As Michael Vick got ready to head to prison, he had one last errand to run. Some soon-to-be convicts may stop to see some friends or family on their way to the penitentiary, but Vick swung by a Mercedes dealership and picked out a, S-class Mercedes. He whipped out his debit card and paid the $99,589.71 bill in full.It's hard to figure how a Mercedes will make you happy when you can't drive it (and where it depreciates while you sit in prison), but a lot of Vick's spending doesn't make sense for anyone who hasn't been a multi-millionaire. That $100,000 or so he spent on the Mercedes was only part of a $210,000 spending spree on Vick's final day of freedom.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution story that examines Vick's dwindling finances spells out a man who tried to take care of his friends and family (he bought his mom a house and two cars, had a sister on payroll and sent money to his three kids and their mothers). He tried to do some charitable work, although most of the money he donated to his Michael Vick Foundation ended up going to pay a fundraiser an outlandish salary -- only 12 percent of Vick's donation actually went to help the children in Newport News he was trying to help.
But it also spells out the story of a quarterback who threw away money like he always expected there would be more to come. He bought four houses and a condo, 11 cars and $450,000 in jewelry. Now almost all of it is gone. After filing for bankruptcy, Vick has been allowed to keep one house (his mother's), $5,000 in clothes and a retirement account with $96 in it. For a man who once had so much, Vick will have to learn to make do with a whole lot less once he gets out of prison.
What Has Tapped Vicks Millions?
Even Michael Vick's bank accounts aren't spared in his fall from grace. New details of his bankruptcy filing reveal poor financial management of the quarterback's fortune. Click through to see some of the items that has cost Vick his millions.
WireImage | Getty Images
Cadillac XLR
Vick owes more than $2,000 in monthly car payments for the Cadillac, as well as an Escalade - both of which were bought for his mother Brenda Boddie
Cadillac
'Bad Newz Kennels'
Vick admitted to bankrolling an illegal dogfighting operation which housed pit bulls at his property in Surry, Va.
Steve Helber, AP
Jewelry, including diamond stud earrings
Former advisor David Talbot briefly possessed jewelry worth about $100,000 to $150,000 that Vick gave to his brother. Included were diamond stud earrings and a charm with the inscription: "World Is Mine."
Kevin C. Cox, WireImage
Range Rover
Vick owes $1,160 monthly for fiancee Kijafa Frink's Range Rover. His bills also include a $2,500 mortgage for Frink and $3,500 in monthly support for his young son and the boy's mother.
Range Rover / Reuters
Infiniti M45
Former personal assistant Charles W. Reamon Jr. was the recipient of the Infiniti and two power boats. Reamon had easy access to Vick's money and tapped one account for more than $1.1 million between October 2006 and December 2007.
Ron Kimball, Infiniti
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
12-07-2008 @ 4:49PM
Steel Wheel said...
That doesn't really sound like a guy that is remorseful of his transgressions. What a tool!
Reply
12-07-2008 @ 4:50PM
the cooker said...
JJ, don't count that to be true, remember Jerry Jones still owns the Cowboys and thinks he runs a halfway house.
Reply
12-07-2008 @ 5:56PM
JMaack said...
He is an excellent example of an uneducated, overpaid, ignorant individual. It is truly difficult to relate to or understand these kinds of actions when most of us are just trying to keep our heads above water and not lose our homes. Vick belongs in the gutter with the rest of the low life trash that he associates with. Maybe he could have spent some of that money on getting an education and being a better example to his children and all the children who watched him on tv. Think of all the animals he could have helped instead of killed.
Reply
12-07-2008 @ 11:46PM
olive branch said...
but wasn't he the quarterback at virgina tech? so he had an education. he just abused the priviledge. sad. i think calling him ignorant gives him too much credit. he knew full well what he was doing. foolish might be a better adjective. and just plain mean. i don't like to gloat or anything but it'llbe interesting to watch him flounder once he's released.
12-08-2008 @ 9:41PM
big t said...
i agree he could have done much better with his spending choices, but its par for the course look at what the overpaid ceo's and vp's done when they were helped by taxpayer money. and the tyco,enron etc. walked away with while others suffered...least mike spent his own cash
12-08-2008 @ 6:12AM
another struggling American said...
Why would he spend money on an education. When he gets in prison he can get if for free. We will pay for it.
12-08-2008 @ 1:01PM
Yvonne said...
You have said it all. Just another example of stupid.
