The show
A BIOGRAPHY SERIES
TOLD THROUGH MONEY
The financial story of a celebrity, business, athlete, artist or cultural icon becomes a roller-coaster ride: gains create climbs, losses create drops, and reversals reveal the human cost of money.
Format
Runtime
45 min
Episode arc
Rise · Fall · Recovery
Ride segment
One per episode
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing of the lowest, darkest before-the-dawn moment — hooking the viewer by highlighting what’s at stake.
The Beginning
Establishes the setting, the players, their motivations and their dreams.
Fame & Fortune
Examines the deals, decisions and historical events that propelled the subject to success.
Downfall & Disaster
Takes a deep dive into the setbacks and adversity experienced.
Struggle and/or Resurrection
Pinpoints the historic, life-changing decisions made that led to either a rebirth or a flop.
Where They Are Today
Day-in-the-life footage that provides a candid look at the contemporary history of the subject profiled.
Sample
NICOLAS CAGE
Ending net worth · $25 MILLION
Foreshadowing
The Academy Award-winning actor known for his eclectic roles and quirky personality faces financial ruin driven by impulsive spending and poor investment decisions.
The Beginning
Born in 1964 in Long Beach, California, Cage is the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola. He changed his last name to avoid nepotism accusations and began acting in the early 1980s.
Fame & Fortune
His career flourished and he became one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors. The wealth funded eccentric purchases — ultra-rare comic books, exotic animals and haunted houses.
Downfall & Disaster
Spending got out of hand, compounded by bad investments, $6.3 million in IRS tax bills and debts to other creditors. He sold prized possessions including a castle in Germany and a private island in the Bahamas.
Struggle and/or Resurrection
Cage kept working, taking on less prestigious roles to repay enormous debts. Work ethic and dedication to the craft held a steady income together while he rebuilt.
Where They Are Today
Still active on-screen, he paid off all his debts by 2020 with straight-to-VOD action movies. The one-time $150 million fortune is gone, but a healthy net worth remains.