T.O.: Broke, lonely, “in hell”
Atlanta-connected former famous footballer Terrell Owens is in the news again.
Of course, it’s not good news.
T.O.’s got money problems, among other troubles, according to a piece in GQ.
The once-electric wideout earned $80 million over a career marked by both accomplishment and controversy, but now, he says, he’s broke.
He’s also friendless and apparently despondent, living in an apartment in L.A.
Those money troubles, he says, stem from bad business decisions _ investments made at the suggestion of those presumed to be knowledgeable and operating in his best interests.
T.O. says he was never a big spender himself.
Now 38, he’s still aching for a comeback, on and off the field.
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244 comments Add your comment
Deezy
January 25th, 2012
2:41 pm
I agree with blkshepherd. They are a lot of other people out here dealing with real life issues that need prayer. He his being humbled now. A lot of T.O. issues are character related in my opinion he just needs to grow up and mature. I don’t think he will not be missing any meals and end up living out on the street.
pat
January 25th, 2012
2:52 pm
I don’t really wish him any ill, but if you cannot keep some part of $80 million, I am really short on pity. If you give me $80 mil, I guarantee you will not hear of me going broke unless I was robbed blind and had my identity stolen.
I am not saying it couldn’t happen, it just doesn’t happen with out a great deal of stupidity. Like hiring a publicist. If you don’t say stupid crap you don’t need one.
The GA courts hate fathers
January 25th, 2012
2:53 pm
~MRA~
January 25th, 2012
1:16 pm
The absurd amount of child support that he has paid certainly contributed to his financial problems. I hope the women who slept with him just to get a paycheck end up as broke as he is. Child support should be about children. It should not be about rewarding women with obscene amounts of money. It should not be about punishing men.
CORRECT! I know one of TO’s baby mama. She is an ex stripper from my hometown. She alone recieves $5,000 a month tax free (when he pays it).
I’ve been paying my ex for going on 7 years. She took/takes full advantage of the PREDJUDICE AGAINST FATHERS that is in the court system in the State of Georgia. The system needs to be overhauled.
john
January 25th, 2012
2:58 pm
People will come down on T.O. because he always played and acted like he desrved special attention. The fact that he is broke is very common for football players and regular folk like us writing about his trouble. Only 8 percent of americans retiring at age 65 live above the poverty level. Looks like many of us/you will learn what it is to be broke in time.
A LESSON LIVED IS A LESSON LEARNED
January 25th, 2012
3:00 pm
He isn’t the ONLY one time very wealthy individual out here that has become broke. The list would be very long if you start writing down the names & would take days if not months or years to read off. Whitney Houston got at the time was the largest singing contract of the amount of $100 million about 10 years ago & she’s broke. It’s so many of them, but if you don’t make wise decisions like putting away for a rainy day, using drugs, having kids out of wedlock by different men/women, overspending, etc. this is the outcome of what happens. I may feel just a little bit of sadness for them, but not much. They have made more money than me & the majority of the world will make or see in our lifetime. I guess all of these baby mamas will have to go out & get a job now since spreading their legs & becoming impregnated will not pay off anymore. T.O., get it together, it’s not too late so you can start by sterilization. You have more than enough babies in your lifetime. Pray & ask God for guidance, find another sports employment, it’s not the end of the world, you are young & may think that, but you STILL have a lot to be thankful for & to live for. Good Luck!!
blkshepherd
January 25th, 2012
3:02 pm
Thank you DEEZY
I personally have nothing against TO. neither am I a fan nor have I ever been one but KNOW he will be all right and if he dosnt Well he is no different from any other Adult that is going through a rough patch.
But to just drop everything and Pray for this man where there are SO MANY OTHERS really needing help prayer a home a job and good health and I am going to get on my knees and pray for this man who ran around with his Nose up in the air looking down on folks? With his MILLIONS? Who was praying for him when he was a Millionare?
