Iconic actress Sharon Stone shares her harrowing journey of financial exploitation and personal transformation following a stroke in 2001. Despite losing a fortune, Stone chose to embrace positivity and found purpose in activism and painting.
In a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sharon Stone reflects on her remarkable career, including her breakthrough roles in "Basic Instinct" and "Casino." However, the iconic actress also reveals a deeply personal chapter: the financial hardship she endured after suffering a debilitating stroke in 2001.
"I had $18 million saved because of all my success, but when I got back into my bank account, it was all gone," Stone recounts. In her vulnerable state, she became the victim of exploitation, with people taking advantage of her weakened condition. "My refrigerator, my phone – everything was in other people’s names. I had zero money."
Sharon Stone's Triumph Over Adversity: From Financial Ruin to Activism and Joy
Faced with adversity, Stone refused to succumb to despair. "I decided to stay present and let go," she says. "I decided not to hang onto being sick or to any bitterness or anger." She found solace in faith and a unwavering determination to live a fulfilling life.
After her near-death experience, Stone's priorities shifted significantly. She turned to activism, becoming a passionate advocate for the World Health Organization. "I went to the first hospital and had an MRI and had this near-death experience and then was transferred to a specialized hospital," she recalls. "I continued to bleed into my brain for nine days before my best friend convinced [the doctors] to look again."
Sharon Stone's Triumph Over Adversity: From Financial Ruin to Activism and Joy
The stroke left an invisible disability that hindered Stone's acting career. "I'm a different person. I have an invisible disability. People can help you when they see you are walking with crutches, but when you are having a bit of a problem with brain function, people don’t know that you need help with that."
The actress spent the following seven years navigating a slow and arduous recovery. "In seven years, you’re no longer the flavor of the time, you no longer have box office heat, the same people you were working with are no longer in power anymore," she explains.
Sharon Stone's Triumph Over Adversity: From Financial Ruin to Activism and Joy
Despite the challenges, Stone has found peace and contentment. "I'm in a really grateful place," she says. "When I was a kid, I always wanted to have a house full of kids running and screaming and dogs, and I got it. And I feel very blessed and happy about the life I got."
Today, Stone is a dedicated artist and painter. "There's nothing more free than standing centered in yourself," she says. "I tell my friends that my new mantra is, ‘It's never too late to become yourself.’"
Sharon Stone's Triumph Over Adversity: From Financial Ruin to Activism and Joy
Sharon Stone's story is a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Through adversity and triumph, she has emerged as an unwavering advocate for self-acceptance and a symbol of resilience to countless others.
