Charlie Sheen was once the highest-paid actor on television, but his life turned into a media spectacle full of drugs, sex, and scandals. He was the star of Two and a Half Men, but became a walking self-destruction.
Here are 12 shocking facts about Charlie Sheen that show how he became Hollywood’s biggest star — and its biggest disaster.
1. He grew up in a famous but turbulent family
Charlie Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estévez and is the son of actor Martin Sheen.
His youth was far from normal. His father was often away due to his career, and Charlie was exposed to Hollywood’s excesses at an early age. He started drinking, partying, and rebelling when he was very young.
2. He was expelled from school for misconduct
In high school, Charlie Sheen was anything but a model student. He skipped class constantly, had bad grades, and was more interested in partying than studying.
His behavior got so out of hand that he was suspended and eventually expelled. That’s when he decided to fully dive into the film industry.
3. He became famous with ‘Platoon,’ but his ego became a problem
His first major movie role was in *Platoon* (1986), where he played an American soldier in the Vietnam War. The film became a classic and launched his career.
But after this success, his ego started to grow. Directors and co-stars began to complain about his arrogance and lack of discipline.
4. He spent millions on prostitutes
Charlie Sheen had an addiction to escorts and prostitutes. He allegedly spent more than $1.6 million a year on escorts.
He was a regular customer at Hollywood’s most expensive madams and had relationships with multiple porn stars. His favorite quote? “I don’t pay them for sex. I pay them to leave.”
5. He was engaged to a porn star — and it ended horribly
In the ‘90s, Sheen was engaged to porn star Ginger Lynn, but their relationship was a ticking time bomb.
They lived an extremely wild life, full of parties, drugs, and explosive fights. Eventually, it ended in complete chaos with accusations and drama.
6. He was arrested multiple times for domestic violence
Charlie Sheen’s relationships rarely ended without drama.
He was arrested in 1996 after assaulting his then-girlfriend Brittany Ashland. In 2009, he was arrested again for abusing his wife Brooke Mueller on Christmas Day.
His ex-wife Denise Richards later claimed he was violent and unpredictable during their marriage.
7. He was fired from ‘Two and a Half Men’ after a complete meltdown
Charlie Sheen was the highest-paid TV actor in the world, earning $1.8 million per episode for Two and a Half Men.
But in 2011, he totally lost it. He started giving live interviews saying bizarre things, calling himself a “warlock with tiger blood” and claiming he was “bi-winning” instead of bipolar.
He personally attacked his boss, Chuck Lorre, and was eventually fired from the series.
8. He started the ‘Winning’ movement — and lost everything
After his firing, Sheen declared himself an unbeatable god and launched a bizarre tour called “My Violent Torpedo of Truth“.
What should have been a triumph became a public embarrassment. The shows were chaotic, unfunny, and full of angry fans demanding refunds. His “winning” movement died faster than his career.
9. He got HIV, but kept quiet about it for years
In 2015, Charlie Sheen revealed on national television that he was HIV positive.
He had been diagnosed four years earlier, but kept it a secret and continued to have sex with multiple partners.
Lawsuits came from women who claimed he exposed them to the virus without telling them. His reputation was further damaged.
10. He lost all his money to drugs and partying
At the height of his career, Charlie Sheen had a fortune of $125 million.
But drugs, prostitutes, lawsuits and ridiculously expensive parties caused his money to evaporate. In 2018, he admitted that he was completely broke and had to sell his homes to pay off debts.
11. He claims to be clean, but no one believes him
Charlie Sheen has been saying for years that he has stopped using drugs and alcohol, but most people don’t believe him.
He continues to give strange interviews, in which he both expresses regret and defends his bizarre statements.
Hollywood has largely shut him out, and his chances of a real comeback seem slim.
Charlie Sheen had it all—talent, money, women, a top career—and ruined it all.
He went from being the most successful TV star to a tragic example of how fame and addiction can destroy a person’s life.
