Multi-Platinum Artists Who Went Broke

The music industry can make you filthy rich and famous or break you forever. For many, signing a record deal is a life’s dream that quickly turned into a nightmare for countless artists who failed to read the small print before signing their life and royalties away.

Here are ten multi-platinum artists who went broke. Take a look.

TLC

T-Boz, Left Eye & Chilli are one of the best-selling female groups in music history (65 million worldwide) who filed for bankruptcy after being swindled out of millions by their filthy ex-manager Pebbles.

Toni Braxton

The Baritone-voiced starlet sold over 20 million albums in her prime and filed for bankruptcy twice because of horrible financial decisions/a predatory record deal with LaFace.

MC Hammer

Hammer was the first true Hip-Hop superstar who famously blew over $30 million on his 200-person entourage, lavish mansion and lifetime supply of shiny parachute pants.

Michael Jackson

The King of Pop signed a landmark record deal worth nearly a billi, sold a billion+ albums worldwide and (shockingly) filed for bankruptcy in 2007 after failing to pay back a $25 million loan on his Neverland Ranch.

DMX

The fertile trainwreck owes $1.24 million in child support for his 10 Kids (by 6 women) and recently admitted his brokeness after earning over $20 million during his career.

Marvin Gaye

The beloved Soul icon filed for bankruptcy in 1976 after extravagant spending on cars, booger sugar and houses, coupled with a nasty divorce.

George Clinton

Everyone’s favorite Funk legend made pennies off his golden catalog because he didn’t own his publishing and was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1984.

Beanie Sigel

Beans’ squandered his star potential with terrible spending habits, tax evasion and countless bad decisions that left him broke and jailed.

Isaac Hayes

Widely considered one of the greatest songwriters/composers ever, he nearly lost everything after his record label folded.