#11: Bernie Kosar
In 2009, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback faced a stunning downfall, watching his fortune crumble in the wake of a costly divorce and a steakhouse venture gone awry. As rumors swirled, it was whispered that he had a meager $44 left in his checking account. He found himself entangled in a web of debt, owing a staggering $9 million to a bank, nearly $1.5 million in “unsecured debt” to the Cleveland Browns, $3 million to his ex-wife, and a hefty $725,000 in personal loans.
Adding another layer to the financial puzzle, he pointed a finger at his own father, who had once managed his finances, alleging that some of his hard-earned money had been diverted to cover mortgages and car payments. It’s a poignant tale that casts a shadow over the backdrop of Kosar’s lucrative $5.2 million contract with the Browns, a deal that had once positioned him among the NFL’s most well-off quarterbacks of his time.