Just because he's bankrupt doesn't mean Wayne Newton is denying himself the finer things in life.
Newton admitted in federal bankruptcy court in Reno, Nev., Wednesday that he bought a sculpture and a painting by Renoir from Sotheby's auction house after filing for Chapter 11 protection in August 1992.But he denied newspaper reports that he frittered away nearly $163,000 in auctions on other artwork, a guitar pick used by Elvis and a cigarette case that belonged to Errol Flynn.
Newton said some of those purchases were gifts and others were made by friends using his Sotheby's account and that no money from the bankruptcy estate was spent.
Newton also disputed creditors who said he didn't have the earning power to justify his reorganization plan.