Celebrity Apprentice is set to premiere its sixth season today, which means it’s time to get ready for more over-the-top arguments and cutthroat competition — all for a good cause.
The primary goal of the popular show is to win the ultimate prize of is a huge sum for charity.
However, some may argue that the contestants could benefit more from raising money for their personal benefit. Half of this season’s contestants have struggled with financial problems in the past, including the loss of a home.
So which contestants stopped paying their mortgage loans at some point and faced foreclosure?
Celebrity Apprentice Season Six Premieres Today
Fans of Celebrity Apprentice are excited about the premiere of the latest installment of the show. Season six is unique because it is featuring contestants and winners from previous seasons in an “all-star” format.
As with previous seasons, Celebrity Apprentice contestants in season six will be competing for the charity of their choice. The winning apprentice is guaranteed a $250,000 bonus check for that charity. Season six’s 14 contestants (and their charities) include:
- Trace Adkins: Country singer (American Red Cross)
- Stephen Balwin: Actor (Carolyn M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund)
- Gary Busey: Actor (Busey Foundation for Children’s Kawasaki Disease)
- Marilu Henner: Actress (Alzheimer’s Association)
- La Toya Jackson: Entertainer (AIDS Project L.A.)
- Penn Jillette: Magician (Opportunity Village)
- Lil Jon: Rapper (American Diabetes Association)
- Claudia Jordan: Model (Tom Joyner Foundation)
- Brett Michaels: Rock/country singer (Life Rocks Foundation—National Philanthropic Trust)
- Omarosa: Reality entertainer (Sue Duncan Children’s Center)
- Lisa Rinna: Actress (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)
- Brande Roderick: Playboy Playmate (Promises 2 Kids)
- Dennis Rodman: Former NBA player (Make a Wish Foundation)
- Dee Snider: Rock singer (Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS)
The show’s participants were chosen to return for their bigger-than-life personalities (and likely their ability to cause a bit of drama). But it’s great that they also have the opportunity to potential give money to an important charity as well.
Celebrity Apprentice Contestants Who Have Suffered Financial Troubles
Among the Celebrity Apprentice contestants who have been chosen to return this season, several have suffered financial hardships, particularly when it comes to foreclosure. For one reason or another, this group of celebrities had a hard time keeping up with their mortgage loan or other obligations when it mattered most.
1. Stephen Baldwin
Stephen Baldwin is well known for being one of the Baldwin brothers along with Alec, Daniel and William. Early in his career, he made a number of guest appearances on hit TV shows like Kate and Allie and Family Ties. But as the years wore on, his appearances took a turn down reality road, resulting in him making appearances on Celebrity Mole Hawaii and Celebrity Mole Yucatan.
In 2008, he was featured in the first installment of Celebrity Apprentice and was fired in week 11. His career hardships hit his bank account hard and by 2009, he was forced to declare bankruptcy, citing millions in debt. He also suffered the foreclosure of the three-story Victorian home after defaulting on the $824,488.36 owed.
Image: David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons
2. Lil Jon
Lil Jon is known for his huge persona and “crunk,” “dirty south” rap music, which became largely popular nationwide in the late 90s and early 2000s. Taking his turn in the world of reality in 2011, Lil Jon became a fourth season contestant of Celebrity Apprentice. He made it quite far in the contest, eliminated after task number 12.
Prior to participating in the show, however, Lil Jon was not so lucky. In 2008, the IRS filed a lien against his home, stating that he owed the government $638,937 in unpaid taxes. He also faced foreclosure on his $1.9 million mansion in South Carolina, largely due to unpaid taxes.
Ironically, the same year, Lil Jon was ranked at number 13 by Forbes in its “Richest Rappers” list for bringing in $11 million that year.
Image: Luke Ford via Wikimedia Commons
3. Claudia Jordan
When the U.S. version of the hit show Deal or No Deal premiered in late 2005, all eyes were on models of the show, including Claudia Jordan who had the coveted position of holding case number one. But this was not her first modeling gig. In the years 2001 to 2003, Jordan was one of Barkers Beauties on The Price is Right.
In 2009, she appeared on the second installment of Celebrity Apprentice, but was fired in task number four. Unfortunately, her short stint on the show mirrored the short amount of time she stayed in her condo before facing foreclosure. In 2004, she purchased the condo, located in a suburb of Los Angeles. There were a number of rumors circulating regarding why she was unable to keep up with payments, but the only solid fact was that her condo was to be sold at auction in L.A. in January 2012.
Image: convergentmediapr
4. La Toya Jackson
When you hear the name La Toya Jackson, you automatically think of the unbelievably famous Jackson family, headed by the late, great Michael Jackson. While each family member fought for his or her own identity, only baby sis Janet seemed to pave her own lane to greatness.
This doesn’t mean, of course, that others like La Toya haven’t been in the spotlight, too. Over the years, La Toya was known attempting a solo music career, posing for Playboy and having on-again, off-again strife with her family members. In 2007, she entered the world of reality TV by participating in Armed and Famous, Celebrity Big Brother, and in 2011 the fourth season of Celebrity Apprentice where she was fired during task number 10.
Prior to the show, however, she struggled financially and suffered the foreclosure of the condo she purchased in 1996. She defaulted on the 1,856 square-foot unit at Regency Towers after failing to pay $750,000. Some said she’d had problems paying for the condo for years and was ultimately forced to move after a number of liens were placed against the property.
5. Gary Busey
Gary Busey has been in show business for over four decades, getting his start as a drummer in the 60s. After about 10 years in music, he made the transition to film, starring in The Buddy Holly Story, Silver Bullet and Lethal Weapon over the next few decades.
It wasn’t until 2003 that he entered the world of reality TV, starring in the comedy/documentary I’m With Busey on Comedy Central. In 2008, he joined the second season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, and in 2011, he joined Lil Jon and La Toya Jackson in the fourth installment of Celebrity Apprentice, being fired after task number seven.
Unlike other contestants on this list, Busey has not suffered a foreclosure, but he has had major financial troubles. He filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2012, reporting less than $50,000 in assets and between $500,000 and $1 million in debts. Busey was not shy about the financial mistakes he’d made, noting that unfortunate choices and associations played a role in the bankruptcy.
Image: mooon2
6. Dennis Rodman
When you imagine Dennis Rodman, you probably think of a few things: His stellar NBA career as a Detroit Piston and Chicago Bull, as well as his unique lifestyle off the court.
The former basketball pro has made headlines over the years — some not so great — but that hasn’t stopped this over-the-top personality from going strong. Like others on the list, Rodman has spent a fair share of time in the world of reality. He joined the cast of Celebrity Mole in 2004 and later the Celebrity Championship Wrestling tournament (both of which he won).
In 2009, he appeared on the second installment of Celebrity Apprentice where he was fired after task number five. Following his appearance on the show, Rodman appeared in court for failure to pay $860,000 in spousal and child support. By the end of 2012, he was order to pay $500,000 to his ex-wife and sentenced to informal probation with the threat of jail time if he failed to pay.
Image: OPENSports.com
Honorable Mention: Donald Trump
While most wouldn’t associate the show’s host and “boss” Donald Trump with financial troubles, he surprised the world when one of his properties faced foreclosure a few years ago. His $200 million Trump International Hotel & Tower defaulted on a $139 million loan and was sold at a foreclosure auction to Corus Construction Ventures, LLC in 2012.
Hopefully, the sixth installment of Celebrity Apprentice will give the contestants who have struggled financially a new outlook on money management. Vying for a major cash reward to donate to charity is a great reason to buckle down and take the prospect of financial responsibility very seriously.
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