14 Rich People Who Lost Everything They Had Talk About Life After Bankruptcy

Going up, it’s tough for some people to look back down. Many of us are afraid of living in poverty, scraping for crumbs, and pennies on the street. It’s a horrible experience that happens to all kinds of people – bad or good. One would think that being a millionaire will protect you from all kinds of financial failures.

But these stories prove that it’s not always true. And they really teach people what life is truly all about and what you can do after picking up yourself from the worst times of your life. Green Lemon would love to share these stories with our readers.

1.

The family business went bankrupt during the crisis, and I, who grew up in an above-average family, had to skip many birthdays not to have to buy gifts. We had to eat the same pot of beans for a whole week in 6 months. I’m 23 now and am a freelancer with my own agency, on the way to pay off all the debts while supporting my family. Gejminator / Reddit

2.

“I lost my partner, great home, job, and even dog within one year. My 14-year partner dissolves the marriage overnight and wanted everything from home, car to the appliances. I also lost the connection to my immediate family. My old landlord heard of my plight and offered my old home back, which absolutely helped a little. After getting laid off from my $90k salary job, I got depressed and gained 45 lbs.

I kept getting into short-lived gigs, had to sell all my jewelry, and cried when I had to sell my wedding rings. But today, I am still trying to get my life together, rebuilding it. Not back, but hopeful and loving friends stayed to give me emotional support. unknown author / Quora

3.

“We had just recovered from the financial crisis in 2008 and was living a good life in Dubai. My little sister and I attend private schools, my dad drives luxurious cars, and my mom had expensive clutches. We moved to Toronto, Canada, after my dad signed for a banking job in Iraq (but they didn’t tell me, so I don’t worry). He’d only come home a few days every few months but would spend all his time with us – he’s the best dad ever.

After Iraq entered a crisis, my dad ‘retired’ and got a job in London, so we relocated there by the end of 2015. Not as high-paying, but still good enough, and every day was amazing, but my dad was too lavish as he wanted us to live the best and most relaxed life ever. In 2016, everything changed when he was sued for something he didn’t know due. His reputation was tarnished, and this made it so hard for him to find a decent job. We had to move to a different area and attend public schools just when my sister and I began making friends.

I am no longer depressed, but I have occasional sadness due to missing my old life. But this won’t be my situation for long. I know my dad will eventually find a better job, and life will resume its norms. The only thing that motivates me now is the desire never to have this happen again in my life, the desire to learn from this mistake and be grateful for everything.” unknown author / Quora

4.

“The global financial crisis led me to my downfall financially. I tried to look for a job in vain until a friend offered me a job in one of his car-washing business. Me and my father used to think this is a humiliating job, but I reluctantly accepted it when I needed the money to buy my niece a present for her birthday.

Now, this story is not about me getting back up financially.

I was shameful, but on the third day I worked the job, I almost feel like the world was crumbling when I saw my assistant drove in with her new Lexus. But she stepped out of her car, smiled, and RAN over to give me a hug. She was so happy to see me getting a job because so many of her friends couldn’t even find one.

I realized that I’d been beating myself up needlessly, and saw how lucky I truly was. My worst fear morphed into something I started to look forward to. I got my confidence back, and it was obvious. I saw DOZENS of people I knew – clients, old customers, friends I’d lost touch with, and every single one of them said something positive. There was even an article in a local lifestyle magazine about me. I was working in a car wash – and nobody thought I was a failure. Not even my father.” Michael Aumock / Quora

5.

“My family used to have parties every night in our huge house where our maids and my mother’s parents also lived in. My dad later moved to Japan, but since then, the economy has been fluctuating. We moved to a smaller estate for us 4 kids, a mom, and a nanny. He managed to develop several lands in Beijing and Shanghai, but they got stolen by an employee at the end of his life.

I’ve lived on $10 a week and sometimes better, but this helps me look at money as something that’s not forever. I enjoy spending time with friends, especially my siblings, who were always nice to their baby sister. I am that fortunate girl of this family.” Vicki Chang / Quora

6.

“I was an export trader, but Civil Wars broke out in two of my major markets, causing cargos to get stranded in many areas. I became broken within a month and split up with my wife for different reasons. I restarted in Zimbabwe and invested in my 2nd wife’s farm after working as a consultant. 5 years later, I had 180 employees working on it.

Mugabe’s thugs captured me during the violent seizing in 2002 and forced me to agree not to return to the farm during the 3 days I was treated horribly. We lost everything, but we moved to Canada at the age of 54 and managed to buy an 8-year-old pickup truck.

