Massive sitcom stars of the past who completely lost their fortunes in tragic circumstances

Gary Coleman starred as the wisecracking Arnold Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes through the '70s and '80s. In 1989, the actor sued his parents citing mismanaged finances, reportedly finding that his trust fund of around $18 million was worth just $220,000. 

While a judge awarded him a $1.28 million ruling in 1993, the star later filed for bankruptcy in 1999. Gary Coleman passed at the age of 42 after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

David Cassidy became a pop star with hits like 'I Think I Love You' and reportedly pocketed $1 million a year from international tours and a lead role on The Partridge Family. Sadly, David lost his fortune with debts estimated at around $10 million.

He told The Telegraph: "I was one of the wealthiest young male entertainers in the world then, but 10 years later I had nothing to show for it. By the 1980s I was broke and had to rebuild my life."

Brett Butler tragically lost a fortune estimated at $25 million. During her run on Grace Under Fire in the '90s, Brett struggled with a painkiller addiction and admitted that her behaviour on set caused co-stars to quit and the show's cancellation.

Her friend Lon Strickler persuaded her to start a crowdfunding campaign in 2021 when her financial struggles worsened. “He talked me into it. The way he put it was, ‘You can’t live your life based on being afraid of what haters will do,'" Brett told The Hollywood Reporter. She's since returned to acting with roles on The Morning Show and The Walking Dead.

Willie Aames starred on '70s hit Eight is Enough, earning over $1 million a year. But once his run of hits slowed down, Willie was facing bankruptcy and reportedly ended up sleeping in garages and bushes.

The actor told Entertainment Tonight: "At the very peak [of Eight Is Enough] I was making a little over a million dollars a year. Then suddenly there was no job, no bank account, no wife, no child. I never dreamt it could happen that fast."

The Happy Days star struggled with her finances, suing CBS for unpaid royalties in 2011. The following year, she and several co-stars were each awarded $65,000 after settling out of court.

Erin Moran had been served eviction papers and had her California home foreclosed in 2010. She and husband Steve moved into a trailer park with Steve's mother so Erin could look after her mother-in-law.

Star of Diff'rent Strokes Dana Plato was struggling to retain the trust of producers due to her substance misuse, but the final straw reportedly came in 1984 when Dana became pregnant. At the time, she had been making over $20,000 for each episode.

Things didn't improve for the actress and she worked for a while at a dry cleaners in Las Vegas, eventually committing armed robbery with a pellet gun at a video store. She was quickly identified, and Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton famously posted her $13,000 bail. The actress sadly passed at 34 years old.