# Um. Is Elton John bankrupt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207 "2010-06-06T23:10:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/1 "2010-06-06T23:10:58Z")
…Because that’s the only explanation I can think of for this: [Rush Limbaugh Weds, Elton John Sings](http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20391620,00.html) > [@People Magazine](#): > > Talk about an odd couple: conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh and outspoken gay-marriage advocate Elton John. > > But, according to a News Corporation (which owns Fox News) wire report, the Rocket Man, 63, serenaded the 400 guests Saturday night to celebrate the marriage of Limbaugh, 59, to Kathryn Rogers, 33, in the Ponce de Leon ballroom of Florida’s fabled Breakers hotel in Palm Beach. Sir Elton’s fee: $1 million, the report notes. I mean, Limbaugh isn’t exactly _sympathique_ to gay folks. He’s the one who snarked that gays would suddenly become pro-life if amnios could pick out potentially gay fetuses, which in turn would inevitably cause abortions of said fetuses. Or maybe Sir Elton is aware of some secret humanity in Rush that many of us aren’t privy to? If he turns around and gives it all to some AIDS charity… nah, it’s still bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/2 "2010-06-06T23:27:14Z")
What’s bizarre? If Hillary Clinton offers me a cool million to sing at her daughter’s wedding, I’m there. I disagree with her politics. This does not make her into some loathsome creature whose presence offends the very gods. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/3 "2010-06-06T23:32:28Z")
I got nothin’. Bizarre doesn’t even begin to cover it. Unless Olberman has had it right all along by referring to Limbaugh as a comedian and his schtick has been one gigantic whoosh. Or Elton is completly lacking anything resembling integrity. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/4 "2010-06-07T00:36:50Z")
My guess is that the million is going to go directly to The Elton John AIDS foundation. And as far as Limbaugh and homosexuality goes, sometimes things get to the point where there’s just no use fighting it anymore and the handwriting is more than on the wall when it comes to homosexual rights and acceptance. Besides, it’s possible to find homosexuality objectionable without necessarily finding certain individual homosexuals themselves objectionable. Limbaugh is a former disk jockey and has a good ear for music and no doubt appreciates Elton’s music and extraordinary talent. And Elton John is almost singular in his ability to transcend his sexual orientation and appeal to almost everyone whether they object to homosexuality or not. Look up almost any Elton John _Youtube_ video and you’ll find lots of comments critical of his sexuality but nonetheless appreciative of his talent. I would imagine it was quite a kick for Limbaugh to meet Elton John and to have him perform at his wedding, and quite a kick for Elton to have been invited to perform (and perhaps win converts) behind the lines in enemy territory. Given Elton’s subsequent friendship with Eminem, I wouldn’t be surprised to find that the occasion will end up a win-win for all involved. But then the opposite wouldn’t surprise me either. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/5 "2010-06-07T00:55:06Z")
Oh, btw and FWIW, Elton is not a “gay marriage advocate” either, which the linked article claims. Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact. In November of 2008 he made the following statement: > [@](#): > > “We’re not married. Let’s get that right. We have a civil partnership. What is wrong with Proposition 8 is that they went for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of people off, the word marriage.” > > Elton made his comments on Tuesday at the annual benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Elton continued: > > “I don’t want to be married. I’m very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership. The word ’marriage,’ I think, puts a lot of people off.” > > “You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships.” [Cite](http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/elton-john-opposes-gay-marriage-yes-on-proposition-8/) ETA: In my opinion, he could do with a little crisper tailoring too. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/6 "2010-06-07T01:14:16Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > ETA: In my opinion, he could do with a little crisper tailoring too. 😛 I thought he looked best with the [seagoing look.](http://www.morethings.com/music/elton_john/elton_john-120.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/7 "2010-06-07T04:15:04Z")
Why can’t people with opposite politics be friends in normal life? I’m as conservative as they come, yet have plenty of liberal friends. We sometimes have spirited respectful discussions about political issues, but mostly we just drink beer and hang out and talk about pussy. There’s plenty of common ground to unite us…TRM ---
**Author:** ![pinkyvee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6de8d8/32.png) [@pinkyvee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkyvee)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/8 "2010-06-07T04:20:34Z")
Can’t we all just get along? I think it’s great. A little less hatred and a little more understanding. GO ELTON !!! GO RUSH !!! ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/9 "2010-06-07T04:42:05Z")
