Lance Bass Recalls Being 'Famous' And 'Broke' At Height Of His Career

As popular as *NSYNCwas, Lance Bass revealed that all the guys were broke as hell, but fame kept them afloat.

The singer was on world tours, dropping album after album and lining up endorsement deals worldwide. *NSYNC was a gigantic band that should have been making money hand over fist for the guys instead, but it wasn’t.

“Well, the worst thing is people thinking that we were rich because we were not,” Bass said on SiriusXM’s “The Jess Cagle Show.” “We were famous but not rich. I made way more money after *NSYNC than I did during *NSYNC.”

Bass then kindly reminded listeners that his manager was Lou Pearlman, so right there should explain the money issues the five bandmates experienced.

In case you don’t know, Pearlman ran a scam that involved most of the boy bands he managed. “Lou [Pearlman] took all of our money,” said Bass. The scheme is counted as the largest one in American history.

He was accused of mismanaging money and was eventually sued by members of different boy bands, including the Backstreet Boys, LFO, and Aaron Carter were some of the people he allegedly scammed and who were also involved in the lawsuit.

The disgraced music managed eventually went to jail in 2008 and ended up dying in prison in 2016. “He took most of our stuff… [made] horrible, horrible deals,” Bass admits to Cagle.

Pearlman was 62 when he passed away, and even though he scammed Bass, he still managed to muster up a bit of sorrow when he passed.

The singer-turned-radio and TV host may not have the hard-earned boy band money, but he admits he is happy to have at least made memories. He called it an “incredible” time with all his bandmates Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatric, and Joey Fatone.

“To do that with those guys was incredible,” he recalls. “And you had some of the best experiences ever. He continued. “It changed my life, led me to so many things I wanted to do in life… they’re incredible, incredible guys.”

Bass refers to his bandmates as a “great support system.” He always knew he could count on them; a family was born. “I’m glad I was in a band because I had four of my brothers that kept you down to earth.”

“If you said anything off the wall, they would slap you down like, ‘What did you just say?’ But if you’re a solo artist, you’re always like, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ You’re the boss. That’s it,” he said, laughing.

The band went on indefinite hiatus in 2002, and while music is no longer Bass’ primary source. Income, he doesn’t hate singers. Plus, he learned how to make money differently in the industry.

He has his own production company and a music management company.