How did Curt Schilling lose his fortune?

Posted by Larita Shotwell on Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Curt Schilling, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, retired with an estimated net worth of around $50 million in 2009. However, within a few years, his fortune had drastically plummeted, leaving him with approximately $1 million. 

The Rise and Fall of 38 Studios

Initial Success and Overextension

  • Curt Schilling's passion for gaming led him to found a video game development company called 38 Studios, aiming to create a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG).
  • The company initially experienced success with the release of their first game, "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning," which sold a respectable 1.2 million copies worldwide within the first three months.
  • However, 38 Studios overextended itself with the development of its next game, leading to bankruptcy and eventual Chapter 7 liquidation. At the time of its filing, the company claimed just $22 million in assets and nearly $151 million in debt.
  • Personal Financial Risk

  • Schilling invested his entire net worth, approximately $50 million, into the venture, which ultimately resulted in substantial financial loss, forcing him to auction off valuable collectibles and assets to pay off debts.
  • He even took a loan of $8.5 million from Bank Rhode Island, putting up his gold coin collection worth approximately $5 million as collateral.
  • Lessons Learned from Schilling's Experience

    Lack of Expertise and Diversification

  • Schilling's lack of expertise in the gaming industry and the challenges of running a gaming company contributed to the downfall of 38 Studios.
  • The failure to diversify his investments and the decision to invest his entire net worth into a single business venture proved to be a critical mistake.
  • Importance of Long-Term Outlook

  • Schilling's failure to maintain a disciplined long-term outlook and to consider the challenges of starting a gaming company led to financial ruin.
  • The absence of a backup plan and the assumption that everything would work out without adequate preparation contributed to the downfall of 38 Studios.
  • Losing Sight of Real Goals

  • Schilling's passion for gaming may have blinded him from making objective decisions about the viability and risks associated with the business venture.
  • The absence of a clear understanding of his true wealth-building goals and the potential financial risks associated with the venture led to poor decision-making.
  • Ultimately, Curt Schilling's financial downfall serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of expertise, diversification, long-term outlook, and a clear understanding of one's financial goals.

    The story of 38 Studios and Schilling's personal financial risk-taking underscores the potential consequences of overextending oneself and investing without a thorough understanding of the risks involved. His experience serves as a valuable lesson for individuals and entrepreneurs, emphasizing the need for careful consideration, due diligence, and a realistic assessment of one's financial decisions.

    The case of Curt Schilling's financial downfall offers important insights into the perils of personal financial risk-taking and the necessity of aligning one's investments with their true goals and expertise.

    It stands as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of overextending oneself and making decisions without a comprehensive understanding of the associated risks.

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