Gary Busey Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Discovering Gary Busey’s net worth and salary

American film and stage actor Gary Busey’s net worth is estimated to be $500 thousand. He is widely recognized for his roles in films like “The Buddy Holly Story,” “The Firm,” “Lost Highway,” “Point Break,” and “Black Sheep.” Busey has also made appearances on popular television shows such as “Gunsmoke,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “Law & Order,” and “Entourage.” Additionally, he is known for his unpredictable nature on reality programming like “Celebrity Apprentice” (where he participated in Season 4 and Season 6) and “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.”

Challenges with Finances

In 2008, reports surfaced that Gary Busey was evicted from his Malibu residence due to rent non-payment.

Unfortunately, Gary Busey has faced severe financial difficulties. In February 6, 2012, Busey filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in California, citing debts exceeding $500,000. In his filing, Busey disclosed having less than $50,000 in assets and owing between $500,000-$1 million to various entities including the IRS, Wells Fargo, UCLA Medical Center, among others.

Early Days

Born William Gary Busey on June 29, 1944, in Goose Creek, Texas, he relocated with his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma during his fourth-grade year. His educational journey took him through Bell Junior High School and Nathan Hale High School. Initially starting at a Kansas community college on a football scholarship, a knee injury led to the end of his athletic aspirations. He briefly attended Oklahoma State University, later discovering his passion for acting.

Professional Journey

Kicking off his entertainment career as a drummer in the ’60s and ’70s under stage names like “Teddy Jack Eddy” and “Sprunk,” Busey entered the film scene in 1974 with his debut in “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot” alongside Clint Eastwood. His breakout role came in 1978 with “The Buddy Holly Story,” earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and a National Society of Film Critics Best Actor award. Progressing through the ’80s with roles in movies such as “Silver Bullet,” “Insignificance,” and the “Lethal Weapon” series opposite Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, Busey maintained a steady presence in the ’90s with notable films like “Point Break,” “Under Siege,” and “The Firm.”

Transitioning into the 2000s, Busey engaged in various projects, including the reality show “I’m With Busey,” “The Simpsons,” and the TV mini-series “Into the West.” His diverse career further extended to voiceovers for “Grand Theft Auto” and controversial appearances such as in the Turkish film “Valley of the Wolves.” In later years, Busey became a regular face on reality TV with gigs on shows like “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew,” “Celebrity Apprentice,” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Notably, in 2019, he graced the Off-Broadway stage as “God” in “Only Human” and entertained audiences in the scripted court show “Gary Busey: Pet Judge” on Amazon Prime in 2020.

Family & Relationships

Married to Judy Helkenberg, Busey shares a son, Jake Busey, born in 1971, who followed in his father’s acting footsteps. Following his divorce from Helkenberg in 1990, Busey went on to have two more children: Alectra, from a previous relationship, and Luke, born in 2010 to his spouse Steffanie Sampson, a comedian and clinical hypnotherapist.

Dating back to 1988, Busey suffered a severe motorcycle accident resulting in a fractured skull. Despite the harrowing ordeal, his recovery was accompanied by a unique experience during brain surgery where he claimed to have gained spiritual insights after briefly passing away, offering a glimpse into the beyond.

With permanent brain damage as a result, Gary Busey does not acknowledge having brain damage.

His sinuses had a plum-sized cancerous tumor removed in 1997.

Due to cancer, he lacks sinuses and tear ducts.

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Busey battled cocaine addiction, overdosing in May 1990, and asserting not to have used cocaine since that incident.

Real Estate

Residing in Malibu, California, Gary Busey has been a long-term resident, frequently spotted grocery shopping and engaging in daily activities.