What a person says and does don’t always jive. GW Bush didn’t have a pro-gay rep but if you look at is organization, he always had lots of gays working for him. Evidently GW Bush doesn’t care if you’re gay and work for him. But his politics would suggest otherwise. On the other hand perhaps Elton thinks it’s sweet irony that a man that says so much negativity about gays is going to help them or at least one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/10 "2010-06-07T04:45:26Z")
If this were a British drawing room farce there’d be a mix up on the license and Rush would be married to Elton. That’d be cool. As for Elton being bankrupt, I doubt he’s ever missed a meal but he is notorious for living beyond his ENORMOUS means. In 2006 he borrowed $40 million to pay off his credit cards and various other credit accounts (not including his mortgages)- [cite](http://seriouslyomg.com/?p=1620)- and he’s famous for being insanely generous in gift giving and insanely lavish in multimillion dollar shopping sprees, so I’m sure every million helps. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/11 "2010-06-07T04:49:23Z")
Well, from what I understand Elton John is quite the lavish spender, so maybe he really did need that million dollars. Granted, he may not have a mortgage that needs to be paid, but I bet he has a hell of a credit card bill. Also, few people would turn down a million dollars for what, three or four hours of work. ETA: I see Sampiro already addressed this. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/12 "2010-06-07T05:03:07Z")
People can be cash poor even though they are quite wealthy. I seem to recall Elton’s explaining that he simply wanted to pay down his credit cards and so borrowed the cash that would allow him to do so, and that once the press got wind of it they began to portray him as on bankruptcy’s door. According to several articles I’ve read recently his personal fortune, even after decades of profligate spending, is estimated at more than $250,000,000 dollars. [Here’s an apparently knowledgeable business cite](http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-mccartney-elton-john-mick-jagger-lost-millions-thanks-to-economic-downturn-2009-4) which not only confirms that amount but claims that before the recent economic downturn Elton’s fortune was around $342,000,000. So all in all, I think the reports of Elton’s recent financial demise have been vastly overstated. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/13 "2010-06-07T05:07:43Z")
I don’t know why the surprise. I suppose Elton knows a great big cocksucker when he sees one. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/14 "2010-06-07T05:36:33Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Why can’t people with opposite politics be friends in normal life? I’m as conservative as they come, yet have plenty of liberal friends. We sometimes have spirited respectful discussions about political issues, but mostly we just drink beer and hang out and talk about pussy. There’s plenty of common ground to unite us…TRM Didn’t Bono and Jesse Helms claim to be friends toward the end of the latter’s life? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/15 "2010-06-07T05:42:44Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Didn’t Bono and Jesse Helms claim to be friends toward the end of the latter’s life? Yep – Helms was impressed with Bono because “that boy knows his Bible” or something like that. Or at least, Bono managed to impress upon Helms the severity of the AIDS epidemic in Africa. (What gets me is that the woman he’s marrying is said to be thirty-three. In what – dog years?) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/16 "2010-06-07T06:06:44Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Didn’t Bono and Jesse Helms claim to be friends toward the end of the latter’s life? I guess Jess figured that if he had once been married to Cher he had to be kind of cool.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/17 "2010-06-07T06:37:51Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Didn’t Bono and Jesse Helms claim to be friends toward the end of the latter’s life? Yep. Jesse never gave up his anti-gay stance, but he made some gay/AIDS remarks, got roundly chastized and educated for it – and Jesse’s first career was as a newsman, then a successful politician – he knew how to listen and learn. And he learned about AIDS, and spent a lot of time and effort his last years in the Senate and his retirement years working with Bono to raise money to combat AIDS, with an emphasis on where it’s pandemic in Africa. The man could be quite hateful in his positions, but he was not evil incarnate. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/18 "2010-06-07T08:44:25Z")
Heh, I thought elton has been creatively bankrupt since that stupid recycled song about princess diana. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/19 "2010-06-07T12:59:29Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I don’t know why the surprise. I suppose Elton knows a great big cocksucker when he sees one. You win. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207/20 "2010-06-07T13:19:59Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Heh, I thought elton has been creatively bankrupt since that stupid recycled song about princess diana. Please go see Billy Elliot. If I had a chance to take a million from someone I whose politcs I didn’t like, I’d go for it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-is-elton-john-bankrupt/542207.md?page=2)