Your Favorite Celebrity Earns Millions, But They Make Money Mistakes Too. 5 Takeaways From Their Financial Snafus

Creating a plan for personal finances is essential, no matter how much money you make. This goes for celebrities as well, as a poor financial decision can lead to the same challenges as someone with a lesser income. Let's take a look at some of our favorite celebrities and five takeaways from their financial snafus. 

Aretha Franklin

Famous social rights activist, singer and performer, Aretha Franklin was a prolific musician. With 73 chart-topping songs, Franklin amassed a large fortune throughout her career.¹ Unfortunately, Franklin passed away in 2018.² Initially, it was reported that Franklin died without a will. Aretha primarily resided and died in Michigan, so her estate would have been distributed equally amongst her four children.

When an individual passes without a will, the estate can go through several legal and financial hoops. From a financial standpoint, this process can be expensive, reducing the overall value of an estate. Without specific instructions, the family of the deceased could disagree on the dispersal of the estate, resulting in more complications and possible resentment. A will provides clarity and planning for the family and ensures the last wishes of the deceased are respected.

Interestingly, three handwritten wills dated between 2010 and 2014 were found in Franklin's home after her passing. Two years later, a fourth will emerged from a law firm Franklin was working with - although it was never signed by Franklin herself. The confusion caused by the conflicting wills has left Franklin's heirs struggling to agree on a course of action regarding her estate. Currently, a judge is presiding over the case, which was put on hold during COVID-19.

Billy Joel

To avoid being perceived as inauthentic, some artists avoid focusing on their money. Famous musician Billy Joel took this approach and did not want to know how much money he had or was spending, instead choosing to trust his manager. Perhaps we can guess what happened next. Joel’s manager spent and invested Joel’s money in multiple ways without approval, which ultimately ended with Joel suing his manager for $90 million.³ Being exploited by managers or attorneys is a seemingly common story when it comes to celebrities and/or athletes and their assets.

Though money can be a stressful topic for many, understanding one’s finances is integral to healthy money management. Compiling a list of expenses and clarifying where your money is allocated is a great first step. And if you’re looking for extra assistance, investment advice or other financial guidance, a trusted financial advisor can help. 

Nicholas Cage

Overspending can place some of the wealthiest individuals into financial trouble. Many celebrities are known for overspending, but one of the most notorious in recent history is Nicholas Cage. The well-known American actor spent $150 million of his accumulated wealth on a variety of purchases - from multiple castles in Europe to collector cars and a pet octopus.⁴

Cage’s purchases aren’t necessarily the problem, it’s how quickly and how often they occur. Maintaining a budget and spending well should be the goal of any individual and is one way to not only accumulate wealth but maintain it as well. 

Kristen Bell 

Home buying is a large investment. It’s stressful and exciting, even more so depending on the price of the home. Unfortunately, many individuals fall into financial troubles, and their home is forced into foreclosure. Sadly, this exact situation happened to actress Kristen Bell, when her $3.1 million home went into foreclosure.⁵

Bell was luckily able to recoup her losses. Though for many, a foreclosure has drastic consequences, from credit damage to possible bankruptcy to emotional distress.

Justin Timberlake

Most of us know about the success of Facebook over its predecessor, Myspace. But did you know that Justin Timberlake was involved in the purchase of Myspace with hopes to reestablish the social media platform?⁶

With Timberlake taking a loss on his $35 million investment, this turned out to be a poor investment decision for him.⁷ As any financial professional will tell you, investing always comes with risks. Instead of investing in one goal, diversification can be used to help offset risk. 

Every name on this list has accumulated a large sum of wealth. Despite that, celebrities can experience the same financial troubles as anyone else - although sometimes on a grander scale. Examining specific situations, we can see the importance of an effective financial plan, no matter how much your net worth.