(247WALLST) — A lucky few possess great fame, wealth, and influence. Even fewer manage to hold on to these positions of power without mishap. Such great heights are often quite perilous, and for every large-scale success, there is often an equally epic fall.
24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of 50 well-known individuals around the world who have recently experienced a precipitous loss in stature. These individuals, be they influential political figures, powerful executives, or successful athletes, have each fallen a great distance from their peak — some by their own doing and some as a result of circumstance.
This loss of power can have very different negative outcomes, depending on the position the person held. For politicians, the worst kind of failure is often an image crisis that can damage a campaign for reelection or even destroy a career. For an athlete, losing a high-stakes game, sustaining a crippling injury, or being disgraced by a personal scandal can often be career ending. Executives, who are responsible for the financial health of their organizations, have a great deal to lose as well either through poor business decisions or through bad judgement in other areas.