I have ran across many folks when they were sitting on their High White horse looking down on folks then when they fall to the ground and on the same level as the folks they look down their noses at with head held high Now, suddenly everyone is suppose to Pray for them.
Prayer Dont work like that. I pray for the girl who lost her arm to a Pit bull attack, I pray for the Police officer that lost her life in line of duty, I pray for the elderly couple who lost their lives on that cruise ship that ran aground in Italy. I pray for how that family feels finding out that was their relative that was found after she disappeard day after christmas from her buckhead condo.
Theres PLENTY OF PRAYING that really NEEDS PRAYER. Not saying TO dont need prayer but Hell I need prayer myself. I am sorry TO is not as bad off is the media is making him out to be and if he is Well weclome to the Real World. Who is PRAYING for the rest of us?
GET a JOB like the regular Joe. Pay your bills and take care of those Four kids you made. I will Pray for you to take care of the Kids you made.So my hard earned Taxes wont have to Take care of the Kids He Made. Thats the only Prayer TO is going to get from me.
Matt from MN
January 25th, 2012
3:04 pm
The “Schadenfreude” in this story is overwhelming. How in the HELL do you blow through $80 million? Guess how he’ll be finding out how the “little people” live on a minimum wage. What a moron.
SoundsLikeTotalBS
January 25th, 2012
3:17 pm
Please allow me to take a moment to have some respect and pity on someone who ran through 80 million dollars, Okay?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Glad the idiot lost the money and here’s hoping he winds up broke and working at a McD’s.
#occupy my desk...
January 25th, 2012
3:28 pm
Hear this story way too often. Magic Johnson runs a program for young athletes who make it big – it is really cool. He says buy 1 car, buy 1 house and hire people to manage your money – the second he hears “dad” “brother” “cousin” he kicks them out of his office. These kids don’t realize that a 300k Ferrari is worth 120 next year. A $12mm mansion has $200k in property taxes every year – and those never go away and never go down.
I feel bad for these guys – I know we can call them morons and, as is common today, take some pleasure in their downfall, but these guys never had anyone looking out for them. Everyone wanted a piece of them and their wealth. And like TO, now that the $ is gone, so are all the doters.
Itolduso
January 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
don’t feel sorry for mr. dumbazz — now go take care of your children — does not take money to be a father
OJ
January 25th, 2012
3:31 pm
I’ll be his friend…..
john springfeild il
January 25th, 2012
3:45 pm
hey he has a huge chance in hot air balloons
BUCKMASTER
January 25th, 2012
3:46 pm
Its called CRACK people them DUBS add up quick dont they bro. Lucky for him hes connected to the A.T.L. he will fit right in with the rest of the busters. See ya at the M.O…………T.O.
Fool who voted for Obama
January 25th, 2012
3:47 pm
All I want to know is did TO pay his fair share to the Gov’t? If not he should owe the Gov’t about $50,000,000.
Sam the Sham
January 25th, 2012
3:54 pm
This is what happens when you’re no longer rich enough to be an a-hole. Nobody is willing to tolerate a broke, irresponsible a-hole. Maybe it’s time to take his broke broke home.
Honky Talkin
January 25th, 2012
4:07 pm
Yaaaaawn…….
Brandon
January 25th, 2012
4:09 pm
Reading all the posts….. For Christians we are supposed to pray for everyone all the time. Regardless of their situation. The prayer should be for his realtionship to become better with his Savior. Humbleness and all else will follow. I actually like TO as a player but he showed us a very foolish and childish side that made a lot of people sour. Didnt know him or cared to know him personally but I understand why people wanted him to eat Humble Pie. I do know he isnt the first or the last and I try not to judge b/c I dont want troubles to come my way caused by me being happy for another mans fall. ~ 2 Cents
CHOCOLATE SUNSHINE
January 25th, 2012
4:10 pm
♥♥To T.O♥♥.: YOU ARE NOT BROKE, LONELY AND IN HELL. YOU ARE A KING!! Dont’ deceive yourself with these negatives and lies. YOU WILL RISE AGAIN, STAND STRONG LIKE A KING. ♥♥ TRUST & WATCH ♥GOD♥ WORK IN YOUR LIFE !!! ♥BLESSINGS!!!♥
Dave
January 25th, 2012
4:10 pm
How about UFL, AFL, CFL, Europe ??? He can still make a living….
rastusbrown
January 25th, 2012
4:11 pm
Who did he ever help except himself.
