Filing for bankruptcy carries a heavy stigma, but when individuals can't settle their liabilities it can be the only option. Disastrous risk-taking, dodgy dealing, runaway spending, a hefty tax bill, or just plain bad luck can propel a person into financial hell – and the richer they are, the harder they fall. 

Read on to discover 27 prominent people who went spectacularly bankrupt, ranked by the total amount they owed with their debt adjusted for inflation to give you an idea of their arrears in today's money.

All dollar amounts in US dollars.