10 Famous Musicians Who Died Totally BROKE

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at musicians who tragically ended a successful career and life with very little financial security to show for it.

Judy Garland

Judy Garland was truly the voice of a generation, immortalised thanks to her starring role in the iconic “The Wizard of Oz” in 1939. She went on to become a prolific recording artist, scoring huge chart successes right up to the 1960s. Unfortunately, a turbulent relationship with substance abuse left her with dependencies on prescription medication. In 1969, she died after an accidental overdose at the age of 47. Poor financial management and embezzlement from people close to her left her in dire straits financially at the time of her passing. Her daughter, Liza Minnelli, would pay off her mother’s debts with help from Frank Sinatra, but considering the millions Garland should have earned, it was unfortunate how little of it she actually saw.

Harry Nilsson

Harry Nilsson is a truly beloved singer and songwriter, and a musician who was a known favourite of The Beatles. However, despite his widespread acclaim and two Grammy wins, Nilsson was yet another example of a musician who was taken advantage of by a lecherous manager. In his case, Cindy Sims had been stealing money from Nilsson under his nose. The heartbreaking part was that he always had a long-standing fear of going broke. Despite the fact that he should have been worth millions, he passed away at 52 with very little to show for his life’s work.

Andy Gibb

Considering how talented and successful his three brothers had been as the Bee Gees, Andy Gibb was actually doing pretty well on his own. He was too young to join the band when they first started in the 1950s. However, as he came of age, he carved out a surprising amount of success. Three number one hits in the U.S. and eight top-20 singles were enough to prove that Andy most certainly had the family’s genetic talents. Unfortunately, at the age of just 30, his years of substance abuse finally caused his heart to give out. He died just one year after filing for bankruptcy.

Big Mama Thornton

So many artists owe a debt to Big Mama Thornton’s artistry. However, she is also a cautionary tale of how not to manage your career financially. Despite huge chart success with the first ever version of the song “Hound Dog,” she never received royalties for her work. The song sat at the top of the charts for seven weeks, eventually selling over half a million copies. Unfortunately, Thornton was living in poverty towards the end of her life, practically homeless and in very poor health. Her legacy is set in stone, sure, but she never truly got to enjoy the fruits of her labour.

Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy Davis Jr. was truly one of the standout voices of his generation and an important figure when it came to breaking down racial barriers in the United States. Despite a long and successful career, some pretty poor business practices and financial management left Davis with a $15-million debt when he passed away in 1990. A large portion of that was owed to the IRS, due to some investments in fraudulent tax shelters and underreported income. This led to a messy legal battle over the contents of his estate. Eventually, it was settled seven years later in 1997, but the emotional strain on those close to him was well documented.

Robert Johnson

Out of all of the artists who fit our criteria, Robert Johnson is unique because he never actually lived to experience even a shred of the acclaim he eventually earned. Very little is known about this blues pioneer’s life. Beyond a couple of photographs and recordings, we can’t really say too much. He died at the age of 27 with no belongings and was buried in an unmarked grave. Nobody knows for sure how he died—although stories range from disease and murder, to the payment of a debt following a deal with the devil. These days, his estate owns his recordings and gets paid royalties, but for Johnson, he clearly had no idea how big of an influence he would become.

Lead Belly

Lead Belly was a pioneer in the truest sense, writing several folk songs that would go on to become standards. However, during his life, he remained in relative poverty. Folk icons like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie were notable fans, but Lead Belly’s true crossover would only happen after his death. In fact, just a few months later, The Weavers scored a major hit with his song “Goodnight Irene.” This would’ve earned Lead Belly more money than he had ever earned before. Unfortunately, he missed this lucrative opportunity by the narrowest of margins.

Whitney Houston

The story of Whitney Houston is one of triumph and tragedy in equal measure. Few artists have climbed quite as high as she did at her peak, achieving the type of global stardom and acclaim that only comes around a few times every decade. Unfortunately, her turbulent relationship with Bobby Brown and her addiction to various substances left her life in tatters by the time she passed away in 2012. Crippling financial debt was at the forefront of her problems, and while posthumous sales of her music helped erase it, Whitney sadly was not around to enjoy her freedom.

Billie Holiday

To say that Billie Holiday revolutionised vocal performance would be an understatement. She was a huge presence in jazz and pop music, bringing a very unique style to the table that is still inspiring people today. In the 1930s and early ‘40s, her mainstream success was truly huge, making her one of music’s biggest stars. As the decade wore on, though, legal and personal issues became more and more prominent. Despite returning to prominence as a live performer in the ‘50s, substance abuse issues slowly eroded her golden voice. When her health went into decline at the age of 44, she passed away with just $0.70 in her bank account and $750 of emergency money strapped to her leg.

Marvin Gaye

There is so much that can be said about the life, career, and legacy of the great Marvin Gaye. However, behind the scenes, despite his chart success, he was a deeply troubled man by the end of his life. Financial problems were one thing, but Gaye was also dealing with many deep-seated personal issues. He had only won his first two Grammys just a year before his death in 1984. After intervening in a fight between his parents, he was shot and killed by his father. Gaye’s assets were liquidated to settle his debts, but his passing left a gulf in the music industry that could never truly be filled.

What tragic musician springs to your mind when you think of this topic? Let us know in the comments below.