Gary Busey Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Gary Busey’s net worth and salary?

Gary Busey, an American actor renowned for his performances in both films and theater, currently holds a net worth of $500 thousand. His notable film appearances include “The Buddy Holly Story,” “The Firm,” “Lost Highway,” “Point Break,” and “Black Sheep.” Additionally, he has featured in numerous television series such as “Gunsmoke,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “Law & Order,” and “Entourage.” Furthermore, Busey has gained recognition for his unpredictable persona on reality shows, including “Celebrity Apprentice” (where he participated in Season 4 and Season 6) and “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.”

Financial Problems

Reports from 2008 indicated that Gary faced eviction from his Malibu rental due to alleged rent nonpayment.

Unfortunately, Gary Busey has gone through challenging financial struggles. On February 6, 2012, he sought Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in California, declaring debts exceeding $500,000. His filings revealed that he owned less than $50,000 in assets while owing around $500,000 to $1 million to various creditors, including the IRS, Wells Fargo, and UCLA Medical Center, among others.

Early Life

Born William Gary Busey on June 29, 1944, in Goose Creek, Texas, his family relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he was in the fourth grade. He attended Bell Junior High School and Nathan Hale High School. Initially, he enrolled at a community college in Kansas before transferring to Pittsburg State University on a football scholarship. Aspiring to be a professional football player, his dreams were thwarted when he sustained a knee injury, leading to the loss of his athletic scholarship. Consequently, he transferred to Oklahoma State University, dropping out just one class shy of graduation, during which he developed an interest in acting.

Career

Busey began his career as a drummer in a band during the 1960s and ’70s, performing under the aliases “Teddy Jack Eddy” and “Sprunk.” His film debut came in 1974 with “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot,” where he portrayed a supporting character alongside Clint Eastwood. He gained significant recognition with his breakthrough role in “The Buddy Holly Story” in 1978, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He
“`

Busey received the Best Actor award from the National Society of Film Critics for his performance in this role. He consistently appeared in films throughout the 1980s, starring in titles such as “Silver Bullet,” “Insignificance,” “Barbarosa,” and “Bulletproof.” His role as an antagonist in the “Lethal Weapon” series opposite Mel Gibson and Danny Glover further solidified his presence in the film industry.

Entering the 1990s, Busey took part in several high-profile movies, which included “Point Break,” “Predator 2,” “Under Siege,” “Rookie of the Year,” “The Firm,” and “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” In the 2000s, he was seen in the Comedy Central show “I’m With Busey,” lent his voice to an episode of “The Simpsons,” and acted in the mini-series “Into the West,” in addition to various other television and film roles. Busey also contributed his voice to the game “Grand Theft Auto.” In 2006, he featured in the controversial Turkish nationalist film “Valley of the Wolves,” which faced accusations of fascism, anti-Semitism, and being anti-American. The following year, Busey appeared in three episodes as a more eccentric version of himself in the HBO series “Entourage.”

With the late 2000s came Busey’s frequent appearances in several reality television programs, such as “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew,” “Celebrity Apprentice 4,” “Celebrity Apprentice 6,” “Celebrity Paranormal Project,” and “Celebrity Fit Club.” He made history in 2014 as the first American winner of the U.K. version of “Celebrity Big Brother.” In 2015, he participated in the 21st season of “Dancing with the Stars,” where he was paired with dancer Anna Trebunskaya, though they were eliminated in week four, finishing in 10th place.

In the summer of 2019, it was revealed that Busey would portray God in the Off-Broadway musical “Only Human.”

In 2020, Busey was featured on the Amazon Prime television show “Gary Busey: Pet Judge,” where he presides over a courtroom addressing disputes involving pets. The show is not a reality program; rather, it is scripted and features actors, delivering a uniquely strange and humorous experience.

Personal Life

Busey tied the knot for the first time with Judy Helkenberg, with whom he shares a son, Jake Busey, born in 1971, who followed in his father’s footsteps to become an actor. The couple divorced in 1990.

He has two additional children: a daughter named Alectra from a previous relationship and a son named Luke, born to his current wife Steffanie Sampson in 2010. Steffanie is both a comedian and a clinical hypnotherapist.

In 1988, Busey faced serious challenges…

In a motorcycle accident, he sustained injuries while not wearing a helmet, resulting in a fractured skull. During the brain surgery to address the subdural hematoma caused by the accident, Busey briefly died. In that moment of death, he reported experiencing a journey to the other side, where he received spiritual insights. Medical professionals suspected that the crash and skull fracture might have resulted in lasting brain damage; however, Busey remains convinced that he does not suffer from any brain damage.

In 1997, a cancerous tumor, the size of a plum, was surgically removed from his sinuses.

As a result of cancer, he no longer has sinuses or tear ducts.

Busey struggled with a cocaine addiction during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He experienced an overdose in May 1990 and asserts that he has not used cocaine since that incident.

Real Estate

As a longtime resident of Malibu, California, Gary Busey can frequently be spotted shopping for groceries and engaging in various activities around Malibu.