Boris Becker's trophies auctioned to pay debts

Azure

G.O.A.T.
Indeed sad. What did he do with all his money? I really can't imagine. He was also coaching the world's best player for a few years who must have paid him handsomely. Just throwing and wasting every bit of money I suppose. What a shame.
 

Lleytonstation

Talk Tennis Guru
Indeed sad. What did he do with all his money? I really can't imagine. He was also coaching the world's best player for a few years who must have paid him handsomely. Just throwing and wasting every bit of money I suppose. What a shame.
Obviously he did not make the money the top guys do now, but imagine a Wawrinka or Murray being broke 20 years from now.
 

terribleIVAN

Hall of Fame
This punk always threatened to hit me during his service motion.


Now, seriously, this is what happens when you never completed a college education. He was a teen star who never touched the ground since 17 and who thought he would get millions thrown at his feet for the whole duration of his life.

I ain't shedding a tear for him.
 

Cupcake

Hall of Fame
When you play tennis from childhood, basic education suffers for many of these guys. Not just 'schooling', but many are raised in a bubble of nothing but success and probably think it will go on forever.

I think Becker also had various divorce and paternity 'i$$ues'.
 

Lebsta

Rookie
Really don’t understand this. He’s been coaching and commentating for many years so it’s not like he hasnt been working. Guessing it was down to gambling or failed investments
 

Lleytonstation

Talk Tennis Guru
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/13/andy-roddick-throws-away-trophies

"[Roddick] decided that these don’t mean success to me, these don’t define me and I don’t really care to have these material things sitting around the house, so he threw them in the trash"

Kept the Slam trophy. ;)
I don't believe he did that. If so, that would be stupidity as he could have auctioned it off for charity instead of having it recycled and used as Feds 2017 Wimbledon replica trophy. :p
 

Raiden

Hall of Fame
Obviously he did not make the money the top guys do now
Actually he did.

He's still in the top among lifetime earners (prize money + sponsorship). But celebrity lifestyle can be a b*tch.

He needed to sell this trophy because obviously he had incurred debt. That's why the money from Djokovic and being sponsored by German companies and an international Poker brand wasn't enough to cover his obligations to financial institutions.
 
R

Robert Baratheon

Guest
Indeed sad. What did he do with all his money? I really can't imagine. He was also coaching the world's best player for a few years who must have paid him handsomely. Just throwing and wasting every bit of money I suppose. What a shame.
Living life to the fullest.
 

tennis_pro

Bionic Poster
Again? I thought he already auctioned them off like a year ago. He's selling his early 250 trophies now lmao?
 

reaper

Legend
I think we're well past the era of needing the trophy to show you've won Wimbledon. The trophies are probably of minimal sentimental value to Becker: he doesn't lose champion status. Plenty of people would like to be able to raise money so easily: ie the ones who need to work for 2 decades to make 680k pounds.
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
The fact is that Becker thought he could turn himself into a great businessman, and given the capital he had accumulated he might have, but unfortunately he didn't really have a clue.

If he had turned his money over to the right kind of investment managers he would have been far better off so, no, he didn't drink and wench his way through 100 million. He was just bad at what he chose to do.
 

HazBeen18

Rookie
In his bio pic from a few years back, he basically blamed "a lack of financial training" (paraphrasing) on his ability to handle money. In other words, he didn't plan well, outrageously overspent on things, and it came back to bite him. It's the same issue American athletes have when they retire. Many of them burn through their millions rather quickly. Every athlete (before receiving their first paycheck) needs to take a mandatory financial management class.

And then there's the other issues with his champagne tastes... and he did like to gamble a bit... and he did like his models... and... and... yeah, having a tough time sympathizing honestly. :)
 

JackGates

Legend
I don't feel sorry for him. Because even if he is "broke", he will still be upper class, no matter what.
Mike Tyson lost 300 millions, but now he is worth 3 millions, I can't say I feel sorry for him, he is still crushing it. Those guys, don't really go broke. They still have connections, friends, investments, net worth or some real estate. Becker is still probably worth millions.
 

reaper

Legend
The financial genius to emerge from tennis is the other famous German born player Bernard Tomic. Bernard has very few trophies to sell, but has an extensive real estate portfolio and just sits around counting his millions.
 

JackGates

Legend
The financial genius to emerge from tennis is the other famous German born player Bernard Tomic. Bernard has very few trophies to sell, but has an extensive real estate portfolio and just sits around counting his millions.
But, does it even matter? I mean as long as you aren't poor, other stuff in life matters a lot more. Once you reach middle class, money is basically irrelevant and we should focus on other stuff. Even when you reach middle class. Tons of people make 10 times more than I do, but they spent much more, so in the end I have more anyways and they are always stressed too. It's how much you keep and how well you live your live, that is what matters. Plus, not having money keeps away friends and women who are just for cash, and it attracts only people who care, so another bonus.
 

BGod

G.O.A.T.
Zero sympathy. For those that want a breakdown.