12-08-2008 @ 1:27PM
kirk said...
Right on JMaack. I totally agree. Don`t forget this idiot tried to take a tricked up bong on an airplane! He has never seen the inside of a classroom. I am so sick of black athletes on a whole even it it sounds racist. So many are like this fool. I just hope America has seen the last of him. Go away....
12-08-2008 @ 2:06PM
Mary said...
I say a great big AMEN to your blog! He needs to do hard time for the rest of his life - no more Mercedes.
And God forbid he ever gets near a dog or cat again - they are all too good for him. Bless them all.
12-08-2008 @ 2:39PM
Kathryn said...
Well said and thank you.
12-07-2008 @ 11:45PM
Eric said...
He who has no sin shall cast the first stone......All of you PETA tree huggers that hate Mike Vick should reflect on your own Lives. I bet Over 75% of people that want Mike Vick to "rot in hell" are NOT AFRICAN AMERICAN. Go hate on OJ or Rae Caruth orsome one else. Mikey Mike is coming back
Reply
12-08-2008 @ 12:00AM
olive branch said...
so you think it's ok what he did? no, i don't want him to rot in hell but there are better quality, and qualified, players coming up who deserve to play professional football. why should he get a position over them? he does not represent any african-american i am or know. or want to know. he doesn't represent someone from any race i know or want to know for that matter. nothing to do w/ race. everything to do w/ humanity.
12-07-2008 @ 11:53PM
Renee said...
Amen!...you are right on point on this...thanks for sticking up for a fellow american...white/black or blue...he paid his dues...let him be. Who the hell are we to judge? Really?
12-08-2008 @ 3:02PM
VM812 said...
I'm so glad someone brought this point up. Vick knows he know has nothing and I'm sure he knows the errors in his actions. Yeah, he did spend all of his money but, it was on the people he promised to take of one he was somebody. He enjoyed living lavishly and because of his mistakes he can no longer do this. Michael Vick calls prison his home. Most people who are reading this posts have never been to prison and don't know what is going to Michael Vick's mind while he is sitting in his cell. Myself included of course. Vick is a tremendous athlete that should be given a second chance. He is in a CORRECTIONS FACILITY. He messed up and his character flaws are being corrected. No one is to judge this man off his crimes committed. I hope he comes out a rehabilitated man and is given a chance to shine in the National Football League. On a less serious note, Jerry Jones will more than likely be waiting right outside the prison with a contract in hand for Vick. If Vick intends on joining the Cowboys-Ban him for LIFE-haha.
12-08-2008 @ 8:41PM
Scoutabout said...
Eric: C'mon dude. It's wrong to brutalize & torture anything. We're talking about a fool who threw away his good life with both hands. In the jury of public opinion, he could never serve enough time for his acts of extreme & long-term abuse and cruelty. Once you sink that low, nothing else you do even matters. He's just plain uncivilized, sub-human, and indisputably despicable. You have to separate 'Michael Vick ,the football player' from 'Michael Vick, the torturer.'
12-08-2008 @ 2:58AM
Jason said...
The fact that "Mikey Mike" is an african american has nothing to do with the comments being left. Its all because he is a selfish clown who has no idea what its like to live in the real world, which I am sure he is getting a good dose of in his cell. I think Vick being in prison is the best example you can give to children of the consequences of being a foolish, selfish, ignorant, and all around uncaring human being. Give his salary to people that actually need and will know what to do with it.
12-08-2008 @ 3:14AM
justin said...
figures, anytime a bonehead makes a bonehead decision and has to pay for it it's because he's black. ffs wouldnt matter if it were him or jeff garcia the result woulda been the same, being african american has nothin to do with being a disgrace to football and america, always lookin for a dam excuse, just take responsibility and stop whinin, we have a black president elect when will the reverse racism stop??? He's in prison because he's an idiot. people hate him cause he's an animal killer and abuser,NOT BECAUSE HE'S BLACK, your as ignorant as him.
12-08-2008 @ 1:38PM
ED ADAIR said...
Do you actually have the nerve to say anything good about this guy? ED
12-08-2008 @ 5:59AM
Me said...
Get over the race thing..........its old. Think of something else to cry about.
12-08-2008 @ 6:17PM
tammy said...
Who cares what color you are. I hope somebody grabs him when he leaves jail and tries to drown him and electrocute him like he did the eight dogs he killed. He won't be back in the NFL. Maybe we'll be lucky and he will be hit by a car