7. Escaped Bankruptcy
A multi-millionaire by age 20, Will confessed to spending lavishly early in his career. He and his bros once got Gucci to close their store so they could “enjoy a private shopping spree”. “Being able to buy anything you want makes you a little crazy,” he told PEOPLE.
Will spent his checks freely and underpaid his income taxes. The IRS eventually assessed a $2.8 million tax debt against Will, took many of his possessions, and “garnished his income”. He escaped bankruptcy when the NBC television network signed him to a contract and built a sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, around him.
Will was concerned about making the jump from musician to actor. He had auditions for The Cosby Show and A Different World. “I realized later how scared I was to take that step,” Will told PEOPLE.
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