'From There, Now I'm Here' — Susan Powter Loses $50 Million Fitness Empire And Turns To GrubHub

Susan Powter, once a fitness mogul whose empire was valued at $50 million, has seen dramatic financial swings over the years. In the 1990s, Powter's "Stop the Insanity!" program was a household name, selling products worth millions annually. But by 1995, after declaring bankruptcy due to mismanaged finances, her life began a downward spiral. Despite her massive success, Powter, now 66, faced some harsh realities. "I've known desperation," she told People — a feeling that ultimately led her to gig work with GrubHub and Uber Eats just to cover basic expenses. “Desperation is walking back from the welfare office. It's the shock of, ‘From there, now I'm here? How in God's name?'”

Don't Miss:

• ‘Scrolling to UBI': Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones – invest today with $1,000 for just $0.25/share
• Over the last five years, the price of gold has increased by approximately 83% — Investors like Bill O’Reilly and Rudy Giuliani are using this platform to create customized gold IRAs to help shield their savings from inflation and economic turbulence. 

Mismanagement was at the heart of her downfall, a fact she now regrets. "I should have questioned," she admitted. Yet, while her brand was strong, the finances behind it were slipping away, leaving no trust fund for her children and no resources for herself. By 2018, life had become "scary," Powter said, describing the challenges of trying to make ends meet by driving deliveries in her sixties. She aimed to earn just $80 a day — a jarring contrast to her former multi-million-dollar earnings.

As if that weren't enough, in 2023, a health scare pushed her to apply for Social Security, where the $1,500 monthly check was a sobering reality check. "Whoever said money can't buy happiness lied," she said in the magazine. That money wasn't about luxury; it was about relief — something Powter says resonates with many women who've faced similar losses.

See Also: This Adobe-backed AI marketing startup went from a $5 to $85 million valuation working with brands like L'Oréal, Hasbro, and Sweetgreen in just three years – here's how there's an opportunity to invest at $1,000 for only $0.50/share today.

Now, she's frugal to the extreme, saving every dollar and living on a budget most would find restrictive. “I don't go anywhere,” she said to People, "I don't eat out," — a far cry from the high life she once led.

Powter's story is a reminder of how fragile financial success can be, even for someone who once held a massive public platform. In the '90s, her face was on magazine covers, and her fitness philosophy was trending. But after stepping away from that world, Powter's life took a turn most wouldn't have expected. Her journey — from promoting her fitness empire to delivering food — reveals the challenges older women often face in the workforce, especially those who've experienced financial loss.

Trending: The global games market is projected to generate $272B by the end of the year — for $0.55/share, this VC-backed startup with a 7M+ userbase gives investors easy access to this asset market.

This dramatic shift also shows the importance of financial awareness. While Powter was passionate about empowering others to improve their lives, her personal finances were left in someone else's hands. Without a safety net, she found herself in a situation she once might have seen as unimaginable. Her experience isn't just a story of rags-to-riches-to-rags, but a cautionary tale about the role of financial literacy and self-reliance.

Despite the setbacks, Powter hasn't lost her resilience. These days, she's adjusting to a different lifestyle — one that prioritizes frugality and careful planning. As she navigates this new chapter, her story may resonate with many facing similar economic pressures. It reminds them that reinvention is still possible, even if the journey looks vastly different than expected.

Read Next:

• Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – You can still get 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $1,000
• If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it?