Philippoussis stated, "Money came in left, right and centre; I just thought that's how it was for everyone and that's how it will always be".
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25562621-661,00.html
As a Wimbledon and US Open runner-up and Davis Cup hero, Philippoussis had drawn attention to himself because of his playboy lifestyle, high-profile girlfriends and fast cars as much as he has for his tennis. "I've lived an easy life, the life you dream about. And at that time I thought it was normal, but it's so far from normal".
Mark Philippoussis has earned more than $8 million on the court and millions more in sponsorship, but recently he has spoken of the Entourage syndrome where money rushes out, often to fund other people. He has not worked (played tennis) since 2006.
Australian Cricket star Craig McDermott, fast bowler of the 1980's, is another. His property company Maxen Developments collapsed last year (2008) owing millions of dollars to unsecured creditors.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23899443-952,00.html
.
Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson, who was the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years, said he was alerted to the seriousness of the numbers of sporting stars falling into financial stress twenty years ago, in 1989.
"'Pro Sports Outreach' (POA) invited me to their annual footballers and wives conference in Florida, USA, where it was revealed that 82% of footballer marriages began to fall apart within two years of retirement. This often coincides with failure of business acumen," M V Tronson noted.
A major part of these well-patronised POA conferences (they cover Football, Baseball, Ice Hockey, Basketball, Golf, Tennis and other sports) was where trusted and successful Christian business people speak about adhering to sound transaction and marketing ethics. They set out tried and true business practices, avoiding the dangers associated with the 'fast buck', making 'family time' and encouraging their commitment to Christ.
"Being a sports star has never been an automatic step to long term business stability," M V Tronson observed. "There are are clearly many pitfalls associated with both money management and sports stardom.
"Moreover the training as a sportsman does not prepare anyone for managing finances after peak sporting performance, when their money-making phase, has finished."
In 1991 M V Tronson ran a POA look-alike conference in Melbourne for top Australian athletes who were committed Christians.
"We had a line-up of speakers similar to the USA conferences. One in particular left an indelibly mark on the participants," M V Tronson explained. "It was Ron Ross, who had been a television sports editor and was at that time a missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and today is with Bridges for Peace International based in Jerusalem."
He addressed the subject of 'the heart' of the Christian athlete. He challenged the audience to find where their heart lies, and surely that will be where their philosophy of life is found. He asked the sports people if their heart yearned after money, fame, power, sex, life style, financial security.... and finally asked where Jesus Christ came in their priorities.
"Ron Ross was careful not to equate a commitment to Jesus Christ with business success. Rather he pointed that a passion for Jesus Christ as the uttermost priority provides a spiritual balance to life wherein other priorities of life get their true value," M V Tronson pointed out.