Examiner.com put together a list of 20 celebrities who found themselves in debt to the IRS last year. I've included the top 5 below, but you can check out the full article at Examiner.com.
For all the money they earn, you’d think they could buy better accountants…
5. Wesley Snipes
Although not the largest of the IRS celebrity debtors, perhaps none are as well known for such storied tax problems as the Blade star Wesley Snipes. Snipes fell into a trap that many taxpayers unfortunately get involved with – tax evasion. Snipes lost an appeal over the summer and is currently in jail for failing to report income earned to the IRS. He currently has a $2.7 million tax bill, and is serving 3 years at the minimum security Federal Prison Camp in Bradford, Pennsylvania.
4. Marc Anthony
The 41-year-old singer, who married Jennifer Lopez in 2004, was recently hit with a tax lien after reportedly owing $3.4 million to the IRS. Love may not cost a thing for Jennifer Lopez, but having a spouse who's a tax scofflaw sure sounds expensive. To be fair, Anthony just announced this year that he has ‘settled’ his tax debt with the IRS.
3. Chris Tucker
Chris Tucker, known best for his role as ‘James Carter’ in the three Rush Hour movies, was identified by the IRS as owing $11.5 million in delinquent tax debt from tax years 2001, 2002, 2004 – 2006. For his roles in Rush Hour, Tucker was reported to have earned $20 - $25 million per movie. It’s easy to earn that much when you don’t pay your taxes.
2. Nicolas Cage
Here’s a refreshing change – a celeb that admits the balance and is doing something about it. When you owe $14 million to the IRS, you certainly can’t just sit on your treasure chests. Cage told People magazine last year that he is “under new business management and am happy to say that I am current for 2009, all taxes will be paid including any to be determined state taxes."
1. Joe Francis
The number one IRS nonpayer on the list shows that the clich̩ is true Рsex does sell. The owner of the Girls Gone Wild franchise owes a whopping $30 million to the IRS, after he allegedly fell behind with payments in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Maybe he should ask some of his drunk and topless girls to lend him some cash Рnow that would be a classy move.