Madonna's Late Brother Was Freezing to Death & Sought Shelter in Church: 'She Doesn’t Care If I'm Dead or Alive'

• Madonna came from a large family, growing up with five siblings and later on gaining two half-siblings.
• Amidst Madonna's fame and fortune, she and her siblings didn't meet eye-to-eye.
• Her eldest brother, Anthony, lived in poverty and claimed Madonna didn't care whether he died.

Madonna's eldest brother, Anthony Ciccone, didn't experience a lavish lifestyle like his sister. He was far from having a comfortable life, as after several misfortunes, he went homeless.

Anthony is the pop star's eldest brother. She has three other brothers, two sisters, and a half-sister from their father Tony's marriage to Joan Ciccone.

Growing up, Madonna and Anthony never got along. "We hated each other. Sibling rivalry, I imagine," Anthony once said.

Anthony's most significant burden was having to care for all his siblings. Madonna was the hardest to look out for, as he claimed she'd sneak boys into the house whenever their father wasn't around. It was Anthony's responsibility to kick those boys out. "She didn't forgive me for that," he admitted.

When Madonna hit it big, Anthony's biggest frustration was being related to a world-famous star. It was difficult not to be compared to a billionaire while he was struggling to get by.

Anthony dealt with substance abuse for years, and it pushed his loved ones away. Madonna reportedly tried offering help to fight his demons, but when she realized he wouldn't change, she cut all ties.

Her eldest brother called the estrangement selfish. "You'd think there'd be some more family loyalty, and that's not the case," he explained.

Before alcohol consumed his life, Anthony worked as a restaurant waiter, a set carpenter, and a film location scout. He lived in Los Angeles with a partner and their son, Angelo, born in 1993.

Anthony's Life Was Consumed by Alcohol

When he lost his job, his partner left, taking with her their son Angelo. He returned to Michigan and worked in the family's Ciccone vineyard.

He never had a good relationship with his son and had a restraining order that hindered him from making an effort. It was a difficult topic he didn't like talking about.

After finding a job at the Ciccone vineyard, he eventually lost it and was forced to live on the streets. He slept under a bridge in northwestern Michigan, braving the cold weather.

Anthony walked the town's icy streets without a place to stay, with temperatures dropping to -10 degrees. A local bookstore let him keep warm in the shop whenever it was open.

Local churches also allowed the homeless to sleep there at night and cooked them hot meals for them to eat. Without the churches, Anthony said he might have frozen to death.

Through the years, Anthony insisted his family turned their back on him. Despite his sister's $1 billion fortune, he lived a difficult life because she allegedly didn't want to help him. He accused:

"Madonna doesn't give a [expletive] if I'm dead or alive. She lives in her own world."

Anthony said he and Madonna never loved each other, nor did they have a cordial relationship growing up. He also claimed that his father "would be very happy if I died of hypothermia."

He also insisted that he never wanted a share of his sister's hard-earned money. He knows she doesn't owe him anything and that she worked hard for what she had.

However, sources insist that his father, Tony Ciccone, and Madonna have paid for his rehabilitation several times. Anthony refused to admit that the cause of their family rift was his drinking.

He refused to go back to rehab and admittedly didn't like being called an alcoholic. He insisted that all he needed was the love, care, and acceptance of his loved ones.

He got all worked up whenever asked about his father and sister's help. "I'm a zero in their eyes – a non-person, an embarrassment," he once yelled.

In 2013, Anthony needed nine stitches on his forehead after resisting arrest in a public restroom in northern Michigan. People called law enforcement when Anthony refused to leave the bathroom.

He became unruly, and the police officer had to pin him to the floor. As a result, he hit his face on the floor and was rushed to the hospital for stitches.

The Ciccone Family Reunited During Anthony's Death

In April 2023, Anthony Ciccone died of throat cancer at 66. His excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption significantly contributed to his demise.

When his health declined, Madonna visited his rehab center and offered help whenever he accepted it. She and the rest of the family were with him when he passed.

Two days before his death, Anthony removed his breathing and feeding tube. He knew the consequences of his actions but proceeded to do it anyway.

Madonna recently had her issues and was hospitalized following a health scare. She developed a bacterial infection and needed several days of treatment in an Intensive Care Unit.

She is currently still in the process of recovery but is conscious and motivated to get better. The pop star postponed her upcoming concerts to ensure she recovered successfully with no pressure to meet deadlines.