Marquesha
January 25th, 2012
4:17 pm
Should be required reading as a cautionary tale for every pro athlete. This sort of financial recklesness apparently is fairly common. An acquaintance who works for the Falcons told me awhile back that some of the younger players have zero money sense.
native atlantan
January 25th, 2012
4:19 pm
Loosers are always loosers, sometimes it just takes a while for everyone to see.
T-O blows
January 25th, 2012
4:27 pm
please SPARE me the holier than thou people who are scolding anyone who rips T-O. If you are even a casual NFL fan you’ve seen more than enough to know that this guy was a completely rude obnoxious jerk. and GAwaboi– it’s BECAUSE I & billions others love pro sports & pay his salary that I now have more than a right to criticize him after he blows thru $80 million. Bad investments? That can happen to anyone, but how can that possibly explain losing $80 million?!?
PitBull
January 25th, 2012
4:28 pm
Holy Crap!! I never knew there were so many PERFECT people in this area who even call themselves “CHRISTIANS”. I’m just so glad that I don’t serve the same God that you all serve.
Mark
January 25th, 2012
4:31 pm
I remember seeing T.O.’s Stone Mountain home years ago with volleyball court, beach, full indoor basketball court, pool – and you say he didn’t blow it???? He was an idiot with his money and the only friends he had were there because of the money – typical and sad. Another pro athlete with the same results – they say it happens to more than 60% within 5 years of retirement. Not just T.O.
Diop
January 25th, 2012
4:32 pm
Wow!T.O. must have really pis**d in you guys Cheerios. So he made money and lost it. He’s not the first, and won’t be the last. He was a football player. Did he borrow any money from you and not pay it back? Did he fondle you and threaten your job? Did he sexually assault your kid under the guise of being a mentor? Did he wrap a car around a tree and kill his best friend? Has he sent pictures of his genitals to other employees?
Such misplaced anger. Jealousy is an ugly trait.
Diop
January 25th, 2012
4:34 pm
T-O blows
January 25th, 2012
4:27 pm
Bad investments? That can happen to anyone, but how can that possibly explain losing $80 million?!?
Ask the people who invested with Bernie Madoff.
MelDee
January 25th, 2012
4:43 pm
I don’t feel sorry for anyone who has made $80 million dollars and now says he’s broke. Where’s your girl Kerry now?
MEANEYMOUSE
January 25th, 2012
4:58 pm
A fool and his money are soon departed!!. Dude I don’t feel sorry4u. You could have been set for life. You had it all bro!! You had it all!!
pb
January 25th, 2012
5:07 pm
Diop @ 4:32,
You are right. Jealousy is an ugly trait, and most of the people who seem to “hate” him are jealous they did not get that rich in life. However, that does not change fact that he always came across as an arrogant jerk, and will not get much sympathy from most people.
Sluggo
January 25th, 2012
5:21 pm
“GET a JOB like the regular Joe. Pay your bills and take care of those Four kids you made.”
Thank You, blkshepherd. This is your most valid sentence on any AJC blog to this date.
Jock Itch
January 25th, 2012
5:27 pm
At some point the party ends in the NFL, that’s why these dumb a$$ football players should show up for classes and get a degree, that way they can get a real job like the rest of us.
Sasser
January 25th, 2012
5:44 pm
Call Obama about Food Stamps!!
sparta_bubba
January 25th, 2012
5:47 pm
T.O., T.S > Tough Sh!t…. The City Of LA is always looking for someone to hang off the back of a garbage truck. At 38 you probably still run pretty good, so why don’t you run on down there and apply for a j-o-b. If you leave your ego and personality at your apartment, they might hire you. Good Luck!!!!
