While some may still believe the grass is greener on the other side, others are choosing to remain loyal to their roots, living their life as a king would. This blog post will take a closer look at how some of the wealthiest and most successful people are choosing to live their lives in the year 2019.
Robert Pattinson
Walking down the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019 may have been one of the most shocking moments of the year. Fans knew the drama that was ensuing behind the scenes due to the actor’s turbulent relationship with his companion, Bella Hadid. And yet, still, shock turned to horror as the media outlets reported that the ‘honey badger’ had died in a fiery car crash just two months earlier. He was 30 years old.
Pattinson had famously declared bankruptcy in 2018 after losing over £100million on bad investments. He had also been in the spotlight for his role in the film, ‘Dollar Dash’ which detailed the lavish lifestyles of footballers and their expensive habits. The film angered some who felt it glamorized money and materialism, but it did much more than that. It was a scathing indictment of the sports industry and footballers in general.
This is the kind of person the public would come to know as ‘Robbie’. The English youth will always be remembered for his unique grunting voice and love for indie music. Yet, since his debut in 2009’s ‘Eclipse’, many have admired his work as an actor, particularly in roles requiring him to play the villain. For those seeking inspiration in 2019, he will be missed. But his fans can take solace in the fact that he lived his life to the fullest, as a true icon of the Roaring Twenties would.
Bill Murray
The year started with a bang as Bill Murray made a surprise appearance at the Golden Globes. The ‘Groundhog Day’ and ‘Gremlins’ star was attending the event in his capacity as a producer on the year’s most anticipated films, ‘The Mercy’ and ‘Under the Sun’.
It was the first time Murray had attended the famous awards ceremony since 2005, the year after he won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in ‘Lost In Translation’. Since then, he had mostly stayed out of the public eye, focusing on his career and philanthropic endeavors. But with ‘80s nostalgia rife and Netflix’s increasing success in the mainstream, people are eager to see more of this hilarious comic genius. His fans may have been disappointed to learn that Murray had suffered two heart attacks in the last year and had to cancel a few tour dates. Nevertheless, they should not have been. This is a man who has never really retired from acting, even if his role has changed.
Christopher Tucker
Christopher Tucker continues the trend of prominent British men involved in tragic car accidents in the last year. While on a scuba course in January 2019, the 58-year-old financier and amateur cave diver suffered severe injuries when his vehicle fell 150 feet into a rocky gorge near Tulum, in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The accident left him in a coma and put an end to his scuba diving career. While he has a long road to recovery ahead of him, it is the least of his worries as he faces a trial for murder in November 2019.
Tucker had been one of the wealthiest men in the country, amassing a fortune of over £130million in the decade before the accident. He was also a prolific art collector, with a particular interest in Pre-Raphaelite works. His passion for the ‘dark arts’ is rumoured to have led him to invest in a private detective agency, which was set up to look into his activities. He is yet to comment publicly on the circumstances surrounding the accident. Nevertheless, his friends and family have vowed to fight the charges, as the Englishman’s character is not being seen as a threat to society.
Leonard Cohen
To end this list, we can’t resist including the revered poet and singer, Leonard Cohen. The celebrated artist and literary figure was at the center of a scandal when he was photographed holding hands with the 18-year-old daughter of a prominent Swiss businessman. The image, which was captured by the press while Cohen was on a private jet on his way to a birthday party in Rome, was later criticized as ‘inappropriate’.
Cohen has repeatedly expressed his aversion to labels and insists that he is not a father figure or a paternal figure. Nevertheless, he is the subject of a Netflix documentary, ‘Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man’, which explores the unique and influential life of the late singer-songwriter. The two-hour long film is due for release later this year.
Cohen has been open about his struggle with addiction and has spoken about being inspired by the likes of Jim Morrison and Ray Charles. Like so many of the other celebrities on this list, his fans can look forward to seeing more of Cohen’s work in the coming months.
Overall
It was a very interesting year in terms of celebrity deaths and accidents. It would be disingenuous to say that this list isn’t a little bit sad. Some of these men and women were just at the beginning of their successful and remarkable careers. But even those who had achieved considerable fame took their own lives in a tragic way. It’s been a rough year for the rich and famous, as they have had to face numerous lawsuits, murder charges, and serious injuries. Yet, in some cases, it has also been an opportunity to reinvent themselves. Those who remain committed to their art, philanthropy and family are carrying on where they left off before the pandemic. It’s been quite the year, to say the least.