Apparently, getting a gig on reality television isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Danielle Staub used to be part of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast, and now she is part of the list of housewives stars to have filed for bankruptcy protection.
When Staub was part of the hit reality show, she seemed to live a life of luxury. She had a large home, beautiful vehicle and a closet full of clothes. The episodes also showed, however, that she had financial struggles partially due to the supposed lack of child support that she received from her ex. Now she’s taking legal action to seek financial relief.
Last month, Staub filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. She claims that her value in assets is outweighed by the amount she owes various creditors. Among the creditors, the ex-reality star owes money to the IRS, the state of New Jersey’s tax division, Nordstrom, American Express and more.
She reportedly owes at least $500,000 in debt, and that’s a mountain that she apparently can’t climb. With a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the assets that she does have would be liquidated in order to pay back some of the debt that she owes. Beyond that, Staub would be able to move on without the paralyzing stress of excessive debt looming over her.
For those who watched Staub during her stint on Bravo, they tended to see her as an unlikeable villain. She caused trouble and just didn’t fit in with the rest of the cast. Whether she is likeable or not, however, she has equal rights to seek protection through bankruptcy as anyone else does. One of her former cast mates, Teresa, did.
Source: The Record, “Former ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ star Danielle Staub files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy,” Virginia Rohan, June 5, 2012