1. Pissed money away
2. Bad investments
3. Divorces
4. Child Support
 

73west

Semi-Pro
No sympathy for someone who has more than enough money to put in a bank and live off it comfortably for many lifetimes, but then loses it all on gambling, drugs, bad investments, etc.

Also, he’s engaged in shenanigans rising to outright fraud to protect his fortune from people with legitimate claims against him. He even claimed a fake “diplomatic post” in an African nation he had never visited (CAR) so that he could be protected by diplomatic immunity.

He’s an unrepentant fraud. No sympathy.
 

JackGates

Legend
Zero sympathy. For those that want a breakdown.

1. Pissed money away
2. Bad investments
3. Divorces
4. Child Support
I also have no sympathy, not because of what you said, but because he is still probably in top 1% even with him being "broke". Broke for Becker means that instead of living in a mansion, he will now have to live in regular huge upper class house.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Also, he’s engaged in shenanigans rising to outright fraud to protect his fortune from people with legitimate claims against him. He even claimed a fake “diplomatic post” in an African nation he had never visited (CAR) so that he could be protected by diplomatic immunity.

He’s an unrepentant fraud. No sympathy.

Yeah turned out to be a stolen blank passport
 

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
In his bio pic from a few years back, he basically blamed "a lack of financial training" (paraphrasing) on his ability to handle money. In other words, he didn't plan well, outrageously overspent on things, and it came back to bite him. It's the same issue American athletes have when they retire. Many of them burn through their millions rather quickly. Every athlete (before receiving their first paycheck) needs to take a mandatory financial management class.

And then there's the other issues with his champagne tastes... and he did like to gamble a bit... and he did like his models... and... and... yeah, having a tough time sympathizing honestly. :)

His ex-wives, especially barbara feltus, took him to the cleaner with the divorce settlement.

The most important thing in life, as I've learned is to marry someone who can help you succeed both emotionally, health and financially....
 

73west

Semi-Pro
Zero sympathy. For those that want a breakdown.

1. Pissed money away
2. Bad investments
3. Divorces
4. Child Support

His wife went into labor so he left her with the doctors, went to a restaurant, saw a waitress he thought was hot and snuck off to a back room with her when she was on break, and got her pregnant.

Sometimes, people just deserve to go bankrupt.
 

Cupcake

Hall of Fame
Unlike a traditional businessman who earned the bulk of his money doing 'business' activities, Boris earned most of his money via tennis and endorsements. And now most of the big bucks are gone. While he might make a good living as a coach or commentator (and he's not that good doing that), it's not the same millions of 'easy' cash. Going forward he could be comfortable, but he'll never be a high-flyer again.

As for women, he's not nearly as cute as he used to be, so going forward he'll probably have to pay. [/sexist sarcasm]
 

Cupcake

Hall of Fame
His ex-wives, especially barbara feltus, took him to the cleaner with the divorce settlement.

She and their two kids got about $14 million. If he was worth over $100 mil at the time, that's not much since she was with him and his 'shenanigans' for years.
 

JackGates

Legend
Unlike a traditional businessman who earned the bulk of his money doing 'business' activities, Boris earned most of his money via tennis and endorsements. And now most of the big bucks are gone. While he might make a good living as a coach or commentator (and he's not that good doing that), it's not the same millions of 'easy' cash. Going forward he could be comfortable, but he'll never be a high-flyer again.

As for women, he's not nearly as cute as he used to be, so going forward he'll probably have to pay. [/sexist sarcasm]
I guess, compared to what. He still top 1%, even now.
 

Benben245

Banned
I had lunch with his ex-wife, the black one, and some russian girl I met in Monte Carlo in 2006. She was very nice, but like the Russian, who drove a Ferrari 355, I believe, their ex-husbands money was footing the bill.
 

Shaolin

G.O.A.T.
I had lunch with his ex-wife, the black one, and some russian girl I met in Monte Carlo in 2006. She was very nice, but like the Russian, who drove a Ferrari 355, I believe, their ex-husbands money was footing the bill.

You had lunch with her and don't even know her name? Kind of hard to believe your story.
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
Bjorn Borg also lost most of his fortune before righting the ship, so it is not unusual for sports people to be badly skilled in the real world.
 

Benben245

Banned
You had lunch with her and don't even know her name? Kind of hard to believe your story.
I could easily look it up, but I want to be authentic. The Russian is who I coveted, Anastasia, I believe. She introduced me to her friend at lunch at the Monte Carlo Beach Club who happened to be Becker's ex. I was staying at the Hermitage and my mother died on June 6th. Important stuff I remember
 

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
Bjorn Borg also lost most of his fortune before righting the ship, so it is not unusual for sports people to be badly skilled in the real world.

You don't have to be good in the "real world". You just need to have your money/investment to be managed by professional people who know their craft. Even less, just invest the money in Berkshire (i.e. Warren Buffet).
 
Top