Celebrities are always doing things in a way that's larger than life. Whether it's eating gold leaf-topped ice cream confections, traveling in private jets or racking up tens of thousands of dollars at night clubs, the rich and famous are no strangers to lavish opulence - that kind that makes us regular, everyday folk cringe or green-eyed, depending on your tolerance. Yet that wonderful lifestyle comes at a steep price, and it is not uncommon to find that the jewels, cars and mansions were merely a smokescreen for fast-dwindling funds. Movie stars are dependent upon their box office success and businessmen on the bottom line, and both of these wealth factors are incredibly volatile. And then while their money situations might change, their continued indulgence in the lifestyle becomes something like an addiction or a desperate act to save face. It's a vicious cycle which often ends - as it could for any of us - with a declaration of bankruptcy. It is important to note that with the fresh start that bankruptcy offers, many famous people have rebounded and come back, stronger and, we think, wiser than before. Here are some recognizable names who have gone bankrupt over the years.

Larry King

With a career that has spanned decades, Larry King is a ubiquitous fixture on the talk show circuit. He has interviewed all manner of fellow celebs on his show Larry King Live on CNN, which ran from 1985 until 2010. And while he may have retired the show as a multimillionaire, his origins in broadcast journalism were, as they must be, quite humble. In the 1960s and 70s, before his rise to fame, he was a small-scale radio host, yet he lived like he had money to burn. His poor money management and an accusation of theft by a business partner put him over $300,000 in debt; he declared bankruptcy in 1978. Some career-related luck (and, we may assume, heightened financial awareness) gave King the opportunity make a great comeback over the next three decades. Well done, Larry.

Donald Trump

Love him or hate him, the Donald is an infamous celeb on the American TV and real estate landscape. And he's worth more than $2 billion, an enormous sum for a guy who has filed for bankruptcy four times. Actually, let's clear that up: his various businesses have filed for bankruptcy. The Donald might not have an appealing hairline, but the guy knows how to manage his personal finances, which he keeps separate from his work dealings. Still, he was forced to give up an airline, a fancy yacht and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of his pride.

MC Hammer

The hammer came down on this early-90s rapper, who is a textbook case depicting the fleeting nature of fame and fortune. More or less a two-hit wonder (can you name any other songs by MC Hammer aside from €U Can't Touch This€ and €2 Legit 2 Quit€?), he lived the high life of a major celebrity, blowing through what he estimated to be about $20 million - but it all came crashing down when he filed for bankruptcy in 1996.

Walt Disney

The man behind the cultural juggernaut which has most recently brought the smash hit Frozen into our homes (will we ever get €Let it Go€ out of our heads?), Walt Disney made some mistakes before he founded the company that would become an international byword for family entertainment. One of his earlier studios, known as Laugh-O-Gram, felt the pains associated with mismanaged money, and Disney was forced to declare bankruptcy. Yet, like all great innovators, he pulled himself up by his bootstraps and went on to become one of the most famous and influential men in the world.