Entertainment Movies Sharon Stone Says She 'Lost Half My Money to This Banking Thing': 'Not an Easy Time' "This is a hard time in the world," said Sharon Stone after she revealed she lost money following the recent bank failures that have led to the collapse of two financial institutions By Glenn Garner Glenn Garner Instagram Twitter Glenn Garner is a Writer/Reporter who works heavily with PEOPLE's Movies and TV verticals. Since graduating from Northern Arizona University with a dual major in journalism and photography, he got his professional start at OUT Magazine, The Advocate and Teen Vogue, and he's since consistently kept his finger on the pulse of the LGBTQ community. His first book The Guncle Guide was released in 2020 and was featured on Katie Couric's list of 100 recommended books of the year. People Editorial Guidelines Published on March 17, 2023 10:44 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Sharon Stone is feeling the financial impact of the ongoing banking saga. The Academy Award nominee, 65, said she "lost half my money to this banking thing," presumably referring to two major bank failures but still planned to write a check to the Women's Cancer Research Fund in a tearful speech at Thursday's An Unforgettable Evening benefit gala in Beverly Hills. "And right now, that's courage too," she said. "Because I know what's happening. I just lost half my money to this banking thing, and that doesn't mean that I'm not here. My brother just died, and that doesn't mean that I'm not here. This is not an easy time for any of us." Sharon Stone Reflects on Breast Tumor Surgery: 'Don't Ever Feel Compelled Not to Get a Mammogram' "This is a hard time in the world, but I'm telling you what, I'm not having some politician tell me what I can and cannot do, tell me I can and cannot live and what the value of my life is and is not. So stand up. Stand up and say what you're worth, I dare you. That's what courage is," added Stone. Although Stone did not elaborate on what she meant by "banking thing," her statement comes after two of the three largest bank failures in the country's history — following Washington Mutual in 2008 — took place last weekend within the span of 48 hours. Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images The U.S. government seized Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank following a bank run that collapsed the financial institutions, according to the Associated Press. Federal regulators have since guaranteed all deposits and created a program to shield other banks from similar incidents. Sharon Stone Recalls Losing Custody of Son After 'Basic Instinct' Role: 'It Broke My Heart' President Joe Biden has since offered the public a sense of calm with the assurance: "Your deposits will be there when you need them." Stone, who was honored with the Courage Award at An Unforgettable Evening for her support of breast cancer research, told PEOPLE on the red carpet that after having benign tumors removed from her breast in 2001, she's since had another surgery to remove tissue from her breast. RELATED VIDEO: Sharon Stone Reveals Doctors Found 'Large Fibroid Tumor' in Her Body Following Misdiagnosis "And that might seem funny coming from me since you've all seen them," she said. "But let me tell you something else — you've seen them since the surgery, and you don't know it. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "So don't ever feel compelled not to get a mammogram, not to get a blood test, not to get surgery, because it doesn't matter. I'm standing here telling you I had one and a half and more tissue of my breast removed, and none of you even knew it," added Stone.