A California jury on March 23 found actor Bill Cosby guilty of sexually assaulting Donna Motsinger.
A former waitress in Sausalito, California, Donna accused the comedian, now 88, of drugging and sexually assaulting her after one of his comedy shows in 1972.
© Getty ImagesThe civil trial took place earlier this month, and a judge awarded Donna $19.25 million in damages, less than five years after the actor was released from prison into serving three years of a 3-10 year sentence after being found guilty of aggravated sexual assault of Andrea Constand.
Bill Cosby's wealth and financial hurdles
At one time, at least up until the 2000s, the star of The Cosby Show was considered one of the most influential and beloved figures in American pop culture, affectionately known as "America's Dad."
Beyond his tenure with the sitcom that made him a household name (and a multi-millionaire), he was a fixture of several brand campaigns and advertisements, ranging from Ford to Coca-Cola. He was also known for his various comedy albums and the Fat Albert franchise.
Prior to his legal issues, his net worth was reportedly between $300-$400 million, one of the richest figures in the world of television. The Cosby Show was believed to have made over $1.5 billion in syndication leading up to the 2010s alone, and as someone entitled to 20% of the profits, the actor would've earned up to $300 million through it.
The comedian and Camille Cosby, his wife since 1964, have also collected art and invested in property extensively, with their prolific art collection spanning back to the late '60s.
© Getty ImagesHowever, in the wake of his numerous assault allegations and the resulting civil and criminal trials spanning far beyond the latest with Donna Motsinger, his fortunes have reduced dramatically. He is reported to be worth about $200 million now, although that is likely to be more so indicative of his property and intangible assets.
Beyond legal bills, it was recently also reported that the I Spy star had defaulted on mortgage payments for his multi-million NYC estates, owing taxes as high as $300,000 and risking foreclosure.
© Getty ImagesBill Cosby's legal history
The once-admired comedian's history of sexual assault allegations dates as far back as six decades, with Kristina Ruehli coming forward during the Andrea Constand case to allege that her own assault had occurred back in 1965.
While allegations continued to come in, they made little dent to his legacy until 2014, when Hannibal Buress made a joke about his crimes during a comedy set. Search quickly exploded for the subject, especially in the lead-up to the #MeToo movement, with several other women coming forward with their own stories.
© Getty ImagesOver 60 women have claimed that they were assaulted by the actor, including model Janice Dickinson, actresses Louisa Moritz and Michelle Hurd, and model Beverly Johnson, who claimed she'd been drugged by him back in the '80s. Several civil cases are still ongoing.
