Famous and familiar filers
Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865; the 16th President of the United States of America, declared bankruptcy in 1833 because of a failed business.
Walt Disney, 1901-1966; after having to file for bankruptcy in 1920 because of a failed business, the cartoon creator gave it another go. With help from friends and family, he started a new business and went on to create many iconic characters such as Mickey Mouse.
Johnny Unitas, 1933-2002; the legendary Hall of Fame NFL football quarterback had several unsuccessful business ventures after football, and he had to file bankruptcy in 1991.
Henry Ford, 1863-1947; his first two automobile manufacturing companies failed, leading him to file bankruptcy. In June 1903, at the age of 40, he started the Ford Motor Company, and the rest is history.
Francis Ford Coppola, 1939- ; one of the most famous film directors of all time, producing the Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now, had to file bankruptcy in 1982.
Ulysses S. Grant, 1822-1885; the 18th President of the United States of America filed in 1884 after leaving office.
MC Hammer (Stanley Burrell) 1962- ; the musician and entertainer, filed for bankruptcy in 1996 because he did not have the income to defend all the lawsuits that were filed against him.
Donald Trump, 1946- ; failed businesses led the famously rich man to file four bankruptcies, in 1991, 1992, 2004 and 2009.
Mark Twain, 1835-1910; after investing most of his money in an invention that turned out to be worthless, the famous American author filed for bankruptcy in 1894.
Larry King, 1933- ; the talk show host was forced to file bankruptcy twice, once in 1960 and then again in 1978.
Mickey Rooney, 1920- ; owing the Internal Revenue Service $1.75 million, the film actor filed for bankruptcy in 1962. After the bankruptcy he continued to act and has had many roles in movies and television. He is still performing live shows today.
Warren Sapp, 1972- ; an NFL Pro Bowl football player, who took the formerly hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Super Bowl in 2002, filed bankruptcy in 2013.
Milton Hershey, 1857-1945; after four failed companies in a row, the chocolatier filed bankruptcy and then started what is now Hershey’s Foods Corporation.
Even cities such as Detroit, Michigan, and counties such as Orange County, California have filed bankruptcies over the years.
Many, many well known corporations have helped themselves by filing bankruptcy. There are too many to list them all, but here is a sampling:
American Airlines (2011)
AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc. (2001)
Atari (famous for the iconic
video game "Pong") (2013)
Baldwin Piano & Organ Company (2001)
Bethlehem Steel Corporation (2001)
Blockbuster Inc. (2010)
Borders Group Inc.
(owner, Borders Books) (2011)
Burlington Industries, Inc. (2001)
Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (2001)
Chrysler LLC (2009)
Circuit City (2008)
Continental Airlines, Inc. (1967 & 1984)
Converse, Inc. (2001)
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (2005)
Dow Corning Corporation (1995)
Eastern Airlines, Inc. (1991)
Eastman Kodak Co. (2012)
Enron Corporation (2001)
FAO Schwarz toy stores (2003)
Frederick's of Hollywood, Inc. (2000)
Fruit of the Loom, Inc. (1999)
General Motors Corporation (2009)
Hostess Brands, Inc.
(maker of "Twinkies") (2012)
Japan Airlines (2010)
Kmart Corporation (2002)
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (2008)
Lionel Corporation (1967 & 1984)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2011)
Marvel Entertainment Group (1996)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (2010)
Montgomery Ward, Inc. (1997 & 2000)
Northwest Airlines Corporation (2005)
Orion Pictures Corporation (1992)
Owens Corning Corporation (2000)
Pan Am Corporation (1998)
Paramount Studios (1932)
Pepsi Cola Company (1923, 1931)
Planet Hollywood International, Inc.
(1999 & 2001)
Polaroid Corporation (2001)
Purina Mills, Inc. (1999)
Reader's Digest Association (2009)
Regal Cinemas, Inc. (2001)
Saab Automobile (2011)
Sbarro, Inc. (2011)
Sizzler International, Inc. (1996)
Six Flags, Inc. (2009)
Smith Corona Corporation (1995)
Sun-Times Media Group
(Chicago Sun-Times, L.A. Times) (2009)
Texaco, Inc. (1987)
Trans World Airlines, Inc.
TWA (1995 & 2000)
Tribune Group (Chicago Tribune,
Los Angeles Times) (2008)
Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc.
(1991; 1992; 2004; 2009)
US Airways (2002)
Vlasic Foods International, Inc. (2001)
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. (2005)
Western Union Corporation (1993)
WorldCom, Inc. (2002)
Zenith Electronics Corporation (1999)
