Many believe Whitney Houston’s drug issues began when she married singer Bobby Brown. However, this does not seem to be true. According to The Irish Times, both of her brothers admitted that they all had begun to dabble in drugs when they were in their teens. Nonetheless, it’s well documented that her substance abuse issues came to a head after the marriage. In his memoir “Every Little Step,” Brown admits to being shocked when he viewed Houston snorting cocaine on their 1992 wedding day.

Per Vanity Fair, Houston’s drug use escalated in 1993 after the birth of Bobbi Kristina. By 1996, she was using cocaine every day, and it ultimately affected her career. Houston was canceling sold-out shows and was even fired from an Oscar performance after showing up to the rehearsal disoriented. In a 2002 interview, Houston famously said “crack is whack,” although she admitted to doing marijuana, cocaine, and pills (via Biography). And her erratic behavior on her and Brown’s 2005 reality TV show, “Being Bobby Brown,” only seemed to worsen her reputation. She went to rehab twice, but this did little as Houston’s addictions raged on.

Towards the end of Houston’s marriage, both her career and her voice were badly damaged. In 2009, Houston was working on getting her act together for a comeback. Likewise, she ultimately regained much of her vocal prowess. However, reviews for her 2010 tour were less than stellar. In the days leading up to her death, Houston was allegedly acting belligerent and disruptive around Los Angeles (per ABC News). She ultimately spent her final day alone until she slipped away in the bathtub of her hotel room.

At the time of her death, Houston was worth around $20 million. Undoubtedly, that amount increased due to music sales as news of her death spread. Houston had only one daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown — from her tumultuous marriage to Brown — who became sole heir to the singer’s estate when she was just a teen.