Michael Phelps, an Olympian who has an estimated net worth of $55 million, is once again in the center of intense media scrutiny after being suspended from all swimming competitions for six months last October because of DUI charges. He also grabbed the media's attention after his name was dragged by his self-proclaimed girlfriend when she revealed that she was a transgender.

Michael Fred Phelps II or simply Michael Phelps to his fans is an American swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time. He has a total of 22 medals and holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals. The Richest lists his net worth as $55 million.

Michael Phelps, who was nicknamed as "MP," "The Baltimore Bullet" and "Flying Fish" has remarkable international titles and net worth value. His record breaking performances have earned him several sports awards recognitions. In 2008, due to Phelps' unparalleled Olympic success, he earned the "Sportsman of the Year" Award given by Sports Illustrated magazine.  

Meanwhile, 29-year-old Michael Phelps is no stranger to controversies. In fact, in the span of his swimming career, he had braved a lot of them. In November 2004, he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol in Maryland. Then by February 2009, a publication of a photo of Phelps using a water pipe, a device used for smoking tobacco or marijuana, was released that resulted in a three-month suspension from USA Swimming.

Michael Phelps was once again arrested on DUI and excessive speeding charges in Baltimore in September 2014. Due to his drunk-driving arrest he has been suspended from all swimming competitions for six months in October 2014. And at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, he will not be chosen to represent the US at the competition in Kazan, Russia in August. Despite all the issues, Celebrity Net Worth said Michael Phelps has enjoyed one of the most profitable post-Olympics careers in American history due to his incomparable success.

Recently, Michael Phelps was dragged at the center of media's intense scrutiny when her 41-year-old girlfriend, Taylor Lianne Chandler, revealed that she was born intersex. Hollywood Life reported that Phelps has chosen to ignore her attempts at contact since her controversial admission.

"I went through hell for him. I protected him. I stayed quiet as the media ripped me apart for seven weeks," Chandler said. "I have trusted him and fell for him. My past, my livelihood has all been exposed and taken from me, yet I am evil and destroying his life."

Chandler also stressed that she was "never a man, never lived as a man." In The Daily Mail report, she revealed how in love she is with Michael Phelps, an Olympian with a remarkable career and net worth. She claimed that spending time with the athlete was "like a teenage love affair."

However, Chandler admitted that she never told Phelps about her gender-bending past, even after her claims of an "amazing sex life" with the Olympian.

"I never lied to him," Chandler insisted. "We were together for such a short period of time, I never had a chance to tell him about my life."

Though Michael Phelps has not yet made an official statement, it was reported that he was "embarrassed" that he didn't know Chandler was born intersex.

"He is completely horrified and embarrassed," an insider told Hollywood Life. "He is cutting her off cold turkey and doesn't want to talk about it to anyone at all. He wants it to go away as fast as possible."

Because of the controversial revelation, Chandler is not sure if her relationship with the swimmer will continue. Meanwhile, Michael Phelps is due to complete his rehab treatment this week after his latest arrest in September.

Throughout his career as a swimmer, Phelps got 18 Olympic medals and 39 world records. And on top of being an Olympian who has a $55 million net worth, Michael Phelps concentrated in helping other people with his own foundation, the Michael Phelps Foundation.