The Real Reason Stacey Dash Lost All Her Money

For audiences of the classic teen flick Clueless, actress Stacey Dash will forever be known by one name — Dionne. Yet while her on-screen character came from money, the star's real-life finances aren't quite as stable. After all, as Daily Mail reported in May 2020, Dash now charges fans $50 for personalized shoutouts via Cameo. But to truly understand how Dash fell on hard times, one must pinpoint when her life started to fall apart.

According to Yahoo!, Dash's troubles began when she was arrested on domestic violence charges after an altercation with her husband, lawyer Jeffrey Marty, on Sept. 29, 2019. Reports indicate Dash and her husband got into a verbal argument before the star allegedly pushed and slapped him in the face. While Marty allegedly "sustained red scratch marks to his left upper arm from being pushed," Dash also accused her husband of assault when she called 911.

Although the misdemeanor battery charges against Dash were dropped days later, the Mo' Money star requested to be represented by a public defender as her case played out, because she was "broke." Celebrity Net Worth, at last count, valued Dash's fortune at a mere $100,000, despite decades of success on TV and film, but proof of her indigent status never materialized, so it's difficult to determine Dash's true financial status. If her claims are accurate, however, Dash's wallet will soon face another battle, as she and Marty recently announced they have filed for divorce after more than two years of marriage.

After news of her arrest made headlines, Stacey Dash's manager issued a statement. "The marital dispute, while personal and unfortunate, has since been blown out of proportion," the statement read in October 2019. "Ms. Dash is a domestic abuse survivor from a previous relationship and has championed for other abuse victims to speak up. The untruthfulness being reported saddens Ms. Dash and her family—no further comments will be made and we ask that Ms. Dash and her family's privacy will be respected."

However, months later, Dash took to Instagram to announce that she and husband Jeffrey Marty decided to part ways. "My husband and I have made the hard decision of ending our marriage," Dash wrote in late April 2020. "After much prayer, I feel this is the right path for both of us. I wish him nothing but the best. Thank you everyone for your support and [for] respecting our privacy during this difficult time."

Dash's rep told Entertainment Tonight that theirs was a "mutual and amicable split," even though "it was a hard decision that both of them decided to make." Dash and Marty married in Florida on April 6, 2018 after knowing each other for only 10 days. Page Six noted Dash's fourth husband might be best known as Rep. Steven Smith of Georgia, the fake first "congressman" to endorse Donald Trump for president. Well, at least we know politics wasn't at the root of their separation.

Stacey Dash has become an outspoken conservative in an industry awash with liberal voices. She joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014, openly supporting Donald Trump's presidential campaign. After the network chose not to renew her contract, Dash ran for congress in California. However, she ended her campaign a month later because "the overall bitterness surrounding our political process, participating in the rigors of campaigning, and holding elected office would be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of my family" (via CNN). The Clueless star launched her campaign to serve the people "who have been forgotten for decades by the Democratic Party."

Yet while Dash wants to be a "catalyst for change," she told The Guardian in March 2018 that her political beliefs have hindered her acting prospects. "You're tolerated only if you fit their liberal profile," Dash said. "I've been blacklisted. I don't even get to auditions. Because I'm black I'm supposed to therefore be a Democrat, which is absurd. They're supposed to be the party of tolerance. I don't see any tolerance. I've made a choice to stand up for what I believe in and don't think I should be condemned."

But, as her IMDb account indicates, the actress has numerous projects in the works. Her career appears on the rebound, and in time, her finances should be, too. Did you really think such obstacles could hold Dionne back? As if!

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224. You can also find more information, resources, and support at www.thehotline.org.