Why Is Charlie Sheen on Edge? 'He's Cash Poor,' Says Insider

By Rob Shuter Posted Mar 9th 2011 10:04AM

Newly out-of-work actor Charlie Sheen is making his public fight against his ex-bosses at CBS and Warner Bros. Television about defending his honor, but sources very close to the actor tell me the real reason is the guy is "cash poor" and desperately needs the money to maintain his vast, complicated estate.

"Charlie has earned an enormous amount of money with this show, but he has also spent a fortune and now finds himself in the very tricky position of being cash poor," an insider tells me. "Every penny he has is tied up in property or business dealings."

According to my source, what Charlie needs is cold hard cash and "that's why he's fighting so hard to try and get the $16 million he lost when CBS originally suspended production on the eight remaining episodes of this season."

See fans suggest who could be the next Charlie Sheen -- both on 'Two and a Half Men' and in the headlines:

Beware former "overlords," Charlie intends to fight to make sure he still gets a big paycheck if the show continues without him, which seems to be the case. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Warners execs and show boss Chuck Lorre are signaling that 'Men' will likely return in the fall. (They're mum on who will replace him.)

Charlie claims to have a so-called 'Michael J. Fox Clause' in his contract, referring to the fact that Michael still earned money from 'Spin City' even after he left the show (and was replaced by Charlie Sheen). Charlie's contract with 'Two and a Half Men' is reportedly based on a similar model, which is why he hopes the show continues without him.

"Charlie wants the show to continue as long as he gets paid," a friend of actor's tells me. "He would like nothing better than to earn money to stay home while someone else does the work."

► Sources: 'Two and a Half Men' Will Carry On Without Charlie Sheen

Another interesting kink in the show's future, via THR: "Existing deals with CBS and syndicators require both Sheen's and Lorre's participation in the show, but Warners execs believe those pacts could be renegotiated if Lorre agreed to return and the right cast came together. And one thing is certain: At least the initial ratings next season would be huge."

In the meantime, the enterprising star is also busy making deals to to put "Winning" and his other catchphrases on T-shirts to capitalize on his elevated profile these days.

I've also learned that Charlie is shopping an interview for $1 million, though since he's been giving them away for free for the past week and a half it's not clear what he could say that would be worth that kind of money!

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Charlie Sheen Snapshots

A hand-written note "To Ging, From one Druggie to Another. Love- C," by Charlie Sheen is inscribed on a page inside the 1991 Consumer Report, The Complete Drug Reference, a gift from Sheen to Porn star Ginger Lynn after her drug incarceration. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

MCT

Los Angeles Times

Charlie Sheen Snapshots

Porn star Ginger Lynn sits in her Woodland Hills, California home with gift items from actor Charlie Sheen she is about to auction off, March 4, 2011. Lynn used to date Sheen during the '90s. (Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

Charlie Sheen Snapshots

In this photo made Monday, March 7, 2011, television news crews wait across from the entrance to the Mulholland Estates gated community, where actor Charlie Sheen lives, on Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Charlie Sheen Snapshots

In this 1989 publicity image released by Paramount Pictures, clockwise from top left, Corbin Bernsen, Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen are shown in a scene from "Major League." (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures)

Charlie Sheen Snapshots

In this publicity image released by Metro Goldwyn Mayer/Orion Pictures, top row from left, Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, from bottom left, Francesco Quinn and Kevin Dillon is shown in a scene from "Platoon." (AP Photo/Metro Goldwyn Mayer/Orion Pictures)

Charlie Sheen Snapshots

©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM After being fired from his hit television show "Two and a Half Men", Charlie Sheen and one of his "goddesses", Natalie Kenly, stand atop a roof while attending a meeting with Live Nation. Charlie drinks from a bottle of red liquid which has been altered to read "Tiger Blood" and wields a large knife. NON-EXCLUSIVE March 7, 2011 Job: 110307H8 Los Angeles, California www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Charlie Sheen Snapshots

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Tags: Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

Comments

(386)

Wednesday 09 March

By Doris

Vote down Vote up Report this

I won't watch ''sheen-less Men''! Never watched it when he was
on it!!

By hatedhimanyway

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Bye Bye crack (head) (H) (O) (R) mong (er)

Thursday 10 March

By Zim

One word--LITHIUM

By steve

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

CHARLIE YOU'RE FINE DUDE 2 AND A HALF MEN WILL TANK WITHOUT YOU
KEEP ON ROCKIN

By Dave

Who cares about this egotistical lose? I cant stand to even look at him.

By dj1098

He says he is sober, all by his own will power. AA is for sissies, according to him.

By Jeanne

The genius of that show is the creator, and the person or group that got THOSE actors and actresses together. The show would not be the same if any ONE of them weren't there. Losing Charlie from the show would not be any more devastating than losing the characters Rose or Evelyn with their occasional appearances. Together, they are like a swiss timepiece...perfect. Remove any one of them would be like removing one of the timepiece's gears...worthless (except for the memories of how well it worked).

By Fred

I'll tell you what surprises me. Charlie all but announces his regular drug use. He must still be using them and I believe the feds are watching him carefully waiting to move in and charge and arrest him. He's all but asking them to.

By Tom

TIGER BLOOD AND S#%T FOR BRAINS. LOOK AT THE PUBLICITY IT CAN GET YOU IN THE GOOD OLE' USA!

By vicki

I think they should write him out of the show and make it about the two characters that play Birda and Jake, they make the show funny and worth watching anyway.

By Jon

I hear from Ski Country that he is really gay and has to have a lot of women around to keep himself in the closet. And hits from both sides of the plate.

By patsy brunka

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Just a simple question to the DEA - who is selling Charlie Sheen all this Cocaine?????Duh>>>>another winner?

By laurie

When did Charlie get the idea he's so important in this world.
He is so egotistical and obnoxious, I don't even want to watch
his re-runs. Goodbye Charlie, get clean.

By mousepics

He really NEEDS?! His firing and demise is exactly what he needs. Perhaps he should wake up to other people's realities and take a deep long look at what NEED means. Pathetic, spoilt, violent little rich boy.

By durissus

Oh...WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH...I should have such "money problems!" He's a spoiled, too rich actor, plain and simple...

By bob parks

What's with Sheen's incessant chain-smoking? What a fool. If the drugs don't kill him, the ciggies will. Only 3 types of individuals smoke any longer: stupid fools, weaklings, and old goobers who have smoked so long that their insides are held together with nicotine.

By dianna faith

why would anyone say hateful things about charlie
he is really sick why doesn't his mom and dad
do an intervention and get him help will some of
you laugh when he hurts himself or someone else
sure hope the world isn't that cruel - he is exploding
before our eyes - and NO they should NOT replace him
give it a try without him for a while and see what
happens maybe he will get help and get well - worth
a try .

By Bobbi

Not trying to be funny here, and I don't know the inner-workings of Hollywood and it's contracts. However, I am wondering if Charlie wouldn't be able to collect "unemployment" from the show, it's producters, network. I don't know California Unemployment laws...but, maybe, about 1/2 his weekly salary? Not saying he deserves it, just curious.

By darrelshepherd

Charlie Sheen is a party boy. Who cares what he spends his dough on? I don't and anyway I have always felt entertainers are pretty low on the food chain of life. Way too much time spent on this non-productive soul.

By TJ

I hope he goes bankrupt and loses everything. I can't stand the arrogant SOB.

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