Madonna’s Brother, Anthony Ciccone, is Homeless in Michigan

He may be related to one of the richest and most powerful celebrities in the world, but Anthony Ciccone, otherwise known as Madonna's brother, is homeless on the streets of Michigan.

You think I haven't answered this kind of question a bazillion times - why my sister is a multibazillionarie, and I'm homeless on the street? he told the Michigan Messenger in a recent interview.

Ciccone, 55, has been living under a bridge in Traverse City, Mich. where the population is about 14,000 for over a year since losing his job at his father's, Silvio Anthony, vineyard and winery in Suttons Bay.

My family turned their back on me, basically, when I was having a hard time, he said.

Ciccone said, as Madonna's older brother, he is annoyed the media is amused by his situation: a homeless man with a prominent sister.

Never say never, he said. This could happen to anybody.

Madonna, born Madonna Louise Ciccone as the third child of six, reportedly makes about $58 million yearly, according to Forbes' data from Oct. 2010. The multi-platinum singer is known for her works in charity, personally spearheading an organization called Raising Malawi, where she adopted two of her children Rocco and David.

Since losing his job, Ciccone makes meager wages any way he can and seeks shelter at a local church, which provides services for the homeless.

I don't have any income, I've got to go collect bottles and cans, do odd jobs, he said.

Traverse City churches have outreach programs that provide vagrants with shelter, food, a place to shower and do laundry, and other services like computers and telephones for a few hours each day. Ciccone goes to a local church every morning for breakfast and to warm up, as nightly temperatures in Michigan average at about 15 degrees Fahrenheit in colder months, putting street dwellers in danger of getting frostbite.

Anthony Ciccone is also the older brother of Christopher Ciccone, who wrote the tell-all expose about his singer sister in 2008, entitled: Life With My Sister Madonna.