No.10: M.C. Hammer
In the early 1990s, rapper M.C. Hammer reached global fame with his mega-hit “U Can’t Touch This,” earning as much as $33 million a year. But his extravagant lifestyle—including a 200-person entourage, thoroughbred horses, and an opulent mansion—soon caught up with him.
As his popularity faded, so did his fortune. In 1996, he filed for bankruptcy, citing debts exceeding $13 million. Hammer later claimed he was simply trying to support his community through employment. Post-bankruptcy, he reinvented himself as a preacher and tech entrepreneur—turning his downfall into a second act of success.
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