Former ‘Bachelor’ files for bankruptcy
When he looked for love on the ABC show “The Bachelor” in 2002, Aaron Buerge ultimately came up empty-handed. His ill-fated engagement to elementary school psychologist Helene Eksterowicz ended just weeks after the show’s finale. However, Buerge eventually recovered, with entertainment magazines reporting that he wed fiancée Angie McIntosh in August of 2009. However, the Buerges’ newlywed bliss seems to have worn off: the couple recently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in their home state of Missouri.
Buerge is an entrepreneur and owns several small businesses. In addition, he is the president of First National Bank, which makes up most of the couple’s average monthly income of just over $17,000. His wife, Angie, works as a recruiter at Ozarks Tech Community College in Springfield, Missouri. Although Buerge filed for the bankruptcy as an individual, he listed Angie as a joint debtor.
According to the Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition, the couple have debt liabilities of approximately $9.3 million which they owe to over 100 creditors. However, they only have assets amounting to $2.3 million. The assets listed on the petition include a Chickering Grand Piano that was purchased approximately 15 years ago for $15,000, a gold pocket watch and a diamond wedding ring.
Fans of “The Bachelor” will be interested to know that the ring is not the 2.78 carat ring that Buerge gave to his former fiancée on camera. He first insisted that she keep the ring, which he paid for, but later asked if she would be willing to sell the ring on eBay and split the profits, which may indicate that his financial troubles have been around for some time.
Source: Wall Street Journal, “Former ‘Bachelor’ Aaron Buerge Now Starring in Bankruptcy Court“, Rachel Feintzeig, 16 February 2011