It’s not what happens to you in life, but what you do about it that counts. Frightening as some periods of my life have been, I wouldn’t wish to change any of it. I found out who I really am and what I am made of. I learned the value of resilience. I am extremely grateful to be alive and on the way to accumulating wealth for the 3rd time.” Peter Wright / Quora

7.

A family member went from living in Beverly Hills to a taxi driver and couldn’t get back up. He even talked about the mansion he used to live with his passengers but kept blaming people when it was his poor investment choices and multiple divorces that drove him down.

The lesson for me is to stay conservative in my investments, live below my means, and most importantly, DON’T GET DIVORCED!

8.

“The bubble burst in 2008 was closing in, but I refused to heed to it. In the midst of recovery from 2 herniated discs surgery, my mortgage broken business crashed, and I began losing my assets one by one. Eventually, I moved in with my son and his roommates, but that wasn’t the lowest. I lost my mom after dad, and that’s it – I suffered from meltdown afterwards.

I didn’t know I had iron deficiency, which screwed up my energy, and despite my medical background and getting my license back, I was unable to handle the 12-hour shift. I moved into a dilapidated mobile home for $500, and 7 years later, I am still decorating it.

I feel grateful that the circumstances occurred the way they did for me to get to this place in time. I feel consistently happy about life. As hard as it was going through all the loss and changes, it was for the best, definitely!” Kathy Nelson / Quora

9.

The collapse happened to me twice and while I felt like blaming everyone and everything, I knew that it was because I didn’t plan for such catastrophe. I thought I was invincible. I wanted to become a recluse because I could feel people laughing behind my back.

But during my third climb, I learned to recognize my real friends stopped throwing money out and not living a lavish lifestyle anymore. I am no 10x worth more than what I did before the collapse in 2005. Could it happen again? Yes. But a lot less likely. Does it matter? No, because I know that because of my previous lessons, the next time I would have to climb out of the hole, it would be even easier because of the people (friends and family) with whom I have surrounded myself. Louie Keen / Quora

10.

A family of mom, dad, and 3 daughters had a trading business but they could not extend their rental on their golden spot of a house and moved away. They were spending lavishly before then and life began going downhill from there with the monthly bill of the new house reaching $400. The father’s heart grew weak and eventually passed away from it. The women of the family could not work because they never did nor were they trained for it. ololoxololo / pikabu

11.

“I had a good life and a running business that could support 4 vacations in a year. My GM stole the company’s money to the point it went under, and although my wife stood with me during the first few years, she eventually divorced me. I am always reminded of the phrase from ‘Fight Club’ which says, “You don’t own your possessions, your possessions own you.” Nick Pendrell / Quora

12.

The financial crisis crushed both of my businesses, and we went bankrupt right before Christmas. We had to sell many of our things to stay alive, and now we only live in a mini-van that we drive as minimal as possible. In my 50s, I doubt I’ll be able to save enough for my retirement. unknown author / Quora

13.

“A friend of mine during the 90s has rich parents and live lavishly while he’d brag about it at school. Ten years later, I dropped by the district of the school we used to attend and saw a familiar face. A loader who used to be the kid that brags about his family. Apparently, his father was betrayed by a business partner he had a disagreement with and he couldn’t pay for his prestigious economic specialization studies, so he dropped out. He’s a completely different guy now, a man with an empty gaze.” Neoraxis / pikabu

14.

“My friend was born a multimillionaire and is married to another of a similar caliber. They were filthy rich as in ‘business class flights only’ rich. The husband would change his car to Porsche and Mercedes every year, and they only live in the best locations in Manhattan. They get an allowance every year, and she’d get about $700k to $1m every year.

But they once got into an argument with their parents and stopped receiving an allowance. They spend only from their savings, but not as much. After 3 years, their uncle passed away, and his inheritance lasted them about 3 more years. Then, her mother passed away.

Living their life through the glasses of multimillionaires meant it never hit them that they’d need to work. They make bad investment decisions, and he actually got so sick from the stress that she had to make the decisions all the time now.

6 months ago, when I saw them for the last time, I invited them to have a coffee at Starbucks, and that was the first time in more than 15 years that they said thank you after I offered to pay for our breakfast. They don’t need to thank me for anything because during their life, just by inviting me to stay with them, they offered me much more than anything I’ve ever offered to them, but for the first time in their lives, they are learning to value every small good thing that life gives to them.

I was unfortunate it happened to them because they were really nice people. It’s easy to judge them for never bothered to have a job or be wiser with their money. However, she was born in a different universe for most of us.” Jerry Strazzeri / Quora