Annie Leibovitz: Why Fame and Debt Often Mix

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Hi Monica,
Thanks for your comments. I also recently toured Monticello. While he did lend money to friends, he also rebuilt and re-designed his house multiple times, drank lots of fine wine, and had many slaves as well as household staff. As admirable as Jefferson may be in other regards, he seems to have also had a bit of a spending problem, given his high debt loads.

Kimberly Palmer of DC 10:00AM August 27, 2009

I recently toured at Monticello and the tour guide with the private foundation that maintains Jefferson's estate told our group that one of the reasons why the President died so deeply in debt was that he regularly lent money to friends, who didn't repay him. The keepers of his flame don't consider Jefferson to have been profligate, just a poor judge of character.

Monica Roman Gagnier of NY 10:03PM August 26, 2009

who do practice frugality. You're likely to not hear about it unless the "story" is of so-and-so being an alleged cheapskate.
The passion and sense of "abandon" that drive some people's great accomplishments also, unfortunately, can lead to excesses of other kinds.
As for Michael Jackson, I think we're going to see another situation where the value of the body of work grows even more after death than during life. We never saw an elderly Elvis, so his old music and image keeps on selling as it WAS. Same with Michael, I imagine.

Muser of NM 2:28PM August 25, 2009