Broke celebrities now working normal jobs, like have received a lot of public attention. Despite accumulating a fortune, bad investments, scandals, extravagant spending, or career setbacks have pushed them into unexpected jobs, like cashier, carpet fitting, nursing, etc.

Not all celebrities stay wealthy forever. Despite once enjoying fame and fortune, some stars have faced financial hardship and now work regular jobs to make ends meet. Here’s a list of celebrities who work normal jobs:

In 2018, a shopper at a Trader Joe’s in Clifton, New Jersey, took photos of Geoffrey Owens, famous as Elvin on The Cosby Show, working as a cashier. The pictures went viral, starting conversations around job shaming. Owens replied, emphasising that no job is beneath anyone and honest work deserves respect.

Jon Gosselin became famous through Jon & Kate Plus 8, a reality show documenting life with his wife and their eight children. Following his highly publicised divorce, he stepped away from television as the series continued without him. Since then, Gosselin has worked regular jobs supporting himself, including waiting tables, DJing, and cooking at TGI Fridays.

Dermontti Dawson had a 13-year NFL career and played exclusively for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1988 to 2000. He faced major financial setbacks after retiring. Like many former athletes, he invested large sums into real estate ventures and lacked control over the projects.

When the 2008 housing crisis struck, the impact was devastating. He has several legal issues, including debts of $3.4 million and $1.7 million. In 2010, Dawson filed for bankruptcy, revealing liabilities nearing $70 million with assets of just over $1.4 million. He currently works as a sales executive for a company specialising in promotional products and resides in San Diego, California.

Antoine Walker was drafted by the Boston Celtics at just 19 years old in 1996. He earned approximately $108 million throughout his career, including a massive six-year, $71 million contract he signed at the age of 21.

Despite these impressive figures, Walker admits he was unprepared for the responsibility that came with sudden wealth. Poor money management, unchecked spending, and ill-timed real estate investments during the 2008 financial crisis led to Walker filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2010.

He recovered from bankruptcy in just two and a half years. Since then, Walker has made it his mission to educate young professional athletes on personal finance to ensure others don’t repeat his costly mistakes.

At the peak of her athletic career, Marion Jones secured lucrative endorsement deals with major brands such as Nike. However, her career and finances took a hit after she admitted to using performance-enhancing substances. She lost all major sponsorships and had to return her Olympic medals and prize money.

In 2012, she and her husband sold their 2,173-square-foot home in Texas and moved into a cheaper residence valued at $212,000. However, Jones has reinvented herself as a motivational speaker, author, and entrepreneur.

In the early 1990s, MC Hammer was at the peak of his music career and reportedly earned around $33 million annually. However, his rapid financial rise was matched by extravagant spending, including a $9 million mansion, a private Boeing 727 jet, and 17 luxury cars, eventually drained his fortune.

In 1996, Hammer had a $14 million debt and filed for bankruptcy. He claimed to have had a profound spiritual experience the following year, which led him to a new path. He became an ordained minister with the Church of God in Christ. Today, Hammer is a tech entrepreneur and often speaks at events about financial literacy, using his experiences as a lesson.

Jamie Walters is best known for his roles in Beverly Hills 90210 and the chart-topping single How Do You Talk to an Angel. He is among the actors who quit acting for regular jobs and now serves as a firefighter in Los Angeles.

In an interview with The U.S. Sun, Walters shared that most people are surprised when they realise the firefighter arriving at the scene once starred on TV. He expressed gratitude for finding a career he feels passionate about and one his children admire.

Kate Gosselin is one of the celebrities with regular jobs. She rose to fame after giving birth to eight children from two pregnancies. Following her divorce and the end of her TV career, she returned to her former profession as a registered nurse.

Now living in Troutman, North Carolina, Kate stays out of the public eye. However, she made headlines in 2024 when her son Collin, one of the sextuplets, publicly accused her of abuse. Collin claimed she locked him in the basement of their Pennsylvania home during his childhood.

In 2010, the New York Post revealed that the former boxing star had been staying at a Howard Johnson Express hotel in the Bronx. During the 1980s and 1990s, Barkley earned an estimated $5 million from his boxing career, but over time, he lost his fortune.

Financial hardship eventually led him to move into his niece’s apartment in the Patterson Houses, a public housing complex in the Bronx. Currently, Barkley lives in the South Bronx neighbourhood of Morrisania. He mentors young boxers and is a familiar face at local fight events.

John Blyth Barrymore is the son of John Drew Barrymore and a half-brother to actress Drew Barrymore. Much of his life was compared to his famous relatives in the legendary Barrymore acting family. He gained fame for his roles in both horror and comedy films.

However, by 2012, he had fallen and was homeless. John relied on the government benefit card to get food from local stores. Today, Barrymore has transitioned into a career in IT, particularly software development.

Kim Basinger was one of Hollywood’s top actresses during the 1980s and 1990s. She earned an Academy Award for her role in L.A. Confidential. Plus, she was among the industry's highest-paid stars at the height of her career.

In an ambitious move, Basinger purchased the entire town of Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million, envisioning it as a future tourist destination. However, the venture was unsuccessful, leading to huge financial losses and a bankruptcy filing. Basinger still works in film, often taking on minor roles, and became actively involved in animal rights advocacy.

