How Was Redd Foxx Financially Broke Before He Died?

[isiahthomas]

What did he do with his money? I remember hearing that he was having financial problems before he died. How did he end up like that? Was he throwing away his bills in real life without paying them like he did on Sanford And Son? LOL. I hope not.

[MickeyMac]

The IRS

Redd Foxx never paid taxes and they came after him. I remember seeing a news report about how the IRS repossed his home and took away his cars. It was sad.

[Zoneboy]

I heard years ago that Redd was an extremely generous man who shared his money with those less fortunate than himself. This may have been a factor when the IRS came after him for back taxes. Redd may also have squandered some his money and he may have died broke but if he was able to help others along the way then he didn't die in vain.

[isiahthomas]

What makes him think he wasn't supposed to pay taxes? Does he think he was special because he was a celebrity and celebrities aren't supposed to pay taxes like everybody else? LOL. I don't like paying bills either but i have to because if i don't, i'll go to prison LOL. I'm not trying to go there because i know the inmates would be picking on me all the time. Wesley Snipes is lucky he isn't in prison for not paying his taxes. He's supposed to still be going to court about that right? I don't think he's been sentenced yet. Marvin Gaye also was ducking the IRS before he died. That's why he moved to London to get away from them. Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers is supposed to be outta prison now i guess. He only did 3 years for tax evasion. He went to prison 3 years ago.

[catlover79]

The IRS

Redd Foxx never paid taxes and they came after him. I remember seeing a news report about how the IRS repossed his home and took away his cars. It was sad.
Not to mention the IRS auctioned off almost everything else he had.

[gidgetgrape]

I remember the news reports about the taxes too. Here are some articles about it:

Redd Foxx Faces Homeless Holidays; IRS Seizes Property‎ - Dec 18, 1989 (http://books.google.com/books?id=qI4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52&dq=redd+foxx,+taxes)

Redd Foxx and IRS Agree on Payment of Tax Debt‎ - Apr 23, 1990 (http://books.google.com/books?id=4a8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57&dq=redd+foxx,+taxes)

Redd Foxx Says: 'I Married Kaho Because She Stood by Me when I Didn't Have a Quarter' - Jul 29, 1991 (http://books.google.com/books?id=JL0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52&dq=redd+foxx,+taxes)

Redd Foxx Returns in New TV Show‎ - Oct 1991 (http://books.google.com/books?id=NdQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28&dq=redd+foxx,+taxes)
This article also lists his divorce from his third wife as a source of his money problems.

The Ironic Death of Redd Foxx - Part 3 (http://www.tvparty.com/mysfoxx3.html)
This article states Redd had an expensive cocaine habit too.

[GARFIELDKOOL]

That sad, but at the same time, he was underpaid on Sanford and Son. According to the E! Hollywood True Story on Redd Foxx, he was making $15,000 a week. Even though that was the 70s, he should have been making more, because the show was a top 5 hit. At one point, it was neck and neck with All In the Family for the #1 spot. He one time demanded Carroll O'Connor's salary. O'Connor was pulling in $250,000 in episode.

Redd also had a drinking and gambling problem too. That didn't help his finances either.

[Stuck In The '70's]

That sad, but at the same time, he was underpaid on Sanford and Son. According to the E! Hollywood True Story on Redd Foxx, he was making $15,000 a week. Even though that was the 70s, he should have been making more, because the show was a top 5 hit. At one point, it was neck and neck with All In the Family for the #1 spot. He one time demanded Carroll O'Connor's salary. O'Connor was pulling in $250,000 in episode.

Redd also had a drinking and gambling problem too. That didn't help his finances either.
and Suzanne Somers thought she was underpaid. Redd was clearly the star of this show and together with Carroll O'Connor and Alan Alda, one of the biggest sitcom stars of the '70s. It's sad what happened to him.

[Big Fred Fan]

When Redd died broke, Eddie Murphy paid for his funeral giving him a lavish, Las Vegas star-studded sendoff fit for a king! Redd Foxx was the only celebrity invited to Elvis's wedding! Colonel Tom Parker attended Redd's funeral.

[isiahthomas]

That was nice of Eddie Murphy to pay for Redd's funeral. I didn't know Redd had alcohol, gambling and drug problems. That's sad but i guess i shouldn't be surprised because those alcohol and drug problems happens to most celebrities. I will never understand why people drink alcohol, gamble money and do drugs.

[magellan333]

I heard he had a bad coke problem. The TV Party website said he did coke openly on the set of Sanford and Son and wore a gold coke spoon around his neck when doing stand up. I watched one of his standup routines available on Netflix. It is definitely and adult show, but it was funny.

[Schmoopie]

It just disgusts me that these actors make a boatload of money per episode (more than some people make in a year, if you factor in inflation!), and just blow it away. So irresponsible. You'd think they would have better sense than that!

[magellan333]

It just disgusts me that these actors make a boatload of money per episode (more than some people make in a year, if you factor in inflation!), and just blow it away. So irresponsible. You'd think they would have better sense than that!

I've never quite understood it either. If I was blessed with such good fortune, I'd have something to show for it and some leftover.

[catlover79]

I've never quite understood it either. If I was blessed with such good fortune, I'd have something to show for it and some leftover.
Same here - I'd keep just enough for my family and I to live on comfortably and give the rest to charity/mission work.