Famous People who started life over by filing bankruptcy:  

1871 - Phineas Taylor Barnum (Barnum and Bailey’s Circus) 

1872 - Mathew Brady (famous photographer) 

1875 - Henry John Heinz (Heinz catsup developer) 

1884 - Henry Ford (automobile manufacturer) 

1892 - Milton Snavely Hershey (Hershey chocolate) 

1894 - Mark Twain (famous writer) 

1962 - Mickey Rooney (famous actor) 

1988 - Jerry Lee Lewis (famous singer) 

1991 - Johnny Unitas (famous quarterback) 

1992 - Debbie Reynolds (famous actress) 

1992 - Wayne Newton (famous singer) 

1993 - Kim Basinger (famous actress) 

1996 - Burt Reynolds (famous actor) 

1996 - MC Hammer (famous singer) 

1999 - Sherman Hemsley (George Jefferson on the hit 1970s TV show) 

2000 - Marjorie Margolies Mezvinsky (U.S. House of Representatives)