Stephen Baldwin, the younger of the Baldwin brothers, found fame in the 1990s with roles in films like The Usual Suspects. However, his career and earnings declined in the 2000s.

Financial troubles began in June 2009 when his $515,000 home on a 1.4-acre property in Rockland County, New York, was foreclosed and auctioned after he and his wife defaulted on over $824,000 in mortgage payments.

Baldwin filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the following month, citing more than $2.3 million in debt. Court documents revealed he owed $1.2 million on two mortgages for a property worth only $1.1 million, in addition to over $1 million in taxes and credit card debt. Today, Baldwin does faith-based projects that have helped stabilise his life and finances.

Dennis Rodman earned an estimated $27 million over his 14-year NBA career, around $43 million today when adjusted for inflation. His highest single-season salary came during the 1996–97 season with the Chicago Bulls at $9 million, after starting with the Detroit Pistons in the early ’90s at just $880,000.

Despite his on-court success and championship run with the Bulls, Rodman's net worth is now reportedly around $500,000. His lavish spending, legal issues, financial mismanagement and defrauding of $1.24 million by advisor Peggy Ann Fulford contributed to his monetary decline.

Beyond basketball, Rodman appeared on shows like The Rodman World Tour, Celebrity Rehab, Celebrity Apprentice, Celebrity Big Brother, and The Surreal Life in 2022.

Allen Iverson was one of the NBA’s stars in the 2000s, earning accolades like MVP in 2001 and 2005, 11 All-Star selections, and a spot on the All-NBA First Team three times. Over his 14-season career with teams like the 76ers, Nuggets, Pistons, and Grizzlies, he earned around $200 million through salary and endorsements, including a lifetime deal with Reebok.

Despite his massive earnings, Iverson faced severe financial issues when he retired in 2012. Known for excessive spending on luxury cars, jewellery, nightlife, and lavish habits, he reportedly told his wife he couldn’t afford a cheeseburger during their divorce proceedings.

He eventually filed for bankruptcy after failing to pay nearly $1 million for custom jewellery. Iverson has made a financial comeback, taking on a leadership role at Reebok as vice president of basketball operations.

Andy Abraham, affectionately known as "The Singing Binman," rose to fame as the runner-up on The X Factor in 2005, just behind Shayne Ward. Following his success on the show, the North London native released four albums.

However, after struggling to maintain chart success and facing financial difficulties, including being declared bankrupt in 2012, he eventually returned to his old job as a bin collector. Andy shared that the COVID-19 pandemic and cancelled performances prompted his decision. Despite the career shift, he still brings joy to fans by singing during his early morning rounds.

Mark Feehily, best known for his success with Westlife and a solo music career, has also succeeded in an unexpected field: food. In 2015, he revealed that he had launched his own catering business. The Irish singer sells coffee and crepes from a van.

Ray Quinn rose to fame playing Anthony Murray in Brookside from 2000 to 2003. He became more widely known in 2006 after finishing as runner-up to Leona Lewis on the third season of The X Factor. He won Dancing on Ice in 2009 and again in the 2014 All-Stars edition. In 2015, he also won the top prize in the first season of Get Your Act Together.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Quinn revealed he had taken up work as a delivery driver for Hermes. In 2021, he shared that he had started working in his family’s carpet business with his brothers, Robin and Darren. He performs and headlines nightly at the Limelight Club aboard P&O cruise ships with his live show.

Steven Arnold is among the retired stars who now work 9-5. More than 14 years after he departed from Coronation Street, Arnold, best known for playing Ashley Peacock, has taken on a more down-to-earth job.

The actor, who portrayed the beloved butcher from 1995 until his character was written out in 2010, has surprised fans by returning to his roots. He works at a local butcher shop in Leeds.

Chris Noth, known for his roles in hit series like Law & Order and The Good Wife, saw his acting career stall in 2021 after multiple allegations of sexual assault emerged. Two women came forward, citing alleged incidents from 2004 and 2015.

Since then, Noth's acting career has been halted, and he is focusing on alternative income streams, including sponsored content and advertisements on Instagram.

• Nationality: American

Hammer rose to fame with his breakout role in the 2017 romantic drama Call Me by Your Name. He also appeared in films such as Billy: The Early Years, The Social Network, J. Edgar, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and the Broadway production Straight White Men.

However, his career came to a halt in 2021 after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and alleged cannibalism. Hammer was dropped from upcoming projects, lost his representation, and became a pariah in the industry.

Following the scandal, he left California and relocated to the Cayman Islands. He reportedly took a job selling timeshares at a local resort, a stark contrast to his former life as one of Hollywood’s rising stars.

The stories of broke celebrities now working normal jobs serve as a reminder that fame and fortune can be fleeting. Many stars have had to trade the spotlight for everyday work due to poor financial decisions, personal struggles, or career setbacks.

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Authors:

Bill Cyril Salasya (Lifestyle writer) Bill Cyril Salasya is an experienced writer who joined the Tuko team in 2023. He earned a Bachelor of Education (Arts) degree in 2021. Bill has 7 years of experience in the field and has worked as a content writer at Strikingly, Urban Ambiance, and WOW Travels. He works on various topics, including technology, lifestyle, travel, entertainment, marketing, etc. In 2023, Bill finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In 2024, he expanded his skills through Google News Initiative courses. You can reach him at [email protected]