How Could This Happen to Annie Leibovitz?

[johnastovall]

The $24 million question.

Long but worth the read as it's the best story I've seen on just what all went on with her to get to this place.

[ito4u]

I've been pissed at this lady for years... especially as a photographer. Now, I feel bad for her. If you party like a rockstar, your habits and lifestyle will catch up to you.

Good read though.

[zebulus]

Would it be calloused of me to say I dont really have much sympathy?

[ramiro]

Yeah, I don't like her at all, and I guess it must be that I may not be very artistically inclined, but I just don't like her style of photography. I like her lighting though.

[kenw]

Most artists are terrible financial planners. it is a right-brain/ left-brain thing. Not usual at all.

Mozart died a pauper, as did Vivaldi. Michael Jackson has a negative estate valuation most likely.

[jeffkohn]

This situation seems entirely of her own making, so while I wouldn't wish ill on anyone, I also can't say that I feel sorry for her. Some of the excesses described in that article are pretty disgusting, really. And her lack of professionalism when dealing with vendors, clients, and employees is certainly not to be admired. Being a "creative type" type is no excuse.

You reap what you sow.

[Coelus]

I think it's just an example of scale. She sees herself as larger than life. That outlook has brought her larger than life success, and the larger than life problems to go with it. There's something to be said for the safety of humility.

[donlfaulkner]

Originally Posted by kenw

Most artists are terrible financial planners. it is a right-brain/ left-brain thing. Not usual at all.

Mozart died a pauper, as did Vivaldi. Michael Jackson has a negative estate valuation most likely.

Don't think I'd rate Michael Jackson as an artist. More of a slimeball noise maker.

Just my unsolicited opinion.

[dbphotos]

A $250,000 day rate and her partner left her millions in real estate and $... you can't feel too sorry for a person that starts each year knowing they will earn $5,000,000 minimum and is now $24 million in debt. Responsibility and accountability.

[Davidtxs]

NO pity whatsoever too loose that much is totally ridiculous

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by zebulus

Would it be calloused of me to say I dont really have much sympathy?

No... because I'd say the same thing. Sounds like a classic case of 'big head' syndrome. I also think she was just REALLY luck and always in the right place at the right time.

[janikphoto]

I haven't read the link yet (but I'm about to). There was a discussion and story links on the old PDN forum about her. There were a lot of vendor/contractor invoices that were unpaid. She collected money from her clients, but didn't bother to pay the other people that made her images work... I had a feeling back then that she was in over her head, financially.

[snydersnapshots]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

This situation seems entirely of her own making, so while I wouldn't wish ill on anyone, I also can't say that I feel sorry for her. Some of the excesses described in that article are pretty disgusting, really. And her lack of professionalism when dealing with vendors, clients, and employees is certainly not to be admired. Being a "creative type" type is no excuse.

You reap what you sow.

I couldn't agree with you more. Here is my plan for her:

--Buy a nice double-wide

--File bankruptcy (they can't take her home from her, so the DW is safe)

--Get a job--I know Wal Mart portrait studios hire on a pretty regular basis.

--Live like the rest of us.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by dbphotos

A $250,000 day rate and her partner left her millions in real estate and $... you can't feel too sorry for a person that starts each year knowing they will earn $5,000,000 minimum and is now $24 million in debt. Responsibility and accountability.

Her partner left the money to her son, not Annie. Annie paid for her medical care in her dying years of cancer, then Susan's son was the only heir.