Many people recognize Janice Dickinson as a judge on the reality TV show America's Next Top Model. The former model also has an adult daughter, Savannah, along with a son named Nathan. The now 69-year-old star started her modeling career in the '70s and had incredible success over the years.

Like other supermodels with successful careers, such as Cindy Crawford, Janice was very well-known in the 1980s. While Cindy has a net worth of roughly $400 million, Janice's net worth is much lower at only $500,000.

Let's take a look at how she ended up with that money in the bank.

Updated November 2024: This article has been updated to reflect the most recent information regarding how Janice Dickinson ended up with a $500,000 net worth.

Janice Dickinson's Financial Problems

Janice Dickinson owed a lot of money to various organizations, government agencies, and businesses

Today, many young models have a high net worth, as it does seem like this line of work is very lucrative. And once the modeling career is over, most have positioned themselves to have a career in fashion or beauty that does not require them to be in front of a camera.

While it seems likely that Janice made good money back in her modeling days, she doesn't have much of it left, despite what seemed like a resurrection of Janice's career in the early 2000s with America's Next Top Model and The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency.

However, Janice had to file a bankruptcy filing in more recent years. In the filing, she "listed nearly $1 million worth of debt to various creditors."

The Daily Mail reported that Janice's bankruptcy filing took place in L.A. back in 2014. She was supposed to pay $300,000 to City National Bank and the judge said she could pay $100,000. The agreement was that she would pay in installments.

Janice owed money to many people. However, she hadn't paid Dr. Uzzi Reiss, an "anti-aging" doctor, over $8,000. Janice also hadn't paid a dermatologist named Arnold Klein over $8,000. The star also hadn't paid taxes in over 10 years and she owed over $500,000 to the IRS, New York State, and California.

According to a Radar Online story from 2013, Dickinson talked to the publication about how bad she felt about her financial state.

"I had some trouble, so yes, it is true. I am upset and taking every step to pay everyone back and I feel terrible about it."

The L.A. Times reported that she hadn't paid rent on her home in West Los Angeles for a period of three months, and her monthly rent was $5,900. The publication also said she was "slapped with a $43,000 tax lien" in January of 2012.

Janice owed a lot of money because, over the years, she had gotten a lot of plastic surgery. The Sun reported that "Janice has been very open about getting plastic surgery - revealing she has had facelifts, a boob job, a tummy tuck, neck lift, liposuction and Botox."

Janice Dickinson's Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer

Janice Dickinson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016

According to The Guardian, Janice found out that she had breast cancer in 2016, so this was another big struggle that she was forced to come to terms with.

The star said, “Initially when the doctor found the lump it hurt, it became quite painful when you touch it, that’s the point when I knew this is serious, when the doctor touched this little lump in my right breast, about the size of a pea, and I went bingo, I have cancer."

She explained that she was determined to recover and face it.

"I’m going to get through this. I’m going to be just fine, kiddo. Don’t feel sorry for me. This is not a pity party. I’m Janice Dickinson and I’m gonna stick around for a long, long time. You ain’t getting rid of me yet."

Janice Dickinson's Time As A Model And Reality TV Career

Janice Dickinson got started in modeling after spending years as a ballerina and moved to reality TV, starting with America's Next Top Model

In an interview with Observer.com in 2009, Janice talked about how she got started.

"I grew up studying ballet; I grew up honing my craft," Dickinson said.

"I looked at every Vogue that came out every month. I’m able to move like no one else you’ve ever seen in front of a camera. I find the light and work it, work it, work it."

She also noted that she was "drop-dead gorgeous" and she feels that helped her become a successful model.

In recent years, Janice has been busy appearing on reality TV. Besides America's Next Top Model, she had a reality show called The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency from 2006 until 2008. She was on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2010 and appeared on season seven of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2007.

Most recently, Janice participated in the reality TV show, I'm A Celebrity... South Africa in 2022. During her stint on the show, Janice tripped while trying to go to the bathroom in the dark. The injury proved to be a show-ending one for her.

Fans of Janice's have gotten used to her tough talk and ability to say anything that is on her mind. She doesn't have any problem speaking up, and she has been vocal about other celebrities over the years.

According to Us Weekly, Dickinson was talking about Kendall Jenner and said, "I think she’s lovely. Don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think she’s a supermodel, I don’t."

Janice continued of Kim Kardashian and Kendall, "They’re not models! They’re reality TV stars! You know, modeling is extremely hard work, you have to have perfect proportions."

It must have been tough for Janice to go through her money problems, and as a result of the plastic surgery that she got and her many debts, she now has a net worth of $500,000.