▲That said, Gaye still had his financial struggles, and suffered from drug addiction. He filed for bankruptcy late in life, and was heavily in debt when his father killed him.

▲This may be the most surprising entry here. MJ was one of the most successful artists ever, with 'Thriller' selling over 60 million copies.

▲Marvin Gaye was a drummer when he was first signed to Motown Records. He went on to become a musical icon, with hits like 'What's Going On' and 'Let's Get It On.'

▲That said, the multi-platinum musician apparently owed over half a billion dollars when he died. His estate went bankrupt, but made US$2 billion after MJ passed away.

▲This Canadian teen idol starred alongside Corey Feldman in 'The Lost Boys.' He also had appearances in 'Lucas,' 'Silver Bullet,' and 'Murphy's Romance.'

▲However, Corey Haim had problems with money and drugs, which led to him filing for bankruptcy. His family had to ask fans to help cover the costs of his funeral.

▲Gary Coleman made it big as Arnold Jackson in 'Diff'rent Strokes.' He had a pretty successful career in TV and film.

▲Mickey Rooney started as a child actor, and went on to have a career spanning nine decades.

▲Coleman managed to bag US$1.3 million after he sued his parents for mismanaging his wealth. He filed for bankruptcy, and passed away in 2010.

▲Judy Garland was born into a family of performers, and went on to become a cinematic star unlike any other.

▲Sadly, Garland also wrestled with drugs and financial issues. She was millions in debt when she died, and the IRS reportedly repossessed her home after she passed away.

▲After 93 years, 300 films, and eight marriages, Mickey Rooney was not rich when he passed away. Apparently, he didn't leave enough money to put on a public funeral service.

▲Zora Neale Hurston was an influential American author and anthropologist. Perhaps her most popular work is 'Their Eyes Were Watching God.'

▲The American entertainer did it all. He was a singer, actor, impressionist, and performed vaudeville.

▲The Irish writer is more than influential, with widely known works like 'Poems,' 'De Profundis,' and 'The Picture of Dorian Gray.'

▲Sadly, Wilde was imprisoned later on in his life, and he died destitute in 1900.

▲Reports say that Hurston died with little to no money in the bank. Her grave was unmarked until a headstone was bought by Alice Walker.

▲This 19th-century poet was a true eccentric, penning nearly 2,000 poems and using innovative techniques in her work.

▲It's reported that Emily Dickinson died poor, and 40 volumes of her poetry were actually published after she died.

▲Reports show that Poe died poor in 1849. The cause of his death remains a mystery.

▲Charlie Parker was a revered jazz musician during the 20th century. The saxophonist was popular in America and around the world.

▲When Parker passed away, he was 34 and had little money to his name.

▲Veronica Lake was a star on screen, stealing the show in '40s films like 'Sullivan's Travels' and 'So Proudly We Hail!'.

▲Sammy Davis Jr. died of throat cancer in 1990. He was still in debt when he died, and his estate had to sell off his possessions to foot the bill.

▲Sadly, Lake didn't have a long and successful career in Hollywood. She battled alcoholism, and died with little to her name.

▲Joe Louis was the longest-reigning heavyweight champion in boxing history. He made millions in his career, but died with next to none of it left.

▲This 19th-century poet made a huge mark on the detective fiction genre. Standout works include 'The Raven,' 'The Stylus,' and 'Tamerlane and Other Poems.'

▲Sadly for Driscoll, he couldn't get a job after he was jailed for drugs. He was buried in an unmarked grave in New York City.

▲Another child star, Bobby Driscoll also lived as an artist from 1937 until his death in 1968.

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Louis made a series of bad investments during his life. He also faced problems with his taxes and finance. He died of a cardiac arrest in 1981.

Now check out bizarre celebrity deaths you've probably never heard of.

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Being a celebrity is anything but cheap. Sure, you may have a higher wage than the average person, but there are still a lot of overhead costs for an A-lister. There's rent due on all those properties, and plenty of bills for those lavish vacations too. Factor in a drug addiction or two, and you have quite an expensive lifestyle. Sadly, this means that not every celeb gets to take their wealth to the grave. Some of the most influential people ever have actually died broke.

Intrigued? Click on to see the surprising celebs who passed away penniless.