How Jack Johnson’s Parents Screwed Him And Left Him Millions In Debt

Jack Johnson’s financial troubles came to light in November, when the Columbus Dispatch revealed that the Blue Jackets defenseman had filed for bankruptcy after his parents—who had been in control of his money since 2008—created eight figures’ worth of debt for him. But it wasn’t just poor management: according to a source close to both Johnson and his family, his parents knew exactly what they were doing from the very beginning.

The cover stories started to fall apart when Johnson got engaged to Kelly Quinn, sister of NFL quarterback Brady Quinn. Johnson attempted to move toward being financially independent in anticipation of starting a family, according to our source, but his parents “tried to slow down the engagement, advising Jack not to act so soon.”

The Dispatch reported that Johnson confronted his parents in May of last year. Soon after, he hired his own attorneys and financial advisers, who set into motion the painful and lengthy process of cleaning up the mess of debt he had accrued.