Most Famous Actresses Who Went Broke

Financial free falls happen in Hollywood for many reasons. Some actresses faced sudden lawsuits that froze income or triggered judgments they could not immediately cover. Others ran into tax liens, divorce costs, or business ventures that collapsed. Every case below is grounded in public records or the person’s own words, so you can trace exactly what happened.

This list focuses on clear, documented money trouble such as bankruptcy petitions, tax liens, levy actions, foreclosure records, or first person accounts describing being broke. The goal is accuracy over gossip, so you will not see rumors here. Sources are listed at the bottom so you can check the filings or interviews yourself.

Kim Basinger

In 1993 a jury awarded damages over her withdrawal from the film ‘Boxing Helena’ and the judgment pushed her to seek Chapter 11 protection while she fought the case on appeal. The California Court of Appeal later overturned the verdict, and the dispute ultimately settled before a retrial.

Her bankruptcy docket drew scrutiny from a federal judge who reviewed valuations and potential creditor payouts tied to the Main Line Pictures claim. After the appellate reversal, settlement approval issues were litigated in bankruptcy court until the parties reached a final accord.

Debbie Reynolds

Her Las Vegas venture Debbie Reynolds Hotel and Casino filed Chapter 11 in July 1997 after the operation could not cover expenses. Corporate records and federal court opinions document the restructuring, plan confirmation, and eventual sale of the property at auction.

Public filings and later coverage noted that Reynolds herself also sought personal bankruptcy protection during the fallout from the hotel’s collapse. Court decisions and regulatory documents trace how the estate handled secured claims and distributed sale proceeds.

Teri Polo

In April 2014 the ‘Meet the Parents’ and ‘The Fosters’ star filed for bankruptcy protection. Her court papers showed significant tax debt alongside credit card and legal obligations and listed modest assets compared with liabilities.

Coverage based on the petition detailed federal and state tax balances as well as unsecured claims. Subsequent industry reporting summarized the case posture and creditor breakdowns drawn directly from the filing.

Kelly Rutherford

During her international custody battle she filed for bankruptcy in 2013, citing millions in legal fees. Her petition reported a sharp drop in income after ‘Gossip Girl’ ended and listed tax and credit card debts.

News reports that quoted her filing and follow up pieces during later hearings explained how the litigation costs drove the insolvency. Her case timeline appears through multiple court actions in both the United States and Monaco.

Lena Headey

In 2013 divorce papers revealed she had less than five dollars in her bank account and was using credit cards for essentials. The request asked the court to release part of a tax refund to cover living costs for her and her child.

Entertainment and newspaper outlets reported directly from the filing, quoting the declaration that described the depleted balance. The financial strain was documented in those records before her career earnings later rebounded.

Anna Nicole Smith

She filed for bankruptcy in the late 1990s and her estate’s claims became central to a long running litigation that reached the United States Supreme Court. The opinions and appellate record show how a bankruptcy court ruling intersected with probate issues tied to her late husband’s estate.

Those decisions outline the jurisdictional limits of bankruptcy courts and track years of post petition litigation. The filings and opinions provide a detailed public paper trail of her insolvency proceedings and related claims.

Lindsay Lohan

Federal tax liens were recorded against her for unpaid income taxes from multiple years. News outlets reported that the IRS levied her bank accounts while the liens remained outstanding until partial payments were made.

Archival coverage tied each lien to a specific assessment period and listed the amounts, with updates when payments reduced balances. The sequence of liens and levy activity is reflected in those records and reports.

Pamela Anderson

California listed her on the public roster of top delinquent taxpayers and she also faced federal and state tax liens. Official lists and entertainment reporting documented the balances attributed to unpaid income taxes.

Follow up coverage explained when liens were filed or released and described the impact of the state’s naming and shaming list. The records connect her delinquency status to specific years of tax liability.

Tori Spelling

Court records show a bank won a judgment against her and later sought writs of execution when the debt remained unpaid. Separate filings and reports also describe federal and state tax liens and an IRS levy that emptied accounts.

Recent creditor filings recap the still outstanding judgment principal and interest. The public docket history traces the sequence from complaint to default judgment to renewed collection efforts.

Christina Ricci

In interviews during and after her divorce she said she sold Chanel bags and jewelry to pay legal and living costs. Financial press and entertainment outlets covered her first person account of liquidating assets to get through the process.

Public records also show a prior IRS lien recorded years before those interviews. Those items together outline both the official enforcement action and her later description of acute money stress.

Alyssa Milano

She sued her former business manager alleging mismanagement that she said left her in financial distress. Court filings described the claimed misconduct and the amount in controversy, and later coverage reported when the parties settled.

The docket and coverage provide a timeline from complaint to resolution. Her case is an example where a lawsuit, rather than a bankruptcy petition, publicly documents the money problems.

Sharon Stone

She said in a long form interview that she lost eighteen million dollars in savings after her 2001 stroke and had zero money while recovering. Multiple outlets summarized her first person account of people taking advantage during that period.

Those interviews detail the health crisis, the length of recovery, and the financial impact in her own words. The reports provide direct quotes and context about how quickly her savings disappeared.

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which cases surprised you most and which ones we should add next.