[Gay State Conservative]

There are certain occupations that are volatile and unpredictable in terms of income.Sports and showbiz are two that come to my mind.One day you can be making millions and three years later you're making nothing.If you're in such a field and find that you're making millions the wise thing to do is live well below your means (but still comfortably) and put what's left over into safe,stable investments.Then,if (or,more likely,*when*) the day comes when you stop making millions you have something to fall back on.I'd wager that Robin Williams made tens of millions...if not more...during the height of his career.OTOH,I've made *much* less than that during my lifetime and have always lived comfortably and have never had to consider suicide because of financial issues.

IOW,I have little sympathy for him...at least in terms of his alleged financial distress.

[mmichaels1970]

the wise thing to do is live well below your means (but still comfortably) and put what's left over into safe,stable investments.

Absolutely agree. However IF he was bipolar, a symptom of it is poor money management especially during high manic episodes. Here's a pretty good article on it.

Once the high manic episode cycles into a low manic episode, they look at the money they just p*ssed away which feeds into their depression. Nasty cycle.

[Political Junkie Too]

There are certain occupations that are volatile and unpredictable in terms of income.Sports and showbiz are two that come to my mind.One day you can be making millions and three years later you're making nothing.

One celebrity who comes to mind is Marie Osmond (because I've met her several several times).

She and her brother Donny had a popular TV show from 1976-1979. Each also had popular singles on the radio, but they faded from public view after their TV show ended.

For a while, she dabbled in acting and Broadway, she had an independent talk radio show, and for a year or two a TV talk show with Donny.

She eventually began a second career in crafting, scrapbooking, and collectible doll designing/sculpting. She appeared frequently on QVC to sell her products. This may have been more of a necessity than a career desire due to her second divorce (and large alimony payments) while being a single mother of 8 children (two natural, the rest adopted). Compare this with Williams' claim that he made movies to pay the bills. Marie had bills, too, and she became an entrepreneur to do so.

Fast forward a few years, and Marie appeared as a contestant on Dancing With The Stars, where she came in 3rd place and reintroduced the Osmonds to America. Two seasons later, brother Donny wins the contest. The following year, she closed down her longtime Provo Utah crafting office and staff and reassembled the music and dance team from the early days and they signed a contract to headline at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, where they are still the marquee act on the Strip.

With her entertainment career back in the foreground, and at the top of their game, Marie just recently announced that she's ended her doll business completely, and now her entertainment career is a strong as it's ever been.

She had her demons to deal with, too. Marie wrote a book about her struggles with post-partem depression. One of her sons committed suicide a few years ago. At least she found happiness again and remarried her first husband.

-PJ

[EDINVA]

That sounds like good advice, but sports/show biz celebs live in a different universe. They have to mingle with their peers, the ‘successful’ in their field. They have to live ‘the lifestyle.’

Few can go it alone socially, without the bling. In part, it’s that networking that gets them the next offer, the attention that attracts the endorsements, etc.