Sadly, riches to rags stories are becoming increasingly common in the entertainment industry. Once powerful Hollywood players find themselves scrambling to make ends meet, despite having amassed millions of dollars throughout the course of their careers. Among the stars struggling with financial woes is Chris Tucker. The glorious, champagne-filled days of Rush Hour are now a thing of the past.

Related: Where Do Chris Tucker And Jackie Chan Stand Today?

One has to wonder how a man who once commanded a salary of $40 million ended up with a net worth in the negatives. After a series of terrible financial decisions and associating with less than pleasant individuals, Tucker finds himself in a dire situation. Here's how Chris Tucker went from earning $40 million to having a negative net worth.

10 The 'Rush Hour' Franchise Was A Major Success

Although many of the Rush Hour jokes wouldn't fly today, the franchise was nonetheless a huge success. The first movie's total gross was a whopping $244 million. Meanwhile, the sequels grossed $347 million and $258 million respectively.

Subsequently, the movies turned Chris Tucker into a multimillionaire, as he signed a $40 million contract for the movie.

9 But He Owed Millions In Back Taxes

Alas, the wealth that Chris Tucker enjoyed was short lived. One of the major ways in which once affluent celebs end up poor is by not paying their taxes. Not matter how rich and powerful an individual may be, the taxman will always be in hot pursuit.

Tucker owed a shocking $11 million for unpaid taxes in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005, leaving him in significant debt.

8 His Financial Advisor Made Matters Worse

As a Hollywood star, Chris Tucker probably should have ensured that he hired a wise and experienced advisor to manage his finances. Sadly, his financial advisor only worsened his already dire situation. The actor blamed "poor accounting and business management" for the decline in his net worth and subsequent debt.

7 His Marriage Fell Apart

In 1997, Tucker married Azja Pryor and together they had a son, Destin. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 2003. Since the couple's separation came shortly after the release of the second Rush Hour flick, it's likely that a large portion of Tucker's salary went on alimony and child support payments.

6 He Faced Foreclosure On His Home

In 2011, Chris Tucker's financial downward spiral continued when it was revealed that he owed more than $4.4 million on his Florida mansion, which he had bought for $6 million. At the time, Tucker said that he couldn't afford the payments to keep his home. Subsequently, he faced imminent foreclosure.

5 His Home Was Sold For A Fraction Of What He Paid

Despite buying his 10,000 square foot Florida home for $6 million, its actual value was estimated to be around $1.5 million. Put simply, Chris Tucker got swindled. Facing foreclosure and with no recourse left, Tucker had to sell his home for just over $1 million. Not only is that figure a fraction of what Tucker paid, but it's far less than the $1.5 million asking price.

4 Associating With Jeffrey Epstein Tarnished His Image

No actor wants to be associated with the abominable name of Jeffrey Epstein, the late pedophile billionaire who trafficked underage girls on his private jet dubbed the "Lolita Express". But the fact is, Tucker did indeed associate with Epstein and his right-hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently awaiting trial for her involvement in Epstein's sex trafficking ring.

Related: This Is How Grey's Anatomy And Jeffrey Epstein Are Linked

Not only did Tucker accompany now disgraced actor and alleged predator Kevin Spacey on Epstein's Lolita Express, but he repeatedly appeared in the financier's contact book. These revelations have dampened Tucker's already steadily waning popularity and success.

3 Hollywood Stopped Calling

After the Rush Hour series, Chris Tucker pretty much disappeared from our screens. In fact, he has only made two movies since Rush Hour 3: the critically acclaimed Silver Linings Playbook (2012), in which he had a supporting role, and Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016).

Hollywood simply stopped calling and Tucker has subsequently been absent from both the big and small screens for over 5 years.

2 His Return To Stand-Up Was A Failure

In 2015, Tucker was given a Netflix stand-up special, Chris Tucker Live. While working with streaming giant Netflix is usually a great way of making a comeback, that was not the case for Chris Tucker. It seems that he just can't catch a break and the special received lacklustre reviews.

Related: Ranking Netflix's Best Stand-Up Comedy Specials From Worst To Best

"It's a humblebrag stretched to excruciating lengths, totally disconnected from any pointed or penetrating reality," wrote the Hollywood Reporter in a less than laudatory review.

1 This Is His Shocking Net Worth Now

After years of financial struggles, it should come as little surprise that Chris Tucker's bank balance has diminished significantly since the carefree days of Rush Hour. But the sheer volume of loss is staggering. Despite once raking in $40 million, Chris Tucker has a negative net worth of -$11.5 million.

Only time will tell whether a comeback will rejuvenate his stagnant career, but considering his associations with problematic figures like Jeffrey Epstein, it certainly won't be easy for Tucker to win back the public's favor.

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