This is an interesting read...after the death of her businessman husband back in the late 80's, Joan found herself 37 million in debt...at the time of her death, Joan was worth an estimated 150 million!
But good for her climbing out of it. She showing us all how it's done.
Joan Rivers Quote:Yeah, it's true. I was $37 million in debt. I'm not a businesswoman. My husband was a businessman. I never had to worry about business. Afterward, some son of a bitch took me public and absconded with the funds. And all these horrible bottom-feeders came in and bought up my name and my likeness.
The guy who absconded with the money, by the way, the SEC got him. He went to jail. A couple of butt-f---s later and he's out...
People have this impression that she was a foul mouthed bimbo, when in fact, she was quite brilliant and independent. More than graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Barnard (back then, the female arm of Columbia University in NYC), she made it acceptable for women to utilize black humor in stand-up and was the first female comic to truly be up there with the typically male greats. And she went through bankruptcy, debt, her husband's suicide, etc and remade her public image many times over. It takes a brilliant and resilient mind to do all that. Her memoirs (pre-2000) are brilliant and give an honest glimpse into her mindset at those trying times
^^ Think about all of that the next time you are trying to shade her for some silly joke she made about your stupid fave.
But good for her climbing out of it. She showing us all how it's done.
the company she had sold her jewelry company to was engaged in fraudulent behaviors, and was demanding $37 million from her company to pay for the liabilities they had assumed by joining them.
Queen. She was so strong after the suicide of her husband. I have so much respect for how she handled it. Reinvented herself constantly and stayed current, to remain relevant.
"I'm a small industry," Rivers said in the documentary of her career. "I have an agent, manager, business manager, PR lady, two assistants, and a lawyer. There are certain relatives that I am still supporting, certain friends, most people who work for me — if they have children I send the children to private school. It goes on and on and on. I'm dancing as fast as I can."
truly a kind-hearted soul