The adviser
January 25th, 2012
5:51 pm
Terrell – here’s a thought: You could pimp yourself – the’s probably a few dudes who might pay to play with ya.
I’m being generous today – you can have that advice for free. I won’t charge you a cent. In my real job, I make large advising my clients.
Fan of the Game
January 25th, 2012
6:16 pm
This is the same guy that the media made out to be a hero, remember Monday night football, and they will probably put him on one of these talk shows. It is people like him and Lawrence Taylor that have put this country in a mess.
IRA LOVETT
January 25th, 2012
6:16 pm
I WONDER WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAA HAA HAA.
JackDennis
January 25th, 2012
6:26 pm
You mopes are compassionless.
Boomerang
January 25th, 2012
6:36 pm
somebody should sell individuals of this sort ‘broke’ insurance so when their illustrious, pompous, careers are over they can have a couple of dollars to fall back on. or maybe someone could sell them brain insurance or loudmouth insurance.
a fool and his money are soon parted
T. O. Let
January 25th, 2012
6:43 pm
Go to school, get a job!
Roadrunner
January 25th, 2012
6:54 pm
Not that I would have wished bad things for him, but T.O. and all the other blinged out thuggy ME ME ME athletes have ruined professional sports for many of us. Not a problem, gives me more time to follow college sports. GO DAWGS!!
Mark God
January 25th, 2012
7:01 pm
Maybe Mark Richt will go to church with him and pray. Let’s see what that will get him.
3d
January 25th, 2012
7:01 pm
My daughter in law tutored him in college.
She says he was a pain in the butt even back then.
Still, I’ll pray for him.
blkshepherd
January 25th, 2012
7:02 pm
@SLUGGO
“Thank you Blkshepherd this is your most valid statement on any AJC blog to this date”
hmmm thanks I think:-/ or should I feel like Diana Ross feels accepting her first Grammy Award?
Watch somebody comment and say he HAD to mention Diana Ross name
DebDoes
January 25th, 2012
7:05 pm
80 million….I could live for the rest of my life comfortably, help improve the lives of all of my family and friends, save some, donate some to charity, and still wonder what I was going to do with the rest. No, I wouldn’t be driving expensive cars, living in huge homes, sporting massive amounts of bling and partying with all my ’so called friends’. Oh, and I am doing just what I talk about above with way less than 80 million.! TO, time to grow up and perhaps read the millionaire next door!
Snowman
January 25th, 2012
7:25 pm
Its is still amazing how we are so quick to judge. I bet most, if not all the people on this blog ever met him, talked to him, or much less knew him as a person. I did, he was a great friend of mine. At the least, he worked his butt off to be the best he could be. He played the game the way it was supposed to be played, then he had fun. Never did you hear of him getting in trouble off the field, never arrested, never tested positive for drugs, nothing. So he showed off when he scored, you paid for the ticket or watched the game. He had a God given talent and used it to compete at the highest level. Not the only person to make mistakes, but sure is being judged like he is. Someone earlier said it best, look at your own life and judge it. We only have one Judge that we will have to answer to one day.
washed up
January 25th, 2012
7:44 pm
to’s old and washed up–he blew all his money on mansions, cars and golddigger chicks. He can make a few hundred per game in arena ball to pay his club tabs.
native atlantan
January 25th, 2012
7:45 pm
Two things I cant stand, bigots and n*%&#@+$
Florida Guy
January 25th, 2012
7:46 pm
He earned what an entire neighborhood of working families couldn’t earn in a lifetime and now he wants a pity party cause he blew it being stupid, no doubt letting his “posse” run his affairs. Sorry buddy, I can’t really feel sorry for you there. That said, I do not wish ill will on anyone. Here’s hoping something comes your way, and if so, maybe you should remember some lessons learned from this little fall from grace.
John Abraham's Groin
January 25th, 2012
7:46 pm
My groin is still hurtin….