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The Financial Pitfalls of Celebrity Success
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Psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow on reports Whitney Houston lost most of her $100 million fortune.
- Duration 5:27
- Date Feb 21, 2012
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Psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow on reports Whitney Houston lost most of her $100 million fortune.
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The death of Whitney Houston is a tragedy reports say the -- blew through most of our hundred million dollar fortune.
Following years of substance abuse and high living.
A hundred million dollars and she's not alone psychologist keep -- joins me now he's part of the -- Eighteen so here's my question doctor are there more celebrity -- Better spend thrifts they go through all this money or just -- it doesn't seem that way because we hear reports about them.
Now I think it's true -- Jerry the bottom line is that it probably is the case.
That if you are someone who needs celebrity.
Who runs to fame like good drug.
Well then you might use money like a drug to and we all know what happens if you're -- bottomless pit and you don't think you're lovable and you're looking for.
That love in all the wrong places it never works.
You run out you know I mean I read a lot of stories about says and of course there's been a time of coverage.
When you look at this he keep asking yourself quite -- people fought like -- -- -- the deep and do they have something in common is it is it something about their personality -- that's drawn to the spotlight and then also more likely that to have problems.
Well listen I think one thing that people should realize is that it really is true to some extent that if you have.
-- unusual and extraordinary talent you might be a little bit more like go Ferrari and then a Camry.
Those kinds of cars are in the shop because they're fragile.
So I'll allow that if you have an immense creative gift you might be emotionally a little bit more fragile.
But it's also the case that whether you're running to be somebody who acquires a billion dollars as an investment banker -- -- hundred million wasn't enough.
Or you have to feel you have to fill stadiums full of fans applauding you anything that you need.
Anything that you must have because it's like a drug.
That covers up deep feelings of insecurity those won't stay covered forever there's no amount of applause.
No number of millions that will cover up deep questions of self worth and whether you're worth anything at all.
Well you know it occurs to me that -- you know some stars are surrounded by support.
They have friends they have -- -- they have agents not only do they have the gifts they also have people who are behind them.
But why don't these people have a sense of personal responsibility.
Inside of them I mean look.
My view is if you're given -- -- you have a greater responsibility.
To society.
To use them and -- and why it's like.
Well and you probably would use those gifts wisely -- I animal rights knowing who they are talent would GAAP.
But listen the people around Whitney -- -- after all and I don't mean to indict anyone.
But what sort of people see you -- or with blood streaming down your legs say she's not herself she's brought on drugs again or -- -- And they do nothing.
Those are co dependent people -- and gamblers.
Who enjoyed their time in the limelight.
Because she was able to attract the limelight -- dancing in -- shadows up to the side of the stage.
And they should be indicted for that they don't -- get a a clean break.
The truth is you're supposed to stand up for people you're supposed to say look I'm going to court.
I'm gonna have you locked up against -- will if you keep trying to kill yourself.
-- -- drug thing.
That is a friend.
That's a true friend somebody -- that family member.
How responsible are we as you know I -- I read a lot of the stories I -- a lot of coverage of Whitney of course every time this happens Michael Jackson.
You name the star.
You name this singer and then the actor.
You know we're all addicted were addicted -- these stories do we how could happen.
We don't help it happened here's the thing you know everybody -- there is a -- should forgive him or herself because number one.
We naturally attracted the talent that nobody should be held in disrepute because of that secondly.
We all understand that some level.
That this is a test this is a human drama.
If you give it a lot the question is is it because you are in possession of yourself.
Or is it because you are trying.
To lose yourself in all that money and all that fame it's one of the critical life dramas and it's no accident that that would attract an audience of people.
Because it's a moral play.
It's an ethical dilemma and we want real -- the hero to emerge to come back from a deficit and really claim herself in this case sadly.
She wasn't able to do that the wounds were too deep.
The questions about whether she was worth anything were to serious but it is possible for people to make that turn I've -- -- People to dig themselves -- -- in my office.
I see -- in my office every day I will tell you people can come back from.
Deep despair they can lose everything and rebuild what they have to remember.
Is that they were always worth something even before they sung a note or made -- dollar and that's right it can't happen doctor well thanks for coming on tonight really appreciate your time.
-- cherry take care --