was a four-time All-Star in the NBA, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Seattle Supersonics. He earned over $100 million in his career, but lost it to alcohol, drugs and gambling. He also had problems with the law, being arrested for drunk driving and illegal possession of weapons. In 2015, he declared bankruptcy, owing more than $10 million. Today, he works as a manager at a chain of coffee shops.
12.Garrincha: The Brazilian was one of the greatest soccer players in history, being twice world champion in 1958 and 1962 and an idol for Botafogo and the Brazilian national team. He made a lot of money from his career, but he spent it on alcohol, women and friends. He had several health problems and was institutionalized several times for alcoholism. In 1983, he died aged 49, leaving an estimated fortune of just $5,000.
13.Marion Jones: The American was one of the greatest athletes in world track and field, being Olympic champion in five events at the Sydney Games in 2000. She earned millions of dollars with her career, but the goods she lost with doping, lies and fraud. She admitted to using banned substances and was disqualified from all her medals. She was also convicted of false testimony and involvement in a money laundering scheme. She spent six months in jail and had to pay back all the money she earned from the sport. Today, she tries to reinvent herself as a motivational speaker and writer.
14.Curt Schilling: The former baseball player was a three-time MLB World Series champion, playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. He has earned over 100 million dollars in his career but has lost it to bad investments, divorces and lawsuits. He founded a video game company that went bankrupt in 2012, leaving more than $75 million in debt. He also had problems with the US tax authorities, being accused of tax evasion. Today, he works as a sports commentator and political activist.
15.Lance Armstrong: The American was one of the greatest cyclists in history, being seven times champion of the Tour de France and winner of several other competitions. He earned over 200 million dollars in his career, but lost it to doping, lies and lawsuits. He admitted to using banned substances and was disqualified from all his titles. He was also sued by several former sponsors and former teammates, who charged him millions of dollars in damages. Today, he lives more discreetly and tries to redeem himself with society.
