Chris Tucker Owes the IRS $11.5 Million (And His Pirate-Themed Mansion is Facing Foreclosure)

Actor and comedian Chris Tucker currently owes more than $11 million to the IRS, but surprisingly, the massive debt hasn't killed his sense of humor.

The Rush Hour star has even been cracking jokes about his financial woes during recent stand-up shows in Miami, telling the crowd: "That's the last time I let Wesley Snipes help me out with my taxes." (In case you need a refresher, Wesley Snipes is currently serving a three-year prison term for tax evasion).

Jokes aside, Tucker's financial reality is incredibly grim. Not only has he been forced to sell off a fleet of luxury vehicles, but he is currently facing foreclosure on his massive Florida real estate crown jewel.

(Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

The $6 Million Mansion Disaster

Tucker is currently facing an $11.5 million lien from the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid taxes. Compounding the issue, his bank has filed papers stating that he owes $4.4 million on his 10,000-square-foot waterfront mansion.

Tucker purchased the home for $6 million in 2007 when he was still riding the financial high of Rush Hour 3. Located in the upscale, gated Bella Collina neighborhood on the shores of Lake Apopka, public records show Tucker has been saddled with a whopping $25,812.50 monthly mortgage payment.

The sprawling estate features five bedrooms, three fireplaces, an outdoor kitchen, and a master suite with a personal spa. But its most bizarre feature? The basement is entirely pirate-themed, complete with a wooden deck, a ship's mast, and a sail.

Adding insult to injury is the collapse of the Bella Collina neighborhood itself. Originally billed as a 1,900-acre "Beautiful Hill" development with 800 lots, the 2008 housing crash decimated the project. Out of 700 lots sold between 2004 and 2007, only about 40 actually have houses on them today. Because of the crash, Tucker's $6 million house—which he still owes $4.4 million on—has recently been assessed at just $1.6 million.

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Where Did the Money Go?

The truly insane part of this story is just how much money Chris Tucker used to have.

At his peak, Tucker was literally the highest-paid actor in Hollywood. New Line Cinema paid him $20 million for Rush Hour 2, and a staggering $25 million base salary for Rush Hour 3—plus a 20% cut of the gross receipts. He also allegedly signed a $15 million deal for an additional, yet-to-be-announced movie.

Even after you subtract a generous amount for taxes, agent fees, managers, lawyers, and a lavish cost of living, it is genuinely shocking to see him in such severe financial distress today.

Hopefully, for Tucker's sake, the persistent rumors of him and Jackie Chan returning for Rush Hour 4 in 2012 are true, because he desperately needs the payday. Until this matter is resolved, Celebrity Net Worth is officially adding Chris Tucker to the short list of celebrities with a negative net worth.