Gary Busey is broke, according to Gary Busey, although the actor is attempting to turn that frown upside down into a giant, disconcertingly toothy smile with a statement that puts a characteristically positive spin on a dismaying situation. “Remember, the Buseyism for FAILING is: Finding An Important Lesson Inviting Needed Growth," his representative tells E! News, not long after Busey filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. But really, isn't “BANKRUPTCY” just another word for “Banks Ask Nothing Knowing Recompense Under Profits Today Cannot Yield"? Or something? In any case, it also means that Busey has to declare all of his assets and liabilities—a declaration that paints an incredibly comprehensive picture of how Gary Busey has spent his 67 years, much of it on Earth.
In addition to noting that his current debt amounts to around $508,600—most of that to the IRS (which we believe stands for “Interlopers Reclaiming Stuff”)—Busey lists his monthly income as $19,730, presumably from residuals and assorted motivational speeches to woodland creatures, while his monthly expenses are around $22,669, including day care and asthma treatments for his young son—and, judging by his exhaustively detailed list of possessions, lots and lots of Native American stuff. His current collection, according to TMZ: a “painting of an Indian, old bull's head, five pairs of old moccasins, two small decorative teepees, four clay vases, three Indian-style bowls, a small figurine of a bald eagle, old bows and arrows, a fabric strap with an attached eagle talon, a beaded necklace with an attached arrowhead, and a bolero necklace with black and white ying/yang pendant.” It is with these things that Gary Busey has gotten so in touch with the spirits of the land, and also dressed for parties.
Much like your dad, Busey is also the proud owner of 300 VHS tapes and 200 cassette tapes (with “boom box” to play them on), as well as at least five working guitars, assorted “broken drum sets,” and two tambourines. And all told, Busey says these things are actually worth more than his furniture—especially when combined with his “Rollerblades, two old surf boards, boogie board, an old mountain bike, an old Nikon film camera,” and, in the sort of spare and true, short-story-in-a-minimum-of-words detail that would have made Hemingway jealous, “a broken pellet gun.” Anyway, these are all welcome revelations for those who have always wondered what it would be like to attend Gary Busey’s garage sale, without Busey himself following you around, putting different colored stickers on things based on their “energy.”