Some of our favourite well-known stars had their big break in the entertainment industry at a very young age. From leading major long-running sitcoms to topping the charts, they were on top of the world and raking in the cash.
However, after finding success in their early years, several later struggled financially in their adult years after losing much of their fortune. From singer LeAnn Rimes to twins Dylan and Cole Sprouse and 70s star Gary Coleman, discover the former child stars who filed bankruptcy or were allegedly swindled out of millions, including one disgraced Nickelodeon actor who has faced legal drama in recent years.
© Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty ImagesErin Moran
But despite starring on a majorly popular sitcom in the 70s, People reported that the actress struggled financially in the lead up to her death in 2017.
A bartender who worked in the area where Joanie resided told the publication the actress was upset over having "lost all her money".
© WireImageDrake Bell
Nickelodeon viewers will best remember Drake Bell from the four-season sitcom, Drake and Josh, in which he starred alongside Josh Peck.
The actor, who has been embroiled in controversy in recent years after pleading guilty to child endangerment charges in 2021, reportedly filed for bankruptcy in 2014.
While Drake's co-star Josh previously shared that they made around US $900,000 on the sitcom, Drake revealed that he does not receive residual checks for the popular Nickelodeon show.
In 2024, Drake publicly identified himself as the former child actor who had been sexually abused by dialogue coach Brian Peck when he was 15.
© WireImageCole and Dylan Sprouse
The Sprouse twins were Disney royalty in the 2000s, becoming two of the most famous and highest-earning stars on the network thanks to their sitcom, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
They were reportedly making around $20,000 each per episode. But in a 2023 appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Cole claimed that their mother, Melanie, spent nearly all their childhood fortune.
The actor alleged that they had lost "everything from the youngest parts of [their] careers".
© NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesGary Coleman
The 70s sitcom Diff'rent Strokes introduced fans to the cheeky and quick-witted Arnold Jackson, an orphan from Harlem played by child star Gary Coleman.
Despite being the lead actor on a sitcom that ran for eight seasons with much success, Gary reportedly filed for bankruptcy in 1999.
"I can spread the blame all the way around from me to accountants to my adoptive parents, to agents to lawyers and back to me again," Gary said, as per The Washington Post.
The actor sadly died in 2010 at aged 42 after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
© GettyLeAnn Rimes
Thirteen-year-old LeAnn Rimes took the music scene by storm in 1996 with her hit single Blue.
After finding success in the 90s with her debut album and tracks like Looking Through Your Eyes, LeAnn sued her father and former manager in 2000 for allegedly swindling her out of millions.
The singer claimed in her lawsuit that they took around $7 million of her earnings when she was a minor by charging unreasonable fees.
After her father Wilbur launched a countersuit, the legal dispute was privately settled in 2002.
© Photo: Getty ImagesDustin Diamond
Dustin Diamond became a familiar face for his role as Zack Morris' nerdy best friend, Samuel 'Screech' Powers, on Saved by the Bell.
After starring on one of the biggest sitcoms to come out of the 80s, Dustin filed for bankruptcy in 2001.
The actor had reportedly begun selling his T-shirts online to raise $250,000 after being forced to relocate from Hollywood to Wisconsin, as per ABC News.
Dustin died in 2021 